SUNY Cortland Begins 2009-10 State Employees Federated Appeal

10/12/2009 

SUNY Cortland kicks off its 2009-10 State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with an 11:30 a.m. luncheon for volunteers in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. The campaign, which relies on state employee volunteers to canvas co-workers for donations, will continue until Monday, Nov. 2.

The only authorized fund-raising campaign among state workers, SEFA is directed by United Way of Cortland County and unites fund-raising efforts for a group of agencies under a common umbrella.

This year’s campaign theme is “Together We Can! Make a pledge. Make a difference.”

“Last year the campus raised $52,201 from 371 donors,” said Amy Twiss, safety specialist with the College’s Environmental Health and Safety, who with Mark Taylor, supervising janitor with Custodial Services, will be co-chairing this year’s SEFA campaign on campus. “That was an increase from the $47,191 and 353 donors in last year’s campaign.

“We hope this year, despite the economic downturn that we can meet and exceed last year’s donations. The gifts last year assisted 30,000 residents, or 62 percent of Cortland County, through more than 30 health and human services programs provided by the 13 local United Way agencies.”

The total marks a 10.6 percent increase from the 2008-09 campaign.

The College will offer incentives for employees who donate to the 2009-10 campaign. At the campaign’s end, a drawing for six prizes will be conducted. First prize is a reserved campus parking space located in the lot closest to the winner’s building. To be eligible, an employee must pledge at least $104. Everyone who donates a minimum of $25 will be eligible to win one of two $25 Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) gift certificates or one of two recreational sports fitness center passes good for the Spring 2010 semester. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members who donate $25 will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate to Hairy Tony’s Restaurant.

SEFA campaigns also are being conducted at the State Department of Labor, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Court Administration and the State Police. Decisions are made locally on which agencies are included and how funds are distributed. The community-based SEFA committee is composed of representatives from state agencies and managers of human service agencies. Pledging takes place just once a year.

Participants can choose to have their gifts shared among different organizations within Cortland County, used in another county of their choice, or designated for individual local, state, independent or international organizations. Examples of local agencies include the United Way for Cortland County, Madison-Cortland New York State ARC (formerly Alternatives Resources and Choices for Developmentally Disabled Persons), American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Catholic Charities, Cortland Area Child Care Council, Cortland County Child Development Center, Family Counseling Services, Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture, Mental Health Association, Salvation Army, Franziska Racker Centers (special children’s center), United Service Organization, YMCA and YWCA.

Local members of the Cortland County SEFA Committee also include: Teri Arnold, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Public Employees Federation (PEF) retirees; Kathleen Burke, SUNY Cortland United University Professions (UUP) employees; Cynthia Eberhart, federated campaign coordinator for the United Way for Cortland County; Gary Evans, SUNY Cortland management/confidential employees; Laurie Klotz, SUNY Cortland UUP employees; Steven Lundberg, SUNY Cortland PEF employees; Lois Marshall, NYSDOT, CSEA employees; Teresa Phelps, NYSDOT, CSEA employees; Antoinette Tiburzi, SUNY Cortland emerita, Cortland County SEFA chair; and Melinda VanEtten, SUNY Cortland CSEA employees.

For more information about SEFA in New York state, visit the Web site www.sefanys.org.