The university raised the highest per capita gift from higher education institutions with 2,001 or more employees.
Texas Tech University President M. Duane Nellis recently accepted Lubbock United Way's recognition of Texas Tech raising the highest per capita gift in 2014 for the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC). Texas Tech raised the most among higher education institutions with 2,001 or more employees in the state of Texas.
The SECC was created by legislation in 1993 to make donations to more than 500 charitable organizations. The Texas campaign is one of the largest employee campaigns in the nation.
In 2014, Texas Tech employees donated $469,293 to a variety of charities such as the Children's Advocacy Center, United Way, Literacy Lubbock, Big Brother/Big Sisters, CASA, Women's Protective Services, Volunteer Center of Lubbock, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Red Cross and several more.
“We are humbled and honored to donate this much money to multiple charities and causes,” Nellis said. “Our faculty and staff here at Texas Tech continually give, whether it's to our students or the community. I am proud to be a part of this great university and thankful to work alongside such wonderful people.”
The campaign runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 each year and is on a volunteer basis. Employees can choose any dollar amount they want and can enroll for payroll deduction. The minimum dollar amount that can be donated is $2 a month per agency code.
Each department within Texas Tech and the Texas Tech University System creates monetary goals to give a substantial amount to organizations locally, nationally and internationally each year.
Donors were entered into a drawing for door prizes for how much they donated: $1,000 or more, 1 percent of annual salary or one hour of pay per month.
“The SECC is the easiest way for Texas Tech employees to make a direct impact on the local community,” said Wes Condray, campaign coordinator for Texas Tech's SECC campaign. “Each agency represented in the SECC works to promote the health and well-being of those living in our community. All of us have benefited in some way from these organizations.
“It is amazing to see the Texas Tech community give back to those who have done so much for Lubbock.”
Glenn Cochran, chief executive officer of Lubbock Area United Way, presented a plaque to Nellis on behalf of the university.
United Way serves as the local campaign manager for the greater West Texas area and is the liaison between the various charities included in the SECC and the various state agencies that participate.
The next SECC campaign begins September and will continue through October.
For more information about Texas Tech's SECC, please visit its website.