Partners in Giving campaign continues through Nov. 30

Devastating earthquakes and floods. Chronic unemployment. A catastrophic oil spill. Disease epidemics. Terrorism.

Bad news can overwhelm us at times, but state, university and UW Hospital and Clinics employees can generate some good news by contributing to their favorite charities this fall.

The 2010 Partners in Giving campaign will continue through Tuesday, Nov. 30. The campaign, formerly known as the State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC), represents charitable giving at its best.

Hundreds of dedicated employee volunteers carry out the campaign, now in its 38th year. Giving is optional, yet many employees give even while tightening their own belts.

Despite a sour economy and several mandatory unpaid furlough days in 2009–10, nearly 9,000 employees contributed approximately $2.9 million to the campaign. Since its inception in 1973, the campaign has raised more than $56.3 million in support of charitable causes at the local, state, national and international levels.

“Each year state, university and UW Hospital and Clinics employees working in Dane County contribute generously to the campaign,” says Phyllis Fuller, co-chair of the campaign’s administrative board. “It has many loyal and committed givers, and it is my greatest hope that we can pass this legacy of giving on to our new employees.”

The 2010 campaign will provide givers the opportunity to choose from among more than 500 charitable organizations and a dozen umbrella groups.

Employees can give to as many charities as they wish, and they have the option of giving online with a credit card or traditionally by cash, check or a convenient payroll contribution.

University campaign chair Katharyn May, dean of the School of Nursing, is also hoping that those who have not given in the past will decide to give this year, and that those who have contributed in the past will decide they can do just a little more.

“We have all been touched in some way by these hard economic times. Even so, most of us here at the UW still have advantages that help us keep our lives intact, but many of our neighbors are now struggling like never before with the most basic needs — a safe place to live, food, education and health care,” she says. “Without the safety net provided by so many charitable and civic organizations that benefit directly from contributions to the Partners in Giving Campaign, too many will lose that struggle. But we can do something about that. Now is the time.”

The Partners in Giving campaign’s overhead costs are among the lowest in the nation. Ninety-six percent of the dollars raised goes directly to the participating charities.

For more information, visit Partners in Giving,where you can also sign up to be a campaign volunteer.