October 6, 2010 | Richard Veilleux

Calling for Donors to the State Employee Charitable Campaign

This year's campaign, which begins this week, aims to increase the number of donors.

The 2010 Connecticut State Employee Charitable Campaign begins at UConn this week, with a goal of increasing the number of faculty and staff who participate.

In the past, despite low participation, UConn has raised more money for the overall state campaign than any other state agency. With more participants, the hope is to further increase the total amount donated.

“We’ve done a great job bringing in donations, but only 401 faculty and staff contributed to the campaign last year,” says Maria Sedotti, chair of the Storrs campaign this year. “If even another 100 of my colleagues could pitch in, we’d be sure to top the state agency list again.”

Last year, Storrs faculty and staff contributed $132,638, while contributions from the UConn Health Center amounted to $122,560. In 2006, the Health Center collected more donations than any other state agency.

The annual campaign has raised millions of dollars during the past decade – including more than $2 million from UConn and its Health Center alone – supporting charities that include local soup kitchens and homeless shelters, arts organizations in Connecticut, environmental groups, international relief agencies, funding for researchers seeking clues to dozens of intractable diseases, and more. Overall there are nine federations and more than 700 charities involved in the 2010 campaign.

This year, the campaign is leaning to green, with the charitable campaign booklet listing the participating agencies available online only. Pledge cards also are located at the site, but they must be printed out, signed, and returned to departmental coordinators or to Sedotti, the campus coordinator.

“The University contributes mightily to our state and, especially, to every community with a UConn campus,” says University President Philip E. Austin. “The State Employees Charitable Campaign gives each of us an opportunity to make our own individual contribution to an organization of our choice, helping build a stronger, healthier, more exciting, and better Connecticut. I urge all my colleagues to join me in participating in the campaign.”

The Storrs campaign officially runs through Nov. 15. The Health Center’s effort continues until Dec. 5. Both campuses, however, will accept pledge cards until the end of the calendar year.