UTSA Announces state employee charitable campaign results

(Nov. 19, 2007)--The University of Texas at San Antonio Office of External Affairs has announced the results of UTSA's 2007 State Employee Charitable Campaign. For the 2007 campaign, UTSA faculty and staff pledged more than $224,000 to the SECC. UTSA broke its participation record with a 70 percent employee participation rate--an eight percent increase over last year's participation rate.

"The numbers demonstrate that UTSA staff and faculty are both generous and caring. I'm proud of our campus for responding to the community and beyond" says Dr. Ricardo Romo, UTSA President.

The SECC benefits some 103 local nonprofit agencies that provide social, health, environmental, arts and education services San Antonians.

"A big thanks goes out to the many UTSA volunteers who invested countless hours, time, and energy in making the campaign fun, in building awareness, organizing events, and hosting the first ever "UTSA's Got Talent" performance," said Albert Carrisalez, Director of External Affairs. "Also special thanks goes to the 200 plus Area Champions who handed out and collected all the pledge forms. You all rock."

Many UTSA families benefit from organizations supported by the SECC. And many UTSA family members are involved in these agencies in one way or another.

For example:

• UTSA graduate student Janis April Edralin interns at a homeless shelter run by the local Family Violence Prevention Services
• UTSA staff member Corinne Sabo is a "big sister" with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Texas
• UTSA student "Gemma" is a former resident of Boysville
• UTSA alumna April Hernandez is an employee at The Children's Shelter
• UTSA staff member Jennifer Storm adopted her dog, Darby, from the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County.

Thank you to everyone at UTSA who participated in the campaign, to all the Area Champions and members of the planning committee, thanks for opening your hearts and for making UTSA a proud member of the community.