Thanks to the efforts of its employee engagement committee, the Department of Pediatrics is making October as colorful as Candy Land. The Department is continuing its annual tradition of going all out on State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) events – and this year, it’s doing more than ever.
Administrative Coordinator Julie Lively
The primary color in the Pediatrics rainbow? Pink. “Back by popular demand,” said Administrative Coordinator Julie Lively, the activity invites members to purchase a flock of flamingos to overtake a colleague’s workspace – or buy “anti-flocking” insurance. The result: Bright pink pop-up flamingos fill the Department.
Think you can handle more pink? Pediatrics sure can. The Department also held a bake sale and “pink out,” where employees donated $5 to wear jeans, with pink on top, to support breast cancer research. Employees also made and sold homemade baked goods, raising more than $900. “We held this year’s bake sale in memory of Jessica Cabrera, former Lead Administrator in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, and in honor of all Pediatrics employees whose lives have been touched by breast cancer,” Ms. Lively said. Valencia Turner and Opal Autry co-chaired the subcommittee for the SECC bake sale, with all other committee members pitching in.
Candy Grams
New this year: Candy Grams! For a $5 donation, Pediatrics employees can have a bag of candy hand-delivered to a special colleague. Check out their deliveries chronicled on the Pediatrics page of MyUTSW.
Pediatrics leadership is getting involved as well – for a $5 donation, staff and faculty can purchase a bagel or pastry with coffee or juice, served with a smile by Department leaders.
“All of our employee engagement efforts are made possible by our employee engagement committee, which is strictly on a volunteer basis,” said Tina Williamson, Administrative Manager in Pediatrics. “For each engagement activity, especially if an event is large like our SECC fundraising, subcommittees are formed to ensure efforts are spread evenly among volunteers. We are grateful for our employee volunteers!”
The Department Digital Content Manager, Karen Wall, ensures all engagement events are shared across the entire Department, which spans many different locations on campus. Ms. Wall is also a flamingo aficionado – officiating the flocking activities and recording the antics for posterity.
“We all have a goal of increasing engagement and participation levels by both faculty and staