Voices That Inspire

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Anita with Commerce says, “I give to certain organizations anyway and why not just do it through the Combined Campaign.  Samaritan Purse does good things all over the country to help people so I am able to send my contributions through Combined Campaign.”

Donna with Commerce says, “I give to the SECC because it is a great way and easy way to give to special causes.  I give to St. Jude’s specifically because of the work they do to keep children healthy and alive and to PetSmart Charities because I love animals.”

Angelena with DAC says, “I love to give through SECC for several reasons.  I like that you can do payroll deduction, so I don’t miss the funds as it is taken out and it is split up over 12 months.  I also like the fact of (not sure of the number) the numerous organizations that are represented through SECC that we can donate to.  I always select organizations that I am passionate about.  I have been a state employee for 22 years and this is just a great way to give back and help our community partners.”

Diane with DAC says, “I give through SECC because it is the ultimate service to others...to give...freely and willingly of your time and money. I have been so blessed and this is one way I am able to pay it forward and maybe in some small way bless others.”

Jacqueline with DAC says, “I give through SECC for several reasons: - those charities have already been vetted, so I can rest assured that my money is going to them. - there is a large variety, so I have plenty to chose from and can contribute to lots of organizations that I care about. - the variety also brings to light other organizations that I may not have known about and could consider giving to them in future years.”

Jane with DAC says, “I was taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive and that we should always, in any way that we can, help others.  I give through SECC because I find it a convenient way to add to my annual charitable giving. I am glad we have SECC and only wish more people would participate as there is so much need in our world today.”

Wayne with DAC says, “Simply put……I believe in the Charities I Support.  Its easier to be consistent with my donations if it comes out automatically (Before I get the chance to commit the money to other things).”

Eric with DEQ says, “I believe the donation to SECC is a small contribution to a big cause.  I have confidence my contribution will benefit Veterans and People of North Carolina.”

George with DEQ:  "Having connections to both the NC Mountain Region (through direct Family Members) and Coastal Regions (Living in New Hanover County since 2003), it motivates me to give regularly to support any way I can."

Paul with DEQ says, “I’ve given to charities through SECC since around 1995-1996 when the program started.    I like that the program offers many charities (including the ones to which I normally donate).   It is also great that the donations are deducted from my income pre-tax, so that the taxable income that I report is less due to donations.”

Colleen with DHHS says, “I am crazy busy, and contributing through SECC makes it extremely convenient and quick for me.  I love how doing so electronically keeps the information from last year since I do want to contribute to the same charities.  I love animals, so the bulk of what I give is toward them since there are not enough people who care enough about the welfare and rights of these wonderful animals we have in the world.  Elephants are my favorite.  What would life be like without them?!  Lets not knock any more beings out of existence.”

Cynthia with DHHS says, “I give to Vicory Junction Gang Camp that provides camping opportunities to special needs children that may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience camp fun especially during the summer months. My child attended the camp, and I am forever grateful for the experience, love and care. Highly recommend, giving to extend the reach and sustain the work.”

Debbie with DHHS says, “The reason I give through SECC is because I love driving through the backroads and  and the Blue Ridge parkway to enjoy the beauty of nature. We must take care of the world God created for us. It part of being a good steward of what He has blessed us with.”

Emily with DHHS says, “I have a passion for animals, which is why I give to dog rescues. It makes my heart happy!”

Kathie with DHHS says, “My mother, Mary Haywood, passed away in 2019 from ALS.  The two years prior to her passing were the most difficult of our lives as a family.  I can honestly say that the ALS Association was truly our hero.  ALS causes ones muscles to simply become weaker and weaker.  So almost overnight my mother went from being totally independent to not being able to walk or even sit up straight.  Insurance could not react quick enough and she needed more and more support.  Like the heroes they are, ALS Association provides a power chair, medications a specialized clinic and family support throughout at no charge.  I am still amazed.  I will always give to them.  This is a debt I can never repay.  They made an unbearable situation bearable so that we could focus on Mom. I also give the the Women's Center as the provide more than shelter to homeless women.  They provide classes, access to showers and food, help getting a job and place to live.  Great place great mission!”

Shonda with DHHS says, “I have been a giver for as long as I can remember (since elementary school). I am pleased to know that my giving is making a difference in the lives of others.”

