Campus News

Employee generosity helps campaign reach goal

Sean Sullivan and the faces of the campaign.

Sean Sullivan, far left, recognizes the "faces" of the Employees Campaign for the Community: those UB employees who told their personal stories to promote the community. They are, from left, Joseph Gardella, Jennifer Berryman, Regina Toomey and Carol Adler. Michele Bewley was not present. At far right is Marsha Lewis, who will chair the 2015 employees campaign. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

By DAVID J. HILL

Published January 26, 2015 This content is archived.

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“Each year our employees respond tremendously, not only through financial support, but also by sharing their time, talents and energy in support of the campaign and its goal. ”
President Satish K. Tripathi

Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back. Chances are you deserve it, thanks to your generosity, which helped UB reach its goal in the 2014 Employees Campaign for the Community as part of the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA).

Dozens of people filled the Bansal Atrium in Davis Hall on January 22 for the annual campaign celebration, a wrap-up event that recognizes the people who help make UB’s campaign one of the most successful among U.S. universities.

This year, UB actually reached its $865,000 goal before the celebration. In fact, as of Thursday, UB employees raised $865,913. Campaign contributions benefit hundreds of agencies that fall under the umbrella of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, and several more that don’t.

“Well, we made it! Thank you all. This has been an experience I will never forget, and it’s because of all of you,” said Sean Sullivan, who chaired UB’s campaign. Over the past few months, Sullivan, vice provost for academic planning and budget, talked frequently about how his role as chair enabled him to interact with the UB community in a much different — and more fulfilling — capacity than his usual role as the “budget guy.”

Several speakers at Thursday’s celebration talked about the impact UB’s campaign has within the community, and the people it helps. “These are not people that need handouts. They just need a hand up. That’s what you’re doing,” said Dennis Elsenbeck, a UB alum and the regional director for National Grid of Western New York. He’s also the chair-elect of the United Way’s board.

Provost Charles Zukoski read a letter from President Satish K. Tripathi, who was in Albany to attend SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s State of the University Address on Friday. “I want to thank each of you for your incredible dedication to this campaign. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to Sean Sullivan for his leadership, ideas and energy,” Tripathi’s letter stated.

“Each year this campaign calls on our university community to enrich the world around us as good neighbors, as engaged citizens and as active members of our communities, and each year our employees respond tremendously, not only through financial support, but also by sharing their time, talents and energy in support of the campaign and its goal. Your generosity and volunteerism are why UB is consistently ranked as one of the top SEFA agencies in New York State and among the top university participants nationwide,” the letter continued.

Michael Weiner, president and CEO of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, also spoke during the program, saying the UB employees campaign makes him proud to call UB his alma mater. Marsha Lewis, dean of the School of Nursing and the 2015 UB campaign chair, emceed the event.

There were 530 new donors in 2014, and more than 1,000 UB employees made contributions that were 10 percent larger than the previous year.

In addition, 14 units met their financial goal: Emeritus Center, Graduate School of Education, Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, School of Architecture and Planning, School of Management, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Public Health and Health Professions; UB Foundation, University Life and Services, UB Libraries and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Several awards are given out each year at the celebration:

  • Faces of the Campaign, honored for sharing their stories to help promote the campaign’s impact: Carol Adler, Resource Planning; Jennifer Berryman and Michele Bewley, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Joe Gardella, College of Arts and Sciences; and Regina Toomey, Academic Affairs.
  • Volunteer of the Year: Nancy Schimenti, Career Services.
  • Unsung Hero: Gwendolyn Triplett and Wilhelmina Jones, Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Center.
  • William R. Greiner Award: Karen Grey, Finance and Administration.
  • Chair’s Cup: School of Architecture and Planning, and School of Management.
  • Bennett Cup: Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, and School of Public Health and Health Professions.
  • Outstanding Service Award: Amber Winters, University Communications, and Dan Kelly, Office of the President.
  • Community Builder Award (new this year): Cherie Williams, UB Libraries; Diane Stolarski, Academic Planning and Budget; and Renita Shadwick, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.