FALL CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN DEEMED A SUCCESS

(KINGSVILLE, November 22, 1996) -- Results of a recent State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) have Texas A&M University-Kingsville officials smiling with the gratification that comes from a job well done.

University campaign participants this year raised $21,633 -- $17,000 more than they have raised in the past four years combined, according to Dr. Kay Clayton, vice president for Student Affairs and Special Services and local campaign manager.

The SECC, titled "Together We Care," is the only campaign allowed in the workplace for state employees and enables them to make voluntary, tax-deductible contributions to charities in an effort to make life better for those in need.

This year's SECC replaced the annual United Way fundraising drive, although employees were still able to designate their funds to United Way of the Coastal Bend if they so chose. Participants were allowed to select up to three different federations from a list of more than 200 statewide and local organizations for a minimum contribution of $2 a month.

The SECC at A&M-Kingsville officially began Wednesday, Oct. 2, with a kick-off luncheon held at the Student Union Building on campus and concluded on Friday, Oct. 25.

Approximately 50 percent of the 800 employees at A&M-Kingsville contributed to the campaign, raising 39 percent of the Coastal Bend SECC goal which was set at $56,000 over a 12-county area.

"I am very proud of our institution and employees," Clayton said. "The level of participation as well as the total amount contributed reflect the pride that all of us feel for A&M-Kingsville, and it is indicative of the caring and concern we feel for those who are less fortunate."

Clayton attributed this year's success in part to the efforts of 37 "team captains," appointed faculty and staff who visited with employees to explain campaign procedures and who kept track of donations as they were received , as well as a campus-wide positive attitude about the campaign.

"One of our goals this year was to make it easy on the team captains," Clayton said. "There was a lot of emphasis on organizing the campaign for results."

Teams headed by Herman Ibáñez, assistant director of Student Support Services "200," and Ruben Amador, Physical Plant custodian supervisor, had 100 percent participation.

Clayton said she also felt that having the option to choose which charities employees wanted their donations to go to and the option of payroll deduction were also contributing factors.

Final SECC totals, which will determine how A&M-Kingsville compared with other universities, will not be available until December, according to Jerry Mijares, area wide director, of Corpus Christi.

A&M-Kingsville campaign results, however, indicate the university fared well in the overall SECC.

"You (A&M-Kingsville) had a fantastic campaign," Mijares said. "I don't think any campaign in this area, either through the state employees campaign or through the United Way campaign, has ever increased that much -- fantastic!"

A&M-Kingsville President Dr. Manuel L. Ibáñez will present certificates to team captains at a special program held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the Student Union Building.

-TAMUK-
- Mary McAdam