Building community focus of Giving Green kickoff

Community was the theme for speakers at the 2014 Giving Green kickoff Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Barnhardt Student Activity Plaza.

A festive, fair-like atmosphere filled the Giving Green midway as more than 250 faculty and staff members enjoyed corn dogs, onion rings, popcorn, turkey legs and other traditional carnival fare. They also learned how their participation in the campaign builds community and supports the Giving Green beneficiaries – Arts & Science Council (ASC), State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) and the UNC Charlotte Foundation.

Chancellor Phil Dubois spoke about how UNC Charlotte faculty and staff members are out in the greater Charlotte community, providing assistance to many nonprofit organizations. He noted, however, there are far too many organizations that play a vital role in providing services to communities in and around Charlotte that need financial assistance, which University faculty and staff members can provide, to the extent possible.

Darin Spease, one of the Giving Green ringmasters (co-chairs) and senior associate athletic director, also stressed how communities can come together.

“They (communities) come together in good times, but more importantly, a community can be your source of support in times of need, too,” said Spease. “A lot of you may know that I contribute to the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina, one of the 1,000-plus nonprofits that are part of the State Employees Combined Campaign because of my son Morgan.

“He’s a typical 14-year-old now but when he was two, he began having epileptic seizures. It was a tough time, and we received a lot of emotional support from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and our extended community. But we also benefitted from the many resources provided by the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina. So during the Giving Green campaign, I designate my SECC contribution to it, and some of my co-workers do, too, which is great. It’s a worthwhile cause that is personally important to me.”

Director of Early College Programs Michele Howard, this year’s campaign co-ringmaster, stressed the importance of giving of time in service to the community. “Through our volunteerism in service to our communities, we personalize UNC Charlotte – our friends and our neighbors see us face-to-face, and we have the chance to tell them about their University.”

She added that Giving Green Volunteer Week is another way for employees to participate in the campaign.

The Arts & Science Council works to build appreciation, participation and support for the arts, science, history and heritage of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. ASC funding is distributed to artists; arts and cultural education; neighborhood cultural projects; and 30-plus arts, science, history and heritage organizations.

The State Employees Combined Campaign, which began in 1984, is the only authorized fundraising campaign permitted to solicit charitable contributions in the state employee workplace. Its aim is to strengthen and sustain North Carolina communities and their citizens by assuring state employees and retirees the chance to support charitable organizations that are “accountable, fiscally sound and committed to improving the quality of life” in the state, nation and world.

All North Carolina agencies compete for SECC campaign awards. UNC system institutions are grouped by total number of workers employed. Last year, UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T University were recognized for their SECC efforts to achieve the highest per capita giving level among UNC institutions with 1,500 to 4,999 employees.

State agencies also are recognized for overall increase in giving from the previous year and for growth in participation.