College Launches 2015-2016 SEFA Appeal

10/05/2015 

SUNY Cortland will kick off its 2015-2016 State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with a noon luncheon for volunteers in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge.

The campaign, which relies on state employee volunteers to canvas co-workers for donations, will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and extend through Wednesday, Oct. 28.

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

“Last year the campus raised $41,977 in SEFA campaign donations from a total of 296 SUNY Cortland employees,” said Gail Cutler, who with Linda Crompton will be co-chairing this year’s SEFA campaign on campus. Cutler added, “While last year’s contributions were down from the previous year, we are hopeful that this year the campus community will rally to support the meaningful endeavors of this campaign. The help and support provided through the campaign to those in need is enormous.”

According to Abigail Oaks, campaign associate for the United Way for Cortland County, last year’s United Way donations were allocated to more than 22 health and human services programs at 11 local United Way agencies. Donations helped provide aid to victims of violence, support to parenting or at-risk teens, support and assistance after a disaster, scholarships to working parents for quality child care and many other essential services here in Cortland County.

The College will offer incentives for employees who donate to the 2015-2016 campaign. At the campaign’s end, a drawing for five 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 three $25 Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) gift certificates. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members who donate at least $25 will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.

SEFA campaigns also are 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 about 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 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, 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, Salvation Army, Franziska Racker Centers (special children’s center), United Service Organization, J. M. McDonald Sports Complex, YMCA and YWCA.

Local members of the Cortland County SEFA Committee and the organizations they represent include: 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; Lois Marshall, NYSDOT, CSEA employees; Donna Raymond, NYSEC, CSEA employees; Antoinette Tiburzi, SUNY Cortland professor emerita, Cortland County SEFA chair; and Lori Porter SUNY Cortland, management/confidential employees.

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