Charitable donations by staff recognized with SEFA campaign award
SUNY New Paltz has been awarded the Best Overall Campaign designation for Sullivan and Ulster Counties by the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA), the New York State employee payroll deduction program for charitable contributions.
Nearly 200 faculty and staff contributed a combined total of more than $38,000 to local, national and international charities of their choice this year, placing the College among the top annual donors in the Hudson Valley. A significant percentage of contributions went to local organizations such as Family of New Paltz and the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
“SEFA just makes it so much easier to donate,” said Geralyn Torrone, SEFA co-manager and special accounts coordinator in the Office of Student Accounts. “It’s amazing how many people here get excited for this program. It’s especially nice that we have participants all across the College – there are administrators, faculty and Facilities staff who take advantage of this opportunity.”
SEFA works by allowing any New York State employee to select from a list of thousands of non-profit organizations and to provide consistent support through regular pay deductions, which can make tracking donations and filing taxes much easier for those who opt in. The state-wide program raises millions of dollars annually for charitable causes.
The SEFA enrollment period at SUNY New Paltz will open on November 5 and run through December 3. New contributors are invited to enroll online or via pledge cards that will be distributed with paychecks. New Paltz employee participants are automatically entered into SEFA Payday Raffles, which offer prizes and gift certificates generously contributed by local establishments.
An annual “kickoff” breakfast, sponsored by the Office of the President, will be held during the fall semester for donors who continue to make contributions over successive years.
About SEFA
The State Employees Federated Appeal is a charitable solicitation of New York state employees conducted under the authority of State Finance Law § 201-1. State employees may give to any of the charitable organizations that have been approved for participation in SEFA and may at any time revoke or modify a contribution made through payroll deduction by providing a written request to the employee’s payroll office.
More information about the statewide SEFA program and SEFA at SUNY New Paltz is available online.