State Workers Rally for Charities Serving North Carolinians | Eastern North Carolina Now

    For Immediate Release

2015 Campaign is set to exceed $100 million raised since the campaign was created

    Raleigh, NC     State employees rallied today for the annual North Carolina State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) at a motivational volunteer training session at the State Employees' Credit Union headquarters office. Last Friday, August 14th, was the official statewide kick-off of the 2015 campaign.

    James R. "J.R." Gorham, who is an employee of the NC Department of Public Safety and a member of the SECC's State Advisory Committee, shared his personal story and challenged the volunteers there to make the most of the opportunity to involve their fellow employees in the campaign.

    Gorham explained, "I live to give and I give to live: I give because so many people have given to me. As a young child my parents were sharecroppers with very few resources and The Salvation Army helped my father become a hero to me by providing him with a bicycle to give to me for Christmas. Even today, as I think back on that Christmas morning, it warms my heart to know that there are organizations that still brings joy to the hearts of little children."

    The SECC was established in 1984 as the charitable campaign for North Carolina's state government employees and since then, state employees have contributed more than $99 million. This year, the campaign is poised to exceed the $100 million in contributions, a milestone and representation of the tradition of generosity by North Carolina's state employees.

    Neal Alexander, Director of the NC Office of State Human Resources, spoke at the volunteer event defining the campaign vision and the importance of state employees' leadership and support. Alexander serves as this year's SECC Chair. His agency also hosted a carnival fundraiser today, benefiting the SECC. Over the next several months, each of the state agencies and universities will host their own events to raise awareness about the campaign and to give all employees an opportunity to contribute.

    "State employees take great pride in supporting the SECC and donating to causes that they find meaningful," said Alexander. "It's a tradition to give and their generosity leaves a lasting impact in North Carolina and around the world."

    Last year, state employees answered the call to service to help North Carolinians across the state through SECC pledges and contributions totaling more than $3.8 million. This year's campaign represents nearly 1,000 charities, which applied to participate and successfully passed a review process ensuring eligibility requirements were met. Charities must apply each year to participate.

    The SECC is led by state employee volunteers from the mountains to the coast. State agency and university system campaign leaders are selected by their agency 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. Each office will independently run its campaign during an established time between now and December 1.

    For more information on the SECC and its eligible charities, please visit www.ncsecc.org.

    Contact: Mary Paisley
          Director, Marketing and Communications