Despite tough economic times, on Thursday, Kentucky state employees delivered an amazing total for the Kentucky Employees Charitable Campaign.
Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and 2009 KECC Chair, said, “The fact that we have a bad economy is a mission. It is an incentive for us to do even better.”
And state employees did just that. The combined efforts state employees topped last year’s total by raising $1.4 million for six charities. One of those charities is the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Dawn Lee, WHAS Crusade for Children CEO, said, “The contribution the Crusade for Children receives from the KECC is remarkable because it comes from state employees in every county across the state. What that allows the Crusade to do is help children throughout Kentucky.”
That $1.4 million dollar total could increase as end-of-year contributions come into the charitable campaign’s office.
Here’s more in a press release from the State of Kentucky
Although many human services nonprofit organizations are being forced to cut services and expenses due to a decrease in fundraising efforts, the 2009 Kentucky Employees Charitable Campaign (KECC) managed to surpass the amount raised in 2008.
The theme for the 2009 state-authorized employee giving campaign was “Compassion at Work, Serving Our Neighbors in Need.” Gov. Steve Beshear asked that state workers make an effort to be especially compassionate during this time of financial turmoil.
Even in the midst of the worst recession in decades, a state unemployment rate of 11.2 percent and fewer employees than last year, state government employees responded. Nearly 10,000 donors have contributed $1,405,000 to date. The final contribution tally is not expected until the end of the year.
“Many Kentucky families are struggling to put food on the table during these difficult economic times, just as state government faces enormous budget challenges,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am proud that, in spite of these economic hardships, state employees managed to help those who are in need and depend upon the services that KECC charities provide.”
“It has been a tough year in state government as many agencies are coping with tighter budgets and fewer staff,” said Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and 2009 KECC Chair. “To see such outstanding results from our campaign, in the face of this unprecedented economic downturn, I think it shows what Kentuckians are made of.”
The KECC, which began in 1993, is operated by state employees. It supports six federated charities including: Christian Appalachian Project; Community Health Charities of Kentucky; Easter Seals Kentucky; Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky; United Way of Kentucky; and the WHAS Crusade for Children. Agencies in every county in the Commonwealth benefit from KECC charities, which provide everything from basic needs and services to health research and child abuse prevention.
“It has been a great privilege for me to be a part of the 2009 KECC,” said Sec. Miller. “The dedication of the volunteers who made this year’s campaign so successful has been an inspiration to me.”