Tamara with DHHS says, “I like giving throught the SECC because: •          I feel that it is safer from schemes and fraud, etc, given that the process is handled/connected through my employer/a state government agency •              One of the organizations that I give to is a school system, I had been wanting to support my local county’s school program but had a little difficulty connecting. SECC made this easy •         Ultimately I guess, because donating through SECC allows me to financially support organizations that are important to me and that perform work close to my heart”

Victor with DHHS says, “I am grateful. I regard it an obligation to give back to our communities so they can assist those who may need some assistance.  I believe in the mission of United Way. I’ve been associated with UW over the years in 3 states. I always look forward to the annual campaign.”

Jeffrey with DOJ says, “Happy to help in any way I can.  Many years ago when I was in Scottsdale AZ we had a United Way campaign for giving.  I joined with a small amount of money monthly.  Since then I have tried to always increase my charitable giving when I get a raise.  Each year I add a little more to my donations.  Across the years I have used different work-related payroll deductions since I don’t ever “get” that money and it happens automatically.  When I was chief in Burlington, it was the United Way of Alamance.  Now it is the state campaign and I handle it the same way.  I direct all of my state money back to the Alamance UW.”

Charles with DOR says, “The SECC is such a wonderful campaign that supports many great charities. There is such a need for each of us to help these organizations so they can continue helping so many others that are in need. I feel so blessed myself and it is such a pleasure be a blessing to others by giving through the SECC.”

Michael with DOT says, “I like how easy it is to select from many many charities to give to. The way it comes out of your paycheck you never miss it.”

Sherri with DOT says, “I give through the SECC because the charities have been vetted so that I can be sure that the money I donate is actually going to help people. I also enjoy the ease of having it taken out of my paycheck and that I don’t get endless mailings asking me for more money once I donate once. I’ve been donating through the combined campaign so long the mailings I used to get have stopped.”

Louis with Judicial says, “I have given through SECC for years and years.  I have always found it an easy way to make donations and plan to continue to do so as long as I serve as a Judge.”

Carla with Labor says, “I give through SECC because it’s easy to do and convenient.  I love giving, and this is a way that I always know I will have the funds available to do it each month!”

Reginald with Lottery says, “I am committed to giving back.  My passion and ministry is providing food, clothing and etc. to people in need. The SECC makes it easy to contribute and it pre-tax.  I have been blessed to have plenty of both and a roof over my head.  I don’t take any of these things for granted.  We are required by God to love or neighbors, and I don’t want anyone that I love to be hungry.”

John with Secretary of State says, “I give through SECC because equal payroll deductions are an easy and convenient way for me to give.”

Kevin with SECU says, “I give through SECC 1. Because it is my believe that you should give at least the first 10% of your income to help others. Whether that’s through a church or another service organization giving your first fruits is what we are called to do. 2. SECC makes it simple to give, where it comes directly out of your paycheck before you see the money in your account. 3. It allows you to give to a variety of organizations all at once. I give to the Boys and Girls club because I was personally effected by their work as a low income single father who needed flexible after school child care and they were amazingly helpful to me in a time of struggle. I also give to the Rescue Mission because I have seen the amazing work they do and believe in their mission of helping those in our community in the most need. And lastly, I give to Woods Charter School because my son goes there and the donations not only go to improvements and supplies for the school but to help supplement the teachers’ income who work there and typically make less than the average public school teacher.”

Lori with SECU says, “One of the main reasons I choose to give through SECC is because of how easy it is. The process of deciding the contribution amount and selecting the recipients is straightforward and hassle-free. It takes just a few minutes to make a meaningful impact. Another reason I am drawn to SECC is the wide range of options available. I value the opportunity to contribute locally, and SECC provides a plethora of organizations and causes to choose from. This allows me to support the communities and causes that are closest to my heart.”

Tenesha with SECU says, “I give to SECC because life often gets in the way of good intentions, even those that are most important to you!  SECC gives me the opportunity to prioritize my giving and ensure that the organizations whose causes resonate the most with me receive my bit of support.  SECU provides a central place for me to find and research organizations that I may be interested in supporting; some of which may not have caught my attention otherwise!”

Laura with State Treasurer says, “I donate through the SECC because it is easy to do and the types of charities that are important to me are included in the SECC’s list of available charities to whom to donate – those in support of veterans and animals.   Also, if a charity is on the SECC’s list, I trust that it has been vetted by the SECC to have reasonable overhead costs, so more of the donation money is used to serve the mission of the charity – rather than unnecessarily large salaries and expenses being paid with donated money.”

Stephanie with State Treasurer says, “I give through SECC because charities are to keep their admin costs low.  If I give a $1 I know not more than .10 is going to admin costs and the remainder goes to the charity for their work.  I also give to those charities I believe in.”

