Bulletin News
10/11/2016
SUNY Cortland will kick off its 2016-2017 State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 18, with an 11:30 a.m. luncheon for volunteers in Brockway Hall, Jacobus Lounge.
The campaign, which relies on state employee volunteers to canvas co-workers for donations, will formally begin on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and run through Wednesday, Nov. 2.
The only authorized fundraising campaign among New York state workers, SEFA is directed by the United Way of Cortland County and brings together fundraising efforts for a broad group of agencies under one common umbrella.
“Last year, the campus raised $40,833 in SEFA campaign donations from a total of 315 SUNY Cortland employees,” said Heather Drew, who with Pam Schroeder will co-chair this year’s SEFA campaign on campus.
“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,” Drew said. “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 16 health and human service programs at 10 United Way community partner agencies. Donations helped provide aid to victims of violence, support to parenting or pregnancy risk teens, literacy education for adult learners, scholarships to working parents for quality childcare, and many other essential services here in Cortland County.
The College will offer incentives for employees who donate to the 2016-17 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 cards. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members who donate at least $25 will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
In New York 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 needs children’s center), United Service Organization, J. M. McDonald Sports Complex, YMCA and YWCA.
Local members of the Cortland County SEFA Committee and the employee group represented include: Kathleen Burke, SUNY Cortland United University Professions (UUP) employees; Christella Yonta, 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.