University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: October 11, 2007

By KEVIN FRYLING
Reporter Staff Writer

The commitment of UB to local communities was the powerful refrain heard from the speakers at Tuesday's kickoff of the 2007 SEFA campaign, UB's Campaign for the Community.

Marsha Henderson (third from left) presents backpacks filled with school supplies to, from left, Evelyn Hunter and Cindy Clarke from the Martin Luther King Multicultural Institute School 39, and Tiffany Thomas, parent liaison for the Sankofa Charter School.
PHOTO: NANCY J. PARISI

Marsha S. Henderson, vice president for external affairs and this year's campaign chair, told departmental liaisons gathered in Harriman Hall, South Campus, that the theme of this year's campaign, "One University, One Community, One World," emphasizes UB's commitment to making a difference in Western New York and beyond.

"It's clear that this university takes seriously it's obligation to be engaged in the community," said Henderson, pointing to UB's partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools, as well as the university's recent purchase of the former M. Wile building in downtown Buffalo to house outreach activities concerning local neighborhoods, education, health and wellness, and the regional economy. "Our university is demonstrating that we have a partnership here in this community."

The 2007 Campaign for the Community offers a chance to highlight the role of individual UB employees in the university's commitment to community engagement, she added.

"This year's campaign shows how we participate in the delivery of services to this community—how we fuel them with our dollars and our contributions," said Henderson. "It's a way for us to demonstrate we're neighbors, we're part of the community and we know that this campaign and the dollars that we raise go on to help our friends, our family and people in need right here, who are nearby to us."

UB ranks first nationally in giving among colleges and universities with fewer than 10,000 employees and fourth in giving to charitable organizations through an organized campaign, she added. Among local companies and organizations, UB consistently has the most generous employee campaign and the largest number of "leadership donors" contributing at the $1,000 level or above.

In his address, President John B. Simpson said UB employees' tradition of generous contributions—last year's campaign raised nearly $917,000 for people in need—has for years been one of the most "vivid illustrations" of UB's commitment to community.

"SEFA is one very meaningful expression of public service on the part of this university and one that helps to define this as fundamental to our mission as a public university," he said, noting that participation in the Campaign for the Community reinforces one of the core principles of a public research institution—the notion that "no distinction should be drawn between the university and the community."

"In our case, UB is the community," said Simpson. "And the community we serve as an international research university is becoming increasingly a global community.

"Please know how much your contributions mean to the thousands of people who are impacted by your actions," he added. "Thank you all for all that you do to advance UB's public service mission—to better the lives and communities throughout our region, our state, our nation and our world."

Arlene Kaukus, president of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County and a UB alumna, noted she has seen firsthand UB's impact on economic development, raising the quality of education, providing quality medical care and services, training future medical providers and "enhancing the overall quality of life in our community."

"I believe the individual commitment made by UB SEFA donors is clearly a demonstration that you have a broader commitment to our community and the university's role in it," she said."

"Thank you to each of you for your commitment to the campaigns in the past," she said. "You are an extraordinarily generous community of donors. You have made incredible miracles happen in this community."

Since 1990, UB has raised more than $12.2 million through its annual employee campaign for charitable contributions.