University faculty and staff members contributed more than $154,000 – an increase of 11 percent from last year – to local, national and international charities as part of the 2010 State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC).

The three-month initiative netted $9.8 million from Texas state agency and higher education employees. The UT Dallas faculty and staff contributions included approximately $23,600 for the University’s own Academic Bridge Program and $18,500 for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders.

“UT Dallas has established a giving philosophy which extends beyond the University and its programs, into the greater community,” said Jeff Jones, director of DFW SECC. “Because of the generosity of SECC donors, hundreds of agencies and charities here in North Central Texas and beyond will be able to continue to provide the research, scholarship and services vital to so many.”

About 23 percent of UT Dallas’ faculty and staff made gifts to the campaign.  Of these, 65 were leadership donors who gave $1,000 or more.

The campaign drew support from every department, school and unit at the University. In the case of Facilities Management, every employee gave to the cause and raised $7,200, said Debbie Sauer, events coordinator for Facilities Management. “To make it easier for everyone to participate, we cooked pancake breakfasts, lunches and afternoon snacks, and then charged employees a small amount for their meals. All the profits were donated on behalf of employees who otherwise felt they could not afford to give,” Sauer explained.

At the other end of campus, the McDermott Library units teamed up with the Student Services Building for a two-day sale of homemade goodies to benefit the SECC.  Priced at 50 cents, treats such as homemade chocolate chip cookies and banana bread netted almost $800. “Most of everything was made by staff and faculty, so it tasted great, but mostly people like supporting a good cause,” said Librarian Linda DePhillips.

Many organizations benefited from the campaign, including United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Inc., SPCA of Texas, Doctors without Borders USA, and CASA – Court Appointed Advocates for Abused Children.

“I was extremely gratified to see the UT Dallas community step up and donate at this level given the economy this year,” said Dr. Doug Eckel, assistant dean in the School of Management and UT Dallas leadership co-chair with his wife, Dr. Catherine Eckel, Ashbel Smith Professor of Economics.