Fundraiser extends deadline

By Margaret Damghani
Staff Writer

UNCP has surpassed its goal to raise $25,000 through the State Employees Combined Campaign.

The amount of money raised is currently at $28,970, up 28 percent from last year, according to James Bass, the director of Alumni Relations and this year’s campaign chair.

The usual deadline of Oct. 31 was extended once this year to Nov. 11, and has now been extended again to Dec. 15.

The State Employees Combined Campaign is a fund-raising effort made each year that brings together state employees from all across the state. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, the SECC worked on securing pledges to give money to different organizations.

Bass is sure UNCP will make its goal.

“If you really want to give something, go through the SECC. It’s credible… if you give to the SECC you are giving to someone you can trust,” Bass said.

There is no doubt that this was, and will continue to be, a special year for giving because of the tragic events surrounding hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“Situations like that make people feel helpless. There was an overwhelming sense of ‘What can I do?’ SECC was right there as the answer,” Bass said.

In fact, the hurricanes provided a turning point for Bass.

“[The SECC] became something to me. I really felt passionate about trying to help those people,” Bass said.

Last year, UNCP bypassed its goal of $20,000 by $2,000 and won the Gold Award of Excellence.

“We get one big concentrated effort to give, and employees can still give to the cause they feel a need for,” Bass said.

Among the top 10 charities that receive money here in Robeson County are the UNCP Foundation, the United Way of Robeson County, Christian Children’s Fund, Freedom from Hunger and the Nature Conservancy.

In fact, many employees support the SECC for the very reason that the money usually comes back to our county. The UNCP Foundation is responsible for funding internships and other opportunities for students here at the school, as well.