Upstate Medical University, the area’s largest employer, is poised to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars through employee contributions to the its Fall Community Giving Campaign.

Over the past five years, the Upstate campaign has raised nearly $2.9 million. The campaign benefits the United Way of CNY and SEFA charities, including funds supported by the Advocates for Upstate, Upstate Alumni funds and the Upstate Foundation.

The focus of this year’s campaign is celebrating Upstate’s giving gene. It is co-chaired by Robert Corona, DO, MBA, chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital, and Amy Tucker, MD, chief medical officer.

“The giving gene is an intrinsic part of an individual to give to others,” Corona said.  “There is an intrinsic gene in many of us, especially the people at Upstate who want to give. They give of their time, they give their best intellectual horsepower to try to make people more comfortable. With all the people that work at Upstate as the largest employer, we can really make an impact.”

“Improving the human condition is the foundation of all we do at Upstate,” Tucker said. “It’s the focus of our clinical care, our research, our education, and especially our community outreach, which we celebrate with the Community Giving Campaign.”

All employees will receive an email on Sept. 23 with a link to make a pledge. From the link, one can access a list of charities and funds to make a direct donation to the charity of one’s choice. Also, the link includes a giving history for each employee.

The campaign includes giving incentives. By pledging through Self Serve, employees qualify to be included in a daily drawing from Sept. 23 through Oct. 4 for $100.

Continuous giving has started, introduced last year. Employees who gave via payroll deduction (26-pay periods) are enrolled. 

Continuous giving maintains an employee’s gift until they opt out. Any donor who uses payroll deduction over 26 pay periods is enrolled. As pledge rolls forward in the new campaign year, the amount and designation remain the same as the prior year. Employees may decide if they want to increase it to be eligible for the Step-Up challenge or change your pledge in any other way.

The complete resource for the Community Giving Campaign can be found at https://www.upstate.edu/communitygiving/.

Campaign Committee members include Zanette Howe (chair), Katherine Beissner, PT, PhD, Mark Congel, Kelly Dolan, Amy Green, Devin Kerr, Katherine Magnarelli, Sarah Trapani, Nancy Prott, Meghann Sandak. Ad hoc committee members are Leah Caldwell and Rebecca Janowski.

Campaign nursing sub-committee members are Kathleen Berardi, Brenda Dano, Kelly Dolan, JoAnn Featherstone, Tonya Seckner, Yowali Singh, Anne Snowdon.

Linda Veit, MPH, and Nancy Prott will head up gifts for the Hamilton White, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Sarah Loguen societies

Caption: Upstate's Community Giving Campaign captains gathered today for the campiagn kick off.