University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: September 28, 2006

By KEVIN FRYLING
Reporter Staff Writer

Organizers of the 2006 SEFA (State Employees Federated Appeal) campaign are hoping the message His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama delivered to UB during his three-day visit last week will spur the university community to top this year's campaign goal of $910,000.

Debbie Gill (left) of the early childhood program Success by Six chats with Trudy Mollenberg, chair of the board of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, at the SEFA kickoff in the Student Union.
PHOTO: KEVIN FRYLING

Michael Ryan, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education and this year's campaign chair, told SEFA departmental liaisons who gathered in the Student Union on Sept. 21 to celebrate the official kickoff of the 2006 campaign that people were moved to donate to SEFA last year in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"But those needs remain," Ryan pointed out. "Those needs are still there."

He cited the message the Dalai Lama had delivered two days earlier to 30,000 people in UB Stadium. "He noted the moral imperative of helping those who are in need or those who are less fortunate," Ryan said.

In his remarks at the kickoff, President John B. Simpson also reflected on the Dalai Lama's wisdom.

"At the core of his message was...that in many ways the highest manifestation of what we do as people, as human beings, has to do with warmheartedness, generosity of spirit or compassion," said Simpson. "What we are doing here is to express our compassion, our goodwill and our feelings of responsibility for those around us.

"We are providing leadership to act out, as a university community, the kinds of things the Dalai Lama talked about," he said.

UB's SEFA campaign represents about 50 percent of all SEFA contributions in Western New York, 35 percent of all contributions from SUNY institutions and 9 percent of statewide donations, Ryan explained.

The university surpassed last year's goal of $900,000 by more than $20,000, he said. Since 1990, UB has raised more than $11.3 million.

"Among local companies and organizations, UB has either been the most generous or second," he added.

Trudy Mollenberg, chair of the board of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, said UB runs one of the best-performing United Way campaigns among public universities nationwide, as well as contributes a great deal in local volunteerism. An estimated 130 members of the university community participated in the 2006 SEFA Day of Caring last month, said Ryan.

"We feel so fortunate to have your support and to have you in our area," Mollenberg said.

UB's SEFA campaign provides assistance to more than 650 local, state, national and international programs, said Ryan. The organization estimates that 92 cents from each dollar raised is channeled straight to SEFA-supported agencies and that only 8 percent of the total budget goes toward fund-raising and administrative costs.

"Through our contributions, each of us at UB can demonstrate our commitment to causes that are close to our hearts," Ryan said. "We can help transform and change lives in our community and beyond."

UB SEFA organizers estimate that one in four people at the university receive direct benefit from SEFA-supported services, such as the YMCA, YWCA, Hospice Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as from other health and human services agencies.

The SEFA campaign has become a UB "tradition" Simpson said. The theme of the 2006 campaign, "Celebrating 30 Years of Care to the Community," underscores the annual support that has benefited SEFA programs at UB for years.

Four previous campaign chairs turned out to observe the celebration: Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs; Mary Gresham, dean of the Graduate School of Education; Mecca Cranley, dean of the School of Nursing; and John Thomas, dean of the School of Management.