Atlanta — May 23, 2008

The University System of Georgia (USG) led the field at a recent awards ceremony honoring the state agencies that made the most notable contributions to the success of the 2007-2008 State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP). The USG contributed $1.3 million of the $2.7 million contributed by all state employees to designated charities during the campaign.

“I am very proud of the impact that we are having on the communities in which we are privileged to live and work – not only through economic development, technology spin-off and community service, but also through our generous giving,” said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr.

“The State Charitable Contributions Program is an opportunity for all of us to add value to the lives of people living in the communities served by the University System,” added Tonya Kilpatrick, who coordinated the University System Office participation in the SCCP.

Offices, institutes and institutions within the University System collected four of five Governor’s Cup awards given out by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and State Personnel Administration Commissioner Steve Stevenson. The Governor’s Cup honor is awarded based on a performance formula that calculates the highest contribution per employee.

• Agencies with 9001 or more employees – the University of Georgia, which collected $430,600 from 24 percent of its employees;
• Agencies with 1001-9000 employees – Georgia Tech, which collected nearly $300,000 from 28 percent of its employees;
• Agencies with 101-500 employees - Board of Regents (the University System Office), which collected $77,800 from 77 percent of its employees;
• Agencies with 1-100 employees – the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, an autonomous research unit of the University System, which collected $11,500 from 68.5 percent of its employees;

In addition, Georgia State University took home a Commissioner’s Award as a runner-up in the Governor’s Cup competition for agencies with 1001-9000 employees ($137,400).

Two University System institutions also won Governor’s Awards. The award for the “Largest Increase in Contributions” to the SCCP among USG campuses went to Georgia Tech, which saw an increase of more than $88,000, or 42 percent, in its contributions since the 2006-2007 SCCP campaign. And, for the second time in recent years, the award for the “Highest Level of Employee Participation” in the campaign among the USG’s campuses went to Atlanta Metropolitan College – 69 percent of approximately 175 employees donated to the charities of their choice through the SCCP.

Each of these institutions has been honored in the past for their performance in the SCCP, some several times.

The State Charitable Contributions Program provides state employees with a convenient way to annually help thousands of Georgia families and non-profit organizations. Employees may select from more than 1,200 charitable organizations to make contributions by payroll deductions or lump-sum payments.

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