State employees begin annual outpouring of support to meet important social service needs statewide

SPRINGFIELD - Highlighting both the current effectiveness and future needs of Illinois' social service agencies, state leaders today launched the State and University Employee Combined Appeal (SECA) campaign that raises millions of dollars each year to support efforts to help some of Illinois' most vulnerable people statewide.

Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Director Paul Campbell toured the Land of Lincoln United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) center today to learn how SECA support has empowered people with disabilities, and launched the new campaign by encouraging state employees to give generously again this year.

"State employees work tirelessly each day to meet the social service needs of people who live throughout Illinois, but we also need the invaluable support of organizations who care for the sick, the disabled and the many others in need.  I encourage employees and retirees to give generously so we can continue to help those who are too often left behind," said Paul Campbell, SECA Chair and director of CMS.

"The heartfelt contributions from state employees and retirees provide support for persons with disabilities, food for the hungry, and assistance to those affected by disasters. Ultimately, these donations touch hundreds of thousands of lives, and I encourage everyone to give from their heart," said DHS Secretary Adams, honorary chair of the campaign.
 
The SECA campaign is a once-a-year fundraising drive that allows state and university employees and retirees to contribute to participating charities through either payroll deductions or a one-time donation.    Through the campaign, employees direct their contributions to up to eleven member charities, which in turn represent nearly 2,000 charitable organizations:

 American Cancer Society    Global Impact
America's Charities    Independent Charities of America
Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc.  Special Olympics of Illinois 
Community Health Charities of Illinois  United Negro College Fund
Community Shares of Illinois   United Way
 Earth Share of Illinois  

In 2005, state employees charitably donated more than $3,045,000 and contributions increased by $333,209 - or more than 10 percent.  This strong increase not only helped meet ongoing needs but also aided the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast (with a $100,000 donation) and thousands of local tornado victims earlier this year who were assisted by Central Illinois charities.

State employees have donated more than $50 million to SECA since the campaign's inception in 1983.  Each year, agencies under the governor and all constitutional officers compete for various awards, based on the following categories: the Capitol Cup for the highest percentage of employee participants of a large agency, the Governor's Cup for the highest percentage of participation for small- to mid-size agency, and the Chancellor's Cup for highest percentage of participation for a university.

For more information about SECA and its member charities, visit www.secaillinois.org.
 
About Central Management Services (CMS)
In 2003, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich instructed CMS to streamline the state's operations, share resources and save taxpayer money while improving the business services of state government.  By bringing private-sector discipline to its public-sector mission, the department leads the cost-effective administration of purchasing, property management, information technology, telecommunications, internal audit and outside legal services for the state's executive agencies, personnel and benefits for all state employees and retirees, and the state's employee and vendor diversity programs. 

Deloitte Consulting recently validated that CMS achieved $529 million in savings - through its efforts in FY04 and FY05 alone - as it implemented new technologies, reduced waste and rethought many of the administrative operations of the state.