Kendrick with Wildlife Resource Commission says, “I like to give through SECC because almost all my favorite charities are there, and it is a one stop shop for distributing my contributions for the coming year. Also, all the charities are vetted and so I am confident the charities I give to are not only legitimate but have reasonable overhead in doing their work.  Finally, you can choose to be an anonymous giver, which can reduce the number of solicitations you receive from those to whom you give.”

UNIVERSITIES

Jane with Appalachian State University says, “I give because as a state employee I feel it is so important to support my local community and the amazing things that organizations and people are doing to support one another.”

Savannah with Appalachian State University says, “I have a background in philanthropy and nonprofits so I understand how critical donations are for these groups. I also like to support my community!”

Anonymous Donor with Appalachian State University says, “I really like the option to remain anonymous and especially the convenience of having it all in one deduction from my paycheck each month.  That is a true value-add for me.  I think it also helps to give as a group and see the impact we can make together.” I also like being able to give to multiple charities at one time. Easy & efficient.

Don with East Carolina University says, “I am prior military and we had the Combined Federal Campaign. I was excited to see that there is a similar program for NC state employees! I love this program because it allows me to give back to the community in a consistent and easy manner. It was effortless to find charities that I wanted to donate to, and setting up and making the donation couldn’t be easier. I have an allotted amount of money I desire to donate to charities every year, and this makes it easy to parse that out.”

Jim with East Carolina University says, “1] Allows me to choose from an extensive list of reputed charities working across different sectors/causes (with impact ranging from local to global). 2] Allows me to pay via recurring paycheck deduction or single credit card transaction. The recurring paycheck deduction is very convenient because you can decide on the total amount and how you want it distributed across your choice of charities. 3] Donating as a team with my fellow NC state employees is a powerful way to be part of something bigger (and grow awareness and increase the movement to help our fellow beings and much needed causes locally as well as globally).”

Laura with East Carolina University says, “Well, this is a complicated question.  Five of the charities I designated have to do with animal welfare.  I am involved in canine rescue and like dogs more than I like most people.  I have supported the Methodist Home for the last several years because my aunt and uncle once worked there; they stayed in touch with people from there throughout the rest of their lives and I myself met many of them.  The other charities I support because I know their work and the difference they make. I will not say that I have led a “charmed life,” but I know that I have had much that others have not.  My parents taught us the importance of giving when we could.”

Lynne with East Carolina University says, “I appreciate the SECC campaign as it helps me choose local charities that I feel strongly about, and find a simple and seamless way to contribute to them.  Charitable giving is important to me, but without an “automatic” way to contribute, I find that I simply don’t do enough.  Although I contribute to some causes for fund-raising events, I think the regular contributions through SECC are probably more helpful to these charities.  Payroll deduction is easy and convenient for me!”

Ella with NC State University says, “I like giving through SECC because it's a convenient and consistent way to ensure that I'm giving to organizations that I wish to support.”

Gary with NC State University says, “I started years ago contributing my donation to Artspace (Raleigh's art center) annually through the SECC because I helped found that organization, was a President of the Artspace, Inc. Board of Directors for a couple years, was going to contribute anyway, and found the SECC a convenient way to continue my support. Payroll deduction is a key. Years later, I am still contributing to Artspace through SECC, raise my pledge by 10 percent every year and can continue that support monthly without missing the money. It is sorta like giving to the church community my wife and I have supported since we joined decades ago.”

Reid with NC State University says, “I've been supporting the SECC since I joined the NC State staff community in 2012. It's a convenient way to maximize my impact for the organizations and entities I care about. I appreciate that I can easily adjust allocations, see my giving history and give more as my budget allows. The SECC reflects our collective interest in supporting and strengthening our communities through philanthropy. I know my modest gifts, when combined with thousands of other state employees, make a difference in the lives of countless people across the state. In some cases I have the opportunity to see that impact firsthand and like all giving should be, it feels good.”

Brian with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I give through SECC for several reasons: 1. You provide a curated list of donation possibilities, many of which I would want to support, but with your list, I don’t have to track them down individually. 2. The payroll deduction option (even though I rarely use it) is very convenient. 3. It enables me to say to all the other folks who call or email me at home for donations that “I do my charity giving through SECC.”  That avoids the hassle of dealing with them and the inevitable “guilt” they try to impose on you for refusing them. Basically, your website covers my rationales: https://carolinacares.unc.edu/about-the-campaign/top-5-reasons-to-give-through-the-secc/”

Cassandra with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I give to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because parents do not need the stress of finances when dealing with a sick child.  And they share their research. I donate to Feed the Children because no one should go hungry. I give to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because their research has found treatments for both Leukemia & Lymphoma, but also some other cancers.”

Chih-Ing with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I grew up with oral narratives about food insecurity that was experienced by my parents and their families during the Japanese occupation and World War 2 in Singapore. For my dad’s family, this was exacerbated post-war due to an untimely death of my granddad who was the sole breadwinner for his family with children ages 18 months to 12 years of age. Education was a pathway out of poverty for my parents and by the time I was born, my parents had stable jobs and we could live simply but comfortably. We were able to have access to fresh foods especially fresh vegetables as they were the most cost-effective. My journey to where I am today is really because of the many sacrifices and commitment to education made by my grandparents and parents, and for the fact that there were neighbors and others who supported my family when they were down and out, and also nutritious fresh foods being more accessible than junk or processed foods in Singapore. Carolina Cares campaign is a time when I recommit my pledge to support programs that are closest to my heart. In the past years, programs I’ve supported have been ones that support families and children who have food insecurities. Because I’ve benefitted from having access to nutritious fresh foods when I was a child and continue to be afforded that opportunity to get most of my foods from my local farmers’ market, I’m excited that Farmer Foodshare is now one of the organizations that I could make a pledge to.”

Donna with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I give because I want everyone on this planet to thrive. It is my hope that each individual or community that I help will ultimately help others, creating a web of support that will expand beyond that one gift.”

Joseph with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I have donated is because I am a diabetic type two and love to support the research effort.”

Katie with UNC Chapel Hill says, “There are two reasons that I choose to participate in SECC. First, it’s easy. Having a variety of impactful nonprofits at our fingertips to direct dollars towards from our paychecks makes philanthropy effortless. Second, I love the idea of being part of a larger collective giving effort. It’s not just me, staff member in this School or department. But, it is public servant leaders for the state of North Carolina choosing to invest their resources back into their communities.”

Sarah with UNC Chapel Hill says, “I have found the range of causes, charities, and organizations to which donations can be given through this mechanism to be ones that I would give to anyway. Doing it through the SECC makes it extremely convenient for me for 2 reasons: •      For our household, we budget a certain percent of our income to be allocated to charity, kind of like our tithe for the year.  Being able to distribute that budgeted amount each month through payroll across a variety of causes that are meaningful to our family makes the act of giving easy! •        Donating in this way also streamlines my charitable contributions come tax time - all the documentation is in one place - I just print out my SECC list each year from the campaign!”

Daniel with UNC Health Care says, “I can give once a year, then ignore any and all solicitations for the rest of the year! I know the SECC charities have been vetted using strict criteria, so I have confidence the money is going where needs to be. Payroll deduction is easy along with PTO donation, simple to donate. I really like the enhancements made to the online portal, specifically being able to see the charities I have given to instead of having to look them up each year.”

Jeff with UNC Health Care says, “I give because I have been caring for patients for over 30 years and this is just something I feel compelled to give back to our community. Thank you for all you do to make this happen.”

John with UNC Health Care says, “I donate to the SECC because I think it is important for state employees to work together in service of the people of the state of North Carolina.”

Jonathan with UNC Health Care says, “SECC is a wonderful platform to support charities, programs and initiatives to benefit North Carolinians. I appreciate the ability to make better use of my PTO hours.”

Joseph with UNC Health Care says, “I am blessed to have enough, others are not as fortunate.”

LuAn with UNC Health Care says, “I give through the SECC because it is an easy way to support organizations in which I believe. Because my donations come out of my paycheck, it is a “pledge and forget it” situation that I find very convenient, and painless! I am glad this option of giving back to our communities is made available to state employees.”

Sola with UNC Health Care says, “I am glad this campaign is available to serve the community. It is a seamless and easy way to give back! I think giving is important because many of these charities are forced to spend millions of dollars for advertising to generate donations. By utilizing the SECC, hopefully these charities can use some of that money normally spent on advertising to help people. I hope more people will choose to utilize the SECC.”

Victoria with UNC School of the Arts says, “I give to the SECC fund in support of UNC School of the Arts’ fundraising efforts.  It is also is my way of tithing to organizations that support my soft spots – feeding those who are hungry, making it possible for war-torn areas of the world to have access to doctors, and to support the care of abused and neglected children.  It is an honor for me to share some of my blessings with our community and our world.”

John a Retiree says, “It's a good way to give a little to many worthy, important causes while writing and sending just one check”