With requests for help increasing, COMECC support needed more than ever

 

by: Kristen O’Reilly , UMass Medical School Communications

 

As the final days of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employee Charitable Campaign (COMECC) approaches, news reports illuminate the importance of giving back to the community, especially this year. A front page story in Boston Globe on Wednesday, Nov. 17, reported a sharp increase in requests for help from all over the state, including a 50 percent increase in calls to the United Way.

The UMass Medical School community is doing its part to help meet this growing need through the COMECC campaign, which began on Nov. 8 and officially ends on Nov. 24. The campaign is fueled by captains in each department, who act as leaders for distributing and collecting pledge forms, answering questions and encouraging participation.

Robert Lane, MEd, director of Outreach Programs & Worcester Pipeline Collaborative coordinator is a first-time captain. “I asked my department members to remember the help and assistance that these charities provide to others as they consider contributing to COMMEC,” he said. “We never know when we or one of our family members will be in need of assistance.”

Facility Manager Mike Gregory, who has led the COMECC campaign for the past seven years, emphasized that the captains are an essential part of the process. “These people really work hard to get the word out about how easy it is to participate. They’re always the unsung heroes of this campaign,” he said.

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COMECC, which was established in 1984, gives state employees the opportunity to support private, nonprofit health and human services and environmental organizations. Participants can give online through www.COMECC.net, where they can also print out a pledge form to return to their captain. Gifts can be a one-time donation, or spread out over the year with monthly payments, and all transactions can be completed through payroll deductions.

Employees determine the amount to contribute, as well as which agencies they would like to support. With less than 10 percent of the money raised used for administrative costs, every dollar pledged goes a long way to helping others.

This year’s goal is $500,000 and 50 percent participation by all UMass Medical School employees. “Your support will help the organizations that inspire you, as they, in turn, will be inspired by your support,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins.

For more information, or to make a pledge, visit www.COMECC.net.