Why Support SEFA?

We imagine that you, like many others, are asked for money constantly. Friends and family members ask you to buy Girl Scout cookies, donate to 5K walks, and support Sports Booster programs. All of these causes are worthy. So you might be thinking, "Why should I support SEFA?"

Please consider participating in this year's campaign. Every contribution helps. One dollar each pay period can allow a potential donor to be typed for the bone marrow registry or supply a wig to a patient who has lost their hair due to chemotherapy. Learn about how SEFA works and the impact your SEFA contribution can make by reading the following testimonials.

Testimonials from donation recipients:

Teresa House offers a comfort care ministry to residents who are nearing the end of a terminal illness by providing round-the-clock care in a home environment filled with love, dignity and support. We care for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of our residents and their families during the last precious days of life. We are here to lighten the load, reduce stress and anxiety, and encourage families to spend precious quality time together. Your donations are used to support the day-to-day operations of caring for the terminally ill and their families. It is only through the generosity of countless donors, volunteers and friends like you that Teresa House can continue to serve our community. We are so thankful for your support! - The Teresa House

"Genesee Valley Conservancy is the local conservation organization serving the Genesee River watershed, with its office on Main Street in Geneseo.  In 2023, for every $43 donated, the Conservancy leveraged $2,965 in grant awards to cover the full cost of $3,008 to protect one acre of land, forever.  These protected acres become new nature preserves, open to the public for recreation and education, they become protected farmland and forestland that remain privately owned but with protections in place to ensure the nature resources continue to benefit the region, and they become new State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas as the Conservancy acquires critical parcels of land to complete or expand existing publicly owned natural areas.  The regular and predictable giving that comes through SEFA helps our organization leverage significant grant awards that allows us to fund the costly work of permanent land protection." - The Genesee Valley Conservancy

"We love that this program is in place because it facilitates the fundraising process with ease. We are then able to continue to provide healthcare and education that empowers individuals and families. We couldn't do it without your support and we thank you." - Planned Parenthood

"We are very appreciative of the generosity and support from employees who are helping Livingston County CARES fulfill our humanitarian projects, including disaster relief and recovery efforts. In 2005, the campus and community responded to the overwhelming destruction of Hurricane Katrina by creating a non-profit public charity that could contribute money and labor to rebuilding efforts on the Gulf Coast. Since that time, Livingston CARES has sponsored 97 service trips to Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Long Island and Puerto Rico with 1,225 students, 157 faculty/staff/alumni, and 160 community volunteers. In 2025, we will pass the milestone 100th service trip with five service trips including one to help in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in the Asheville area of North Carolina. In addition to disaster recovery, Livingston CARES supports local programs including the Home Away From Home Respite Center at the Interfaith Center that engages student volunteers to provide respite care for individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other memory-related diseases. In 2024, Livingston County CARES and Livingston County Government created a new partnership that provides transportation services to low-income individuals and families who need transportation assistance but “fall through the cracks in eligibility” for other public services. These humanitarian programs are funded through grants and donations from individuals and organizations, Gumbo to Go fundraisers, and state employees through SEFA ... thank you for helping us make this unique partnership with Livingston County make a difference to so many families and our service partner organizations." - Livingston CARES

"LASROC has been committed to providing a variety of free or low-cost civil legal services since 1921. This past year your contribution helped make it possible for more than 8,000 of our community members to access the legal services necessary to navigate crisis. Thank you!" - The Legal Aid Society of Rochester

"The American Red Cross is a volunteer led humanitarian organization which provides blood products, teaches life-saving skills, assists military families and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies – all right here in the Western New York Region. The American Red Cross Greater Rochester Chapter, is unlike any other in the country as it contains the home of Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, in Dansville, NY. This historic landmark at 37 Elizabeth Street has been preserved as a museum to honor the legacy of Clara Barton and the long history of the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross continues to stand ready to assist the residents of Western New York in times of need, responding 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. All Red Cross services are available to individuals simply based on their need at the time of the disaster response or service request. Our mission, although changed in the way we carry it out, has continued amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you so much for your support!" - The American Red Cross

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was founded more than 70 years ago by a family who lost their son to leukemia. With donations from dedicated supporters such as SUNY Geneseo, and their employees, we’ve invested nearly $1.3 billion in cancer research, and made great progress in our quest for cancer cures. Thanks to SUNY Geneseo, we will be able to help reach more blood cancer patients with critical support and services." - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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SEFA Documents and Resources: