State employees work together to benefit 11 charitable organizations    

[MARCH 10, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD -- Director Michael M. Rumman and the leaders of 11 major statewide charities thanked state and university employees and retirees for their generosity following the 2003 State Employees Combined Appeal. During the past year, state employees donated nearly $3 million to 2,169 charitable organizations through one-time gifts and payroll deductions.

"Charity begins at home," said Gov. Blagojevich. "But Illinois state and university employees are living proof that it doesn't end there. It continues in the workplace, where donations from these generous employees go toward helping our children, feeding the hungry, providing treatments for life-threatening diseases and preserving our environment."

The SECA campaign is a once-a-year fund-raising drive that allows state and university employees and retirees to contribute to one or more of the participating charities through either payroll deductions or a one-time donation. Employees direct their donations to the charity or charities of their choice.

"SECA has made the act of giving convenient, and state employees have really responded with enthusiasm and remarkable generosity," said Richard D. Ringeisen, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield and the honorary chair of the 2003 campaign. "Even in these uncertain times of budget deficits, they have stepped up and made solid contributions to those less fortunate."

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Through the fund-raising drive, state and university employees and retirees direct their contributions to 11 member charities, which in turn represent more than 2,200 charitable organizations throughout the state. The member charities are:

• America's Charities Earth Share of Illinois
• United Negro College Fund
• United Way
• Independent Charities of America
• Special Olympics of Illinois
• Black United Fund of Illinois
• American Cancer Society
• Community Shares
• Global Impact

• Community Health Charities of Illinois

"These charities help literally hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans," said Michael M. Rumman, chairman of SECA and director of the Department of Central Management Services. "SECA gives employees and retirees a chance to directly impact their fellow citizens in a very positive way."

Since its inception in 1983, the State Employees Combined Appeal has raised more than $43 million for statewide charities, making state and university employees a major source of charitable giving. For more information about SECA and its member charities, go to www.secaillinois.org.

[Illinois Department of Central Management Services
news release]