SEFA News
What is SEFA?
How Does SEFA work?
Why Give through SEFA?
SEFA Committee
SEFA Committee Member Highlights
SEFA Contact

SEFA News
State Employees Caring for the Community
The State Employees Federated Appeal of Long Island recently celebrated raising more than $430,000 on Long Island for local, statewide and national charities.

“The heart and success of the SEFA campaign is the hard working state employees who contribute from the monies they earn,” said Nick LaMorte, president of CSEA Region 1 and co-chair of Long Island SEFA. “Their supreme sacrifice is donating from their wages to help others less fortunate.”

“The funds contributed to SEFA make a tremendous difference in the lives of families in need,” said Yacov Shamash, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at Stony Brook University and co-chair of Long Island SEFA. “Long Island state employees continue to make a lasting contribution to their community. I am proud to be part of the SEFA team."

Congratulations to this year’s SEFA Beacon Award winners:
Victoria Garbo, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
RoseAnn Gertler, The College at Old Westbury, SUNY
Dr. Judy Pietropinto, NYS Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Lillian Serrano, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, Medford

What is SEFA?

• SEFA stands for the State Employees Federated Appeal.
• SEFA is a joint venture of state employees, public employee unions, management and charitable agencies.
• The State Employees Federated Appeal is the only authorized fundraising campaign for state employees approved by the Office of General Services. Through SEFA, which is managed locally by United Way of Long Island, state employees contribute to a variety of charities both local and abroad.
• SEFA encompasses eight federations and more than 450 charitable organizations such as United Way of Long Island, America's Charities, Earth Share of New York, Community Health Charities of NY, Independent Charities of America, Neighbor to Nation, Global Impact, Community Works of NYS, Inc., and other independent charities.
  
  • Click here to see the distribution of SEFA dollars to the abovementioned federations.
• SEFA federations and their member charitable agencies feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, nurture the sick, care for the elderly, counsel troubled youth, protect the environment and make an overall difference in so many lives.
  
  • Click here to view the full listing of SEFA member agencies.
• Visit www.sefa.state.ny.us for more information.

• SEFA makes supporting charitable agencies easier for state employees by offering the contributor several options.
• Designations to a specific charitable agency within SEFA reflect the contributor's wishes.
• Undesignated gifts are distributed to all SEFA member charitable agencies in accordance with state regulations.

• SEFA asks once. One gift through payroll deduction helps families and neighbors all year long. Increasing your gift to SEFA helps reduce the need for participating organizations to conduct separate fundraising drives.
• SEFA is efficient and effective. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to charitable agencies.
• SEFA is accountable. State employees representing unions, charitable agencies, and management makes all decisions concerning the campaign. The Office of General Services oversees the board guidelines that regulate the campaign. United Way of Long Island coordinates the campaign.
• SEFA contributions are tax deductible to maximum allowed by law.

SEFA Committee Member Highlights
Mille Lucas
My name is Millie Lucas and I am a recently retired New York state employee. I worked at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center located in Brentwood for 38 years. I have been volunteering as a State Employees Federated Appeal committee member since 1992 and continue to do so this year because I believe in its mission. I am proud to be part of this worthy cause.

I truly believe in the SEFA structure and how donors contributions can be designated to their favorite charity and to the issues that they believe are the most important. As a committee member, I know that SEFA is accountable for donor dollars and that the money reaches so many Long Islanders in need. I am personally rewarded by volunteering for SEFA because I witness first-hand the wonderful work of SEFA partner organizations and the services they provide to my neighbors who are less fortunate than I am.

As a SEFA volunteer, I have met some great individuals who work hard. Together, we have raised considerable contributions throughout the years. I would also like to thank United Way of Long Island for helping SEFA achieve its many goals every step of the way.

Joan Meyer
I have been volunteering for Long Island SEFA through the New York State Parks Department for 14 years and have been a SEFA committee member for 13. I volunteer because I am personally rewarded knowing that I am helping so many of the SEFA member agencies who are in need of assistance. They truly deserve the support for the hard work they do, helping to strengthen our communities.

After my first year of volunteering, I realized that personally visiting our parks was the way to get everyone to volunteer in the fund-raising campaign. The parks department contributions increased from $2,500 to $8,000 in the first year and to $16,000 in the second. After that, our combined contributions ranged from $20,000 to $22,000 with the exception of 2001 due to the tragedy of September 11 when we reached $30,000. It has been a very rewarding experience for me to see how generous our employees could be.

My most interesting SEFA moment was when I first began volunteering. I had asked additional volunteer support from nearly 15 of our parks. My request was welcomed with enthusiasm—it was overwhelming. To this day, many of the volunteers still work with me and help in every way they can.

I give to SEFA because I believe in helping others. I feel blessed, and I know that my contribution helps many people who are not as fortunate as I am.

SEFA Contact
For more information, contact Millie Lucas, Long Island SEFA director, at mlucas@unitedwayli.org or 631.940.3732.