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Michael E. Ryan is vice provost and dean of undergraduate education and chair of the 2006 SEFA campaign.
How's the SEFA campaign going?
The 2006 SEFA campaign is going extraordinarily well. After less than three weeks, UB's response to the SEFA campaign has reached 44 percent of our goal, having now raised $403,496.92 from 1,699 donors.
What's the campaign theme this year?
Our campaign theme this year is "SEFA and UB: Celebrating 30 Years of Care to the Community." Our contributions continue to assist people in New York State, Western New York and at the University at Buffalo. But it's more than just monetary contributions. In August, approximately 150 UB volunteers participated in the United Way's annual Day of Caring, working at several elementary schools in UB's South Campus and downtown medical campus neighborhoods. Many of those volunteers soon will be returning to those same schools with donations of much-needed supplies for the teachers and students there.
What types of agencies and organizations benefit from SEFA?
There are more than 600 organizations that benefit from SEFA, providing health and human services, environmental, educational and cultural programs, and more. The SEFA Directory of Services offers a wealth of information on the incredible range of programs and services that donors can support, including organizations affiliated with the regional United Ways and numerous other organizations that provide services in Western New York and beyond. A gift to the SEFA campaign helps to build a better community for everyone.
What are some of the special events being held on campus to raise money for SEFA?
Many units on campus sponsor a wide variety of special events to support the campaign, such as the College of Arts and Sciences' flower bulb sale, Business Services' sale of Entertainment Books and the medical school's annual hot dog roast. This year, there are two especially noteworthy additions to the list of campaign special events: First is the farmers market, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the Commons, featuring a variety of local produce, food and craft products, and a special table promoting the SEFA campaign and SEFA fund raisers. In addition, there is the Great Basket Auction, with thousands of dollars worth of prizes donated by UB offices and local vendors. The auction runs throughout the fall semester, with more information available at http://wings.buffalo.edu/faculty/sefa/2006/auction.shtml.
We all have only so much money to contribute to charities, and many people already give to other funds. Why is it important that we continue to support SEFA?
Our annual campaign provides support year-round to many health and human services agencies in the Niagara Frontier, nationwide and internationally. One in every three or four employees at UB personally benefits from SEFA services. Our own lives and those of our families, friends and neighbors are assisted and enriched by such local programs as Boys and Girls Clubs, the SPCA, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Meals on Wheels, Just Buffalo Literary Center and the UB Child Care Center, to mention a few.
How can members of the campus community contribute to SEFA?
Members of the campus community can make a pledge in biweekly installments through the SEFA Payroll Deduction Plan. Individual donations also can be made.
What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have answered it?
I will take this opportunity to mention UB's proud tradition of involvement with the SEFA campaign. Since 1990, UB has raised more than $11.3 million through its SEFA campaign and has consistently been among the most generous local companies and organizations. UB's SEFA campaign represents approximately 50 percent of the overall SEFA campaign in Western New York and approximately 9 percent of all of New York State. We also represent approximately 35 percent of the entire SUNY campaign. These are numbers that matter because through our efforts we have had a major impact on the lives of many thousands of individuals in need.