This year’s State Employees Federated Appeal/United Way campaign ramps up to high gear in the coming weeks, with Baskets of Caring, hockey games, prizes and more.

This year, the campus volunteer committee has set a goal of raising $30,000 through events and individual contributions, as well as increasing the number of employees who give.

SEFA is the solicitation of state employees in their workplaces on behalf of approved charities, through which employees can support charities of their choice through a single pledge through payroll deduction, electronic donation or by check -- as well as through various campus fundraisers.

Upcoming events include:

  • Baskets of Caring, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 15 and 16, Marano Campus Center concourse: Campus members can donate $1 to vote for their favorite themed baskets and for chance to win them.

  • United Way Hockey Nights: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2: The Laker women take on Cortland and the men’s team faces Brockport, respectively, on these two nights to raise awareness and funds.

  • Holiday Skate with the Lakers: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10: An annual tradition where community members join Laker student-athletes on the ice for a family-friendly time.

Organizers urge -- and incentivize -- employees to make their deductions or other donations by year's end. Contributors will be entered into a weekly series of prize drawings, with online donation remaining a popular option. New campaign features include chances on a Dec. 11 drawing for an Apple Watch, for which tickets cost $1 each or 10 chances for $5, available from any SEFA committee member.

A trio of bake-offs, a chrysanthemum sale, October’s Walk-A-Thon and a Fitness Center fundraiser started the momentum, raising more than $1,700 as well as awareness of the annual campaign.

For more information, visit https://www.oswego.edu/sefa.