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Community campaign kicks off
with online option, million-dollar dream
Campaign liaisons gather in the Center for Tomorrow for the annual Campaign for the Community kickoff event. Photo: JESSICA BIEGAJ
Acknowledged as being among the most highly ranked, public university campaigns statewide and nationally, the 2010 UB Employees Campaign for the Community was launched Tuesday in the Center for Tomorrow, with a new online giving option and a million-dollar dream goal realistically tempered to $850,000 in light of 300 anticipated employee retirements.
Scott Nostaja, senior vice president, chief operations officer and campaign chair for the second year, acknowledged that last year’s $915,000 total was the highest of any public campaign in the state. While setting a lower goal this year that takes into account fewer employees, Nostaja told the campaign liaisons attending the kick-off event that he will “continue to preach” the university’s potential to reach the million-dollar mark.
About 200 UB employees serve as campaign liaisons for the various departments across all three campuses, coordinating and assisting with participation.
Begun 34 years ago as the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA), the campaign provides the means for all UB employees to make a meaningful contribution to qualified voluntary nonprofit charitable organizations rendering services to human health, welfare and recreational programs throughout the region. The campaign theme is “Our generosity reaches others.” In the past 10 years, UB employees have donated more than $8 million through the campaign to help people in need.
For the first time, employees are being offered an opportunity to make their giving decision online.
President John Simpson, noting that he will miss his involvement in the campaign after he leaves office in January, called the generosity and hard work of all who participate and contribute “a measure of this university’s engagement with the community. This campaign sets the example of achievement that public universities should aspire to.”
The campaign, which runs until Thanksgiving, has a number of incentives to accelerate response, the earliest being two free tickets to this Saturday’s Bulls football game for all employees who respond to the campaign prior to the game. Employees should bring an email receipt (if an online decision was made) or a sealed completed envelope to the UB Athletics ticket office in Alumni Arena to receive the free tickets. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in UB Stadium.
The United Way Challenge returns this year, with daily prize drawings between Oct. 4 and Dec. 10 for all employees who have returned their forms and their completed challenge entry forms or made an online giving decision.
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