SECC Benefits State Charities

As UNC continues work on the initial phase of its Carolina First campaign to raise private funds for the University, a network of school administrators is soliciting pledges from faculty and staff for hundreds of state charities.

The donations are a result of UNC's participation in the State Employees Combined Campaign, a group that screens charities and raises money for them through payroll deductions of state employees.

Officials say this campaign is important because a publicly funded institution like UNC can not lawfully make donations in the University's name.

"The University itself is not allowed to make donations because we are a public university," said Ned Brooks, former associate provost for health affairs and a member of the State Advisory Committee for the SECC until last week. "We would be spending taxpayers' money in a way they might not expect."

But Brooks said the University plays a crucial role in the campaign, which raised more than $4.5 million last year for 962 agencies.

"The people of this campus contribute more money than any other group of employees in the state," Brooks said. "Last year we accounted for 25 percent of the total funds raised by the campaign."

June Steel, director of planned and regional gifts, said UNC participates in SECC because it covers a wide variety of charities. "Our belief is there shouldn't be other fund-raisers because this one is supposed to cover all charitable interests of the faculty."

Provost Robert Shelton, co-chairman for UNC's campaign, said donating to the SECC appeals to faculty and staff because the campaign consolidates the needs of a wide variety of charities.

"The beauty of this campaign is that you only get asked for money once," Shelton said. "We've simplified the process, yet you still have complete control over where your money goes."

University officials said they hope to improve slightly on the $1 million they raised last year but consider such an accomplishment a challenge in light of the faltering economy.

But Susin Seow, the regional coordinator for the SECC, said this month's terrorist attacks have increased interest in the campaign.

"We have people who have never given to SECC before asking to contribute," Seow said. "But it's going to impact local charities negatively because funds are being diverted to New York and (Washington) D.C."

Shelton said the campaign's low overhead costs -- estimated at 6 percent -- make donations to the SECC an especially effective way to assist local agencies currently being overlooked. "This is really a wonderful way to help out locally."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.