Campus Community

Collectively, we raised nearly $94,000 for charity during this year’s SEFA campaign, a milestone not reached in years! This achievement reflects your dedication to the community, our students, and our Interim President, Dr. Bonita Durand.  Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who made this campaign a remarkable success. Together, exceeding our goal reflects the heart of our theme: “At Buffalo State, Bengals Give Stronger Together.”

We are still accepting last-minute donations! If you haven’t had a chance to contribute to the campaign, please complete the online paper form and submit with your donation to Maria Garrity. Visit our SEFA website for more up to date information. 

Winners Circle:
Here are the 2025 end of the campaign prize winners, generously donated by our leadership: 

• First Prize – Sunday Brunch for 10 people (Interim President Bonnie Durand) 
                          Winner: Samantha Carney, paid it forward and donated it to Darlene DiCesare, Senior Staff Assistant • University Police
• Second Prize – Reserved Parking Space (VP James Thor)
                          Winner: Elisa Bergslien, Associate Professor • Geosciences
• Third Prize – Office Pizza Party for up to 12 people (Provost & Co-Chair Amitra Wall)
                          Winner: Lisa Gatti, Grants Administration Associate • Sponsored Programs Office
• Fourth Prize – Bengal Deck Party for 10 people with seasonal refreshments at a Fall 2026 football game (Interim VP Wayne Brumfield)
                         Winner: Amy Pedlow, Chief of Police • University Police
• Fifth Prize – Two Tickets to the Scholarship Gala (VP James Finnerty)
                         Winner: Clemon George, Assistant Professor • Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics
• Sixth Prize – Taco Tuesday Lunch for up to 10 people (Taco/Nacho Bar catered by Chartwells) (Interim VP David Loreto)
                        Winner: Stephen Phelps, Associate Professor Emeritus 
• Seventh Prize – $100 Barnes & Noble Bookstore Gift Certificate (Lynn Puma)
                        Winner: Chris Heximer, Clinical Supervisor • Speech-Language Hearing Clinic
• Eighth Prize – Lunch for 4 at Campus House (Dean Paterson & Dean Frothingham)
                        Winner: John Thompson, Associate Professor Emeritus • Computer Information Systems
• Ninth Prize – Two Performing Arts Center Tickets (Andrew Binder)
                      Winner: Tim Sager, Instructional Support Associate • Information Technology
• Tenth Prize – Private Planetarium Program or Laser Show for up to 30 people (Kevin Williams)
                      Winner: Josie Adamo, Academic Advisement Assistant • Enrollment Management

Be Good, Do Good, God Bless Go Bills:

• Eleventh Prize – Ambassadors’ Raffle: Bills Collectible Little People (Maria Garrity, Carolyn Morris-Hunt & Lisa Morrison-Fronckowiak)
                       Winner: Scott Kent, Manager • Custodial Services
• Twelfth Prize – Ambassadors’ Raffle: Buffalo Bills Keon Coleman Cleat (United Way)
                       Winner: Meredeth Lavelle, Program Manager • Art Conservation Department

•  The Buffalo Bills Official NFL Josh Allen Jersey, donated by Maria Garrity, was won by Steve Cahoon, Assistant Chief of Police, University Police. This prize was raffled to recognize those who increased their pledge to charity.

Previous announced “during the campaign” winners who generously increased their pledge to charity: 

• Cathy Cook – October 15, 2025, Lunch Is on Us! Cathy Cook, Administrative Assistant 2 in the Academic Affairs Vice President's Office, won two free Bengal Kitchen lunches, generously donated by Glenn Bucello.
• Donald Williams – October 24, 2025, A Real Treat! Congratulations to Donald Williams from the Small Business Development Center for your brilliant candy-in-the-jar guess collected $121
• Allison Winkowski – October 30, 2025, Comfort Meets Kindness! Allison Winkowski from the School of Education Applied Professions (SEP) participated in the United Way Challenge and won a $1,000 Ashley Home Furniture gift card.
• Josie Adamo – October 31, 2025, Lunch Is on Us Again! Josie Adamo, Academic Advisement Assistant, won two free Bengal Kitchen lunches, generously donated by Glenn Bucello.
• Tom Killian – November 7, 2025, Lunch Is on Us Yet Again! Tom Killian won two free Bengal Kitchen lunches, generously donated by Glenn Bucello.
• Elizabeth O'Neill – November 14, 2025, Lunch Served in Style by our students! Elizabeth O'Neill from the Engineering Technology Department won two lunches at the Campus House generously donated by Carolyn Morris-Hunt
• Stacy Erokwu – November 21, 2025, Dinner Is Served! Stacy Erokwu won a mouthwatering Turkey dinner with all the fixings generously donated by Lisa Morrison Fronckowiak
• Mary Perrelli – November 21, 2025, Dinner Is Served Yet Again! - Mary Perrelli won a mouthwatering Turkey Dinner with all the fixings generously donated by Carolyn Morris-Hunt and Maria Garrity
• Deborah Jones – November 24, 2025 – A Sweet Victory!  Deborah Jones won a delicious sweet potato pie with whipped cream and a $5.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble. generously donated by Carolyn Morris-Hunt, Maria Garrity and Lisa Morrison Fronckowiak
• Wegmans Holiday shopping On Us! December 1st raffle – Congratulations to the eight $15.00 Wegmans gift card winners; Steven Swiatek, Chima Aharanwa, Elizabeth Grady, Andrew Nicholls, Val Celenza, Katie Morales, Kevin Williams and Yvonne Nagel donated by Maria, Lisa and Carolyn
• Steve Cahoon - Be Good, Do Good, God Bless Go Bills: - December 2nd raffle – Congratulations to Steve Cahoon, University Police on winning the Josh Allen Jersey – donated by Maria Garrity
• Thank you to the more than 105 donors who increased their pledge!

Your Generosity Was The Pie’s Secret Ingredient!

Thank you to everyone who went above and beyond. Not only did you donate, but you also supported our fundraiser by purchasing a delicious sweet potato pie. Your generosity truly made a difference, and all $400 in proceeds are going directly to United Way. 
There are only a few pies left for your holiday festivities, please contact Michael at campushouse@buffalostate.edu before Campus House closes for the semester.  A heartfelt thank you to those who purchased a pie (or two): Interim President Dr. Bonnie Durand, Chuck Arbutina, Curtis and Maria Brickhouse, Wayne Brumfield, Atta Ceesay, Carolyn Morris-Hunt, Lisa Morrison-Fronckowiak, Andrew and Maria Garrity, Yanick Jenkins, Deborah Jones, Dave Loreto, Elizabeth O’Neill, Wendy Paterson, Ron Stewart, Rita Sumers, Jackie Vinson, Brian Vizzi (Alum), Provost Amitra Wall, and Kathy Wood.

Thank You for Making a Difference!

Thank you, Ambassadors, for making a difference by bringing canned goods and yarn for our featured agencies; Stitch Buffalo and FeedMore WNY at the SEFA kickoff on October 1st. FeedMore WNY partners with Buffalo State's Milligan's Food Pantry.

Acts of Kindness!

We appreciate every heartfelt “Why We Give” testimony that was given to us from Josie Adamo, Andrew Garrity, Maria Garrity- SEFA Co-Chair, Tom Killian, Carolyn Morris-Hunt, Elizabeth O’Neill,  Amitra Wall- Provost & SEFA Co-Chair, Donald Williams and Allison Winkowski.  Visit our testimonial page to see previous sentiments.

With Much Gratitude:

Wishing you all the same warmth and generosity you’ve brought to our community through this year’s very successful SEFA campaign. Visit our website for turning generosity into acts of kindness pictures. We sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts, your 2025 SEFA Committee: Amitra Wall, Maria Garrity, Meghan Pereira, Carolyn Morris-Hunt, and Kristine Kaminsky