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Hard work, generosity celebrated
UB’s annual campaign makes a difference in the WNY community
By ARTHUR PAGE
Assistant Vice President
Individuals and units across the campuses were recognized for their work on UB’s 2007 Campaign for the Community during a celebration held on Jan. 24 in the Center for Tomorrow.
Sally Sams (left),
assistant to the dean of the School of Nursing, accepts the Chair’s
Cup from Marsha Henderson, chair of the 2007 Campaign for the Community.
The School of Nursing received the award for consistently reaching its
goal each year and supporting such campaign efforts as Day of
Caring.
PHOTO: ALEXANDER DZADUR
To date, the campaign has raised $869,545 from 3,185 donors whose generosity “does a tremendous amount of good in our community,” campaign chair Marsha S. Henderson told members of the campaign steering committee, liaisons and other volunteers.
“Today we celebrate this good work, as it builds on the university’s traditions, rich history and our UB 2020 vision,” Henderson said.
“The significance of the funds we have raised and the number of employees who give to this campaign is not to be understated,” Henderson added. “The commitment to our community is a building block to our future endeavors as an institution and it strengthens that future for those generations that we educate and serve today.”
President John B. Simpson joined Henderson in extending thanks to the employees who worked on and donated to the campaign.
“We have a lot to celebrate together—a great deal of hard work on the part of our volunteers, a great deal of generosity and commitment on the part of our university community, and a great deal of impact achieved in our surrounding communities as a result,” Simpson said.
“I can’t think of a more apt theme than this year’s campaign slogan—‘One University. One Community. One World.’ Whether we’re talking about our Buffalo community or our global community, we are all connected, pursuing a common goal,” he added. “Today, we’re here to celebrate our success in partnering with our communities to make a difference for those around us—regionally, nationally, globally.”
Simpson noted that public research universities like UB “define excellence and leadership in terms of our impact—by the lives and communities we change for the better. At UB—by virtue of the work we do as a research university, as well as by virtue of our commitment to outreach—we have a profound impact and a truly global reach.
“This is precisely the kind of excellence and outstanding leadership that the governor recognized in his recent State of the State address when he spoke about his vision for our region and state’s future, and the leadership role he envisioned UB taking in this regard as a flagship university."
The Chair’s Cup, awarded annually at the discretion of the campaign chair, was presented to the School of Nursing for consistently reaching its goal each year and supporting such campaign efforts as the Day of Caring. Sally Sams, the school’s representative on the 2007 campaign steering committee, accepted the cup on behalf of the School of Nursing.
University Support Services was honored as the recipient of the Bennett Cup recognizing overall excellence in a unit’s campaign. Accepting the cup from Regents Chancellor Robert M. Bennett, former president of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, were Donna Scuto and Lou Schmitt, campaign steering committee members.
The Unsung Hero Award, recognizing individuals “whose work has been out of the limelight and behind the scenes,” was awarded to the Faculty Student Association-Campus Dining and Shops, which this year instituted a “Round Up” initiative in support of the campaign at campus dining and shop locations. The award was accepted by FSA representative Jeff Brady and Dennis R. Black, vice president of student affairs.
Scuto, assistant vice president in the Office of the Controller, was honored as the campaign’s Volunteer of the Year for significant contributions to the 2007 campaign. She will serve as chair of the 2008 Day of Caring.
The chair of the 2007 Day of Caring, Ken Lam, assistant director for affiliate programs in the Office of Alumni Relations, was presented the William R. Greiner Award for showing the same high level of commitment to the annual campaign as UB’s 13th president. Greiner presented the award to Lam, who has been involved since his years as a UB undergraduate.