Kick-Off Press Release

State Employees Rally to Enlist Support for More than a Thousand Charities
Annual State Employees Combined Campaign kickoff features hot dog lunch, charity displays

More than one thousand state employees and retirees are expected to gather from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, Aug. 19 for the official launch of the 2011 State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC).  The annual event, which features a $1 hot dog lunch served by state employee volunteers, will include informational table displays and representatives from more than 70 charities serving North Carolinians. The displays will fill both sides of Bicentennial Plaza in Downtown Raleigh.  A duo called "Midlife Groove," including an employee from Department of Health and Human Services, will perform mandolin, guitar and vocals between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

“It’s a great opportunity for state employees to meet with and learn about charitable organizations that benefit from donations to the SECC,” said Administration Secretary Moses Carey Jr., who serves as 2011 SECC State Chair.  “State employees have been affected by the economic downturn, but that gives us even more reason to come together for a great cause.”  

Carey was appointed by Gov. Bev Perdue to serve as Chair and Secretary Dee Freeman of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  as Vice Chair of this year’s campaign.  Freeman will lead the SECC in 2012.

The SECC is the only workplace campaign authorized for state employees and was established in 1984 by Gov. Jim Hunt.  It has helped state employees to contribute more than $82 million to charities serving North Carolinians.  Last year, the campaign raised $4.5 million.

The hot dog lunch, staffed by volunteers from participating state agencies, is a popular event among state employees, who may purchase a hot dog, chips and drink for $1 – while they last. Some agencies also present ice cream and bake sales to benefit the SECC.

The SECC is led by state employee volunteers from the coast to the mountains.  Departmental and University System Campaign Leaders are selected by their Department Head or Chancellor and they, in turn, enlist and work with volunteers at offices across the state to ensure that all state employees have the opportunity to consider a donation to one or more causes they care about.  Each office will run its campaign during a timeframe that works well for them, between now and December 1.

Courtney Carraway, an employee at the Office of the State Auditor, has led their campaign since 2009. “The SECC isn’t just a way for us to give to charities we care about, it’s also fun. We created some events that I’d say our employees consider traditions including our annual SECC luncheon where we celebrate campaign results and employees have a chance to win fun prizes,” she said. “Each year we want to have a bigger impact, thus we think of new and creative ways for our employees to contribute."

More than 1,000 charities are eligible for donations this year.  Charities must apply annually and meet a set list of requirements to be a part of the SECC.

For more information on the SECC and the charities listed below, visit www.ncsecc.org


Charities attending Friday’s Event:

 
A Helping Hand
Alzheimers North Carolina
American Cancer Society
American Diabetes Association
America's Charities
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Triangle
Boys & Girls Clubs
Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc.
Carolina Raptor Center
CEFS
Chatham Animal Rescue & Education, Inc.
Chatham OutReach Alliance, Inc. (CORA)
Children's Home Society of NC
Christian Military Fellowship
Communities in Schools, Wake Co.
Community Health Charities of North Carolina
Community Home Trust
Curamericas Global
Disability Rights North Carolina
Durham Rescue Mission
EarthShare North Carolina
El Pueblo, Inc.
First In Families of NC
Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA
Global Impact
Habitat for Humanity, Orange County, NC
Hospice of Wake County
Independent Animal Rescue
Institute for Black Charities NC Chapter
InterAct
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
Learning Together
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Literacy Council of Wake County
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern NC
Meals on Wheels of Wake County
NC Cancer Hospital
NC GreenPower
Neighbor to Nation
North Carolina Children's Hospital
North Carolina Community Shares
North Carolina Rail-Trails
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Education Fund (NCGV)
Orange County Rape Crisis Center
Pretty In Pink Foundation
Raleigh Rescue Mission
Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill
Ronald McDonald House of Durham
SAFE Haven for Cats
Safe Space Inc.
Samaritan's Purse
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Southern Environmental Law Center
Special Olympics North Carolina
St. Jude Children's  Research Hospital
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The ALS Association - Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter
The Arc of Orange County
The Healing Place of Wake County
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Triangle Land Conservancy
UNCF
United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, Inc.
United Way 2-1-1
Urban Ministries of Durham
Wade Edwards Foundation
Wake County SmartStart
WNCU-FM
YMCA of the Triangle
Youth Empowered Solutions
 
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