SEFA contributions nearing goal; Eckert reminds UB community to turn in pledge cards

Just days after the "official" end of the campaign, total contributions to SEFA are approaching the university's 1997 goal, according to Barry Eckert, dean of the School of Health Related Professions and chair of UB's 1997 SEFA campaign.

As of Oct. 31, Eckert said, pledges to the campaign stood at 90 percent of this year's goal, but more cards come in every day, and "with any luck we're beyond that (percentage). It's very encouraging. I think we're a little ahead of schedule and ahead of where we were last year at this time."

Encouraging results, however, do not mean it's unnecessary for those still holding onto their cards to turn them in, Eckert said.

"There are still quite a few people out there who have not put in their pledge cards yet. We're trying to remind them and to encourage them to get their cards in."

Eckert credits this year's SEFA theme, "UB: Partners in Caring," in part for the campaign's success.

"A lot of people I talk to seemed very responsive to this year's message of partnership and of giving to the people in the Western New York community. They understand that the need is there, and want to make a difference," Eckert said.

"As chair of the campaign, I've had many opportunities to visit agencies and meet people whose lives have been changed by UB's support of the United Way through SEFA. That's where you see how meaningful the campaign is-when you meet a homeless person who now has shelter, a disabled person who is getting the kind of assistance he needs, or a troubled child who has found people to help sort things out," he added. "UB has a great tradition of being partners in caring for Western New York, and it's the people whose lives have been changed that give that tradition meaning."

Heading this year's SEFA effort has been a pleasure, Eckert noted, not only because of the good the contributions do in the community, but because of how his role as chair has allowed him to interact with the university community.

"I certainly enjoyed it," he said. "I've been here a long time, but being chair of the campaign has put me in contact with a lot more people than I would otherwise have met."

UB historically is one of the highest college and university contributors to the United Way in the nation.

Two years ago, UB was the national leader among universities with 5,000 or more employees when it came to per-capita giving and participation percentage for United Way campaign giving, according to figures prepared by the United Way of America.

The report showed UB with employee per-capita giving of $104.99 and a 59.8 percent participation. The per-capita rate was nearly twice that of the second-ranked school, the University of Alabama, where per-capita giving was $56.07. The nearest competitor when it came to participation percentage was Michigan State University, with 55.1 percent.

UB's commitment to giving continued last year, when the university set new records for giving. The drive netted $650,627.06, raising 102 percent of goal.

But records are far less important than the impact of UB's giving.

"There are a lot of people we can help by partnering with the United Way and contributing to SEFA," Eckert said. The campaign will continue until all pledge cards are in, he added.