I am honored to serve as chair for the 2009 State Employees Combined Campaign, leading the effort for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Each year, the faculty, staff, and students of UNC demonstrate their compassion and generosity by their contributions to our annual campaign. Last year, more than $815,000 was raised for the SECC, the highest amount in the history of UNC. In this, the 23rd year of the campaign, we are facing difficult conditions across the state which impact the lives of our citizens on a daily basis. Those of us employed at UNC-Chapel Hill can help those less fortunate by contributing to the charity of your choice through the SECC, knowing that your dollars are well-spent. Each charity is screened for sound management and for keeping administrative costs low - below 10% -so that the funds are distributed toward those programs that actually impact the groups to which they are dedicated. Our goal for the SECC this year is $825,000. We are keeping last year’s theme of “Carolina Cares – Carolina Shares” because we feel it is more relevant than ever and delivers a simple but important message, especially in these challenging times. I hope you will consider a gift to the SECC this year. You can make a difference.

Dean Bill Roper, UNC School of Medicine