Each year, the College of Media & Communication participates in the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC), a university-organized program offering system employees an opportunity to give to a wide-ranging list of charities and non-profit organizations with local to international impact. In 2020, college faculty and staff exceeded their established giving goal in a show of support and concern with a community and world challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a very exciting outcome which shows the heart and soul of our faculty and staff, even in a very difficult time,” said David D. Perlmutter, Ph.D., professor and dean. “We thank Kimberly Wagner for her leadership for breaking our previous giving record this year.”
Dean Perlmutter and Associate Dean for Administration and Finance Amy Koerber, Ph.D., asked Wagner to serve as the CoMC's 2020 SECC coordinator. The college manager worked with faculty and staff to raise $8,256.42, surpassing a goal of $6,818.01. This represented a 37% increase from the total given in 2019, even as the goal for 2020 grew by 111%.
A familiar friendly face to everyone at CoMC for the past six years, Wagner was honored to be selected as the campaign coordinator and knew from the start the college would exceed its goal.
“This achievement speaks so highly of our college and the individuals that make up the CoMC family,” Wagner said. “CoMC is truly made up of a caring, giving, compassionate, and benevolent group of people who sincerely care and want to help others achieve what they know is possible.”
CoMC and university employees gave to the SECC through one-time gifts or contributed through regular paycheck deductions between September 1 and October 31. Since the campaign started in 1994, millions of dollars have been raised for a variety of organizations, including local non-profits like the South Plains Food Bank and far-reaching organizations like United Way and The Salvation Army.
At intervals during the campaign, Wagner organized various giveaways for contributors, even throwing in a couple of surprise awards herself, including a “Dream Horse Experience” involving a customized riding lesson she will personally instruct with her own animals. Ian Wilkinson, the director of the college's technology support services, won the drawing for his son, and Wagner is excited to host them soon to make some special memories on horseback.
“I can honestly say that serving as the SECC coordinator for our college was the most positive experience that I had in 2020,” said Wagner, who is a regular campaign contributor to Focus on the Family and a new giver to Kat's Alley Cats, a local animal rescue organization that works directly with the Texas Tech feral cat program. “Due to the generosity of our faculty and staff, I have to say that this was the easiest task I have ever been assigned.”
Referencing Robert Louis Stevenson's statement, “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving,” Wagner voiced her pride in the college while looking forward to future giving seasons.
“It was never about me, and it really was never about our wonderful college colleagues,” said Wagner. “Everyone who gave did so with a heart of compassion and giving and reflected in their lives a light that truly shines out and makes a difference. For that, I am extremely blessed to be a part of this wonderful CoMC family.”