Every gift counts for ‘partners in giving’

Small acts of generosity can reshape the world. That’s the artistic message on every booklet cover and poster for this year’s “Partners in Giving” campaign, which begins Monday, Oct. 15 and ends Nov. 30.

It’s also the bottom line for the annual workplace campaign officially known as the State, University and UW Hospital and Clinics Employees Combined Campaign of Dane County, or SECC-Dane. Through the collective generosity of 11,600 employees last year, the campaign raised more than $2.57 million.

This year’s goal is $2,675,000, an increase of nearly 4 percent. Longtime SECC-Dane Administrative Board co-chair Greg Zalesak is optimistic that the goal can be met.

“We’ve always gotten strong support over the years, even during economic slowdowns,” says Zalesak, a departmental administrator at the Medical School. “I think people recognize that most economic swings are temporary, but the need for charitable giving is continuous. In fact, when the economy weakens, the need is even greater.”

The terrorist attacks on the East Coast in September have created an extraordinary climate for this year’s campaign. Dane County residents and workers have joined millions of other Americans in contributing to special emergency funds for communities and families affected by those tragedies. SECC-Dane organizers are crossing their fingers that this will not undercut employee support for a multitude of other charities whose vital work has been overshadowed, at least temporarily, by the relief effort.

“We’re hoping that state, UW, and UWHC employees who have already contributed to emergency funds will participate in our campaign, as well,” says Zalesak. “For those who are able, this is a year to do both.”

Ten nonprofit “umbrella” organizations and a record 367 individual charities qualified to participate in SECC-Dane this year. Each met rigorous standards set by the state and was approved by the secretary of administration. Collectively, they provide a remarkable range of services — from support for AIDS research to international disaster relief, from legal assistance for the disadvantaged to environmental stewardship for all.

“One of the best things about this campaign is that with so many umbrellas and charities to choose from, it’s easy for most people to find causes they can support,” says Phyllis Fuller, who co-chairs the SECC-Dane Board with Zalesak and recently accepted a new job with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. “You can direct your contribution to groups that reflect your own values.”

SECC-Dane is the largest annual employee-run fund-raising campaign in Wisconsin. It is also one of the most successful state campaigns in the nation, having raised more than $31.3 million for charitable agencies since its inception. And because SECC-Dane is conducted largely by volunteers, its overhead costs are much lower than those of similar campaigns across the country, ensuring that nearly all of the money raised goes directly to the umbrellas and charities as designated by contributors.