State Employee Charitable Campaign 2009

How does it work?

Each fall, we get the opportunity to learn about the charities in the SECC, choose which ones we want to help, and then fill out a pledge form to indicate how much we wish to donate to which groups. We can make a one-time gift by cash or check. Or, even better, our gift can be deducted from each paycheck beginning at the first of next year.

Profiles in Giving

Iryna, Web Services,
McDermott Library

An active volunteer in her church, new employee Iryna says she enjoys participating in fund-raisers and volunteering for the city of Grapevine as well as the Grapevine Historical Society. Having attained the knowledge, skills and experience through her volunteer work, she now looks forward to participating in the SECC 2009 drive and working with Senior Librarian Loreen Phillips on this year’s McDermott Library bake sale. The proceeds from the sale will go toward the SECC 2009 fundraising effort.

“I decided to participate in the SECC 2009 because I like to help. Helping and giving makes my life valuable.”

Barbara, Enrollment Service Advisor
Enrollment Services

Many of you know Barbara Boyd in Enrollment Services. Barbara has been at UT Dallas for 20 years; first at Callier Dallas and for the past 10 years as an Enrollment Service Advisor. Ten years ago, Barbara's first grandchild, Gianna, was born.

This event changed Barbara's life in many ways. First, the joy of having a grandchild to spoil. But second, Barbara had to learn a lot very quickly about a disorder she had never heard of. This is because Gianna was born with extreme bilateral anophthalmia, the absence of all ocular tissue; her eyes did not develop.

Over the years, Barbara has been a strong advocate for Gianna helping search out the best treatments and services. One example is when Gianna was 6 years old she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. One symptom of this disorder is a strong contraction of the leg muscles causing the legs to scissor making it extremely different to walk.

The first doctor recommended an invasive surgery but Barbara said "I don't think so!" She went on to find a specialist at Medical City Dallas who recommended Botox injections to relax the muscles and physical therapy to help Gianna gain strength in the right ways. Today Gianna walks with small ankle braces, an arm crutch and her long white cane. Thanks Grandma!

Gianna gets a lot of support from not only Barbara but also her mom, brother, cousins and teachers. And she stays busy! Gianna takes golf lessons to improve her balance; she went to summer camp this past year and is now learning to read in Braille! Gianna also takes piano lessons from UT Dallas' own Mary Medrick.

As you can tell, Gianna is a happy and growing young girl with beautiful chocolate brown prosthetic eyes. But this would not have been possible without lots of help from local agencies. Barbara recently looked through the SECC Directory of Charities and found eight different organizations that are either helping Gianna today or have helped in the past. Eight! Barbara is an SECC donor and volunteer. She knows the SECC gives her a way to donate to organizations that help her family, and other families, every day.

Did you know...

25 percent ... the percentage of Texas residents without health insurance. Texas has the highest percentage of persons without health insurance out of any state in the nation.

$44... the amount per pay period for one year to provide 12 prescriptions to uninsured families.

$528 ... The total annual cost to you.

Helping to keep North Texas families healthy – priceless.

Please support the SECC today.

We will announce weekly winners here during the campaign...

In addition to helping your favorite charity, you can also win some fun things for yourself. How does an orange or gold parking pass sound? Or maybe a personal training assessment at the UT Dallas Activity Center? Dinner out?

These are just a few of the prizes that are included in the SECC weekly drawing that occurs every Friday at noon during the month of October. You do not have to pay to play, although we hope you do make a gift.

To be entered into the drawing, just complete the top part of the SECC donation form and return it to Charles Salomon at AD10 by Friday morning. You may only enter once per week but you can enter each week if you like. The drawing is done by HR staff and the winner (and a list of their goodies for that week)will be posted here so stay tuned!

Week Four Winner

The winner of the SECC prize drawing for the fourth week of the campaign is Mandy Maguire from the School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences.

She wins a gold parking pass, a gift certificate to Andrea's Italian Restaurant and many more goodies.

We are starting the final week of the State Employees Charitable Campaign and next Friday, October 30 will be the last prize drawing for this year. Next week's prize package will include an orange parking pass.

SECC is your opportunity to give to your favorite charity though payroll deduction. Over 450 of your fellow UT Dallas faculty and staff have already demonstrated their generosity through this year's campaign. Join them and help UT Dallas set a record for support of our community.

Week Three Winner

The winner for week three of the SECC prize drawing is Marco Galindo Contreras in Facilities Management.

He receives a gold parking pass, a $5.00 gift card to The Pub and a complimentary meal pass to Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes along with other goodies.

Week Two Winner

The winner for week two of the SECC prize drawing is Shari Kwon from Callier.

She wins an orange parking pass, a gift certificate to Andrea's Italian Restaurant and other goodies too numerous to mention.

Week One Winner

The winner for week one of the SECC prize drawing is Bobby Brown in Facilities Management. He won a gold parking pass, a gift certificate to Andrea's and other goodies.

Updated: October 30, 2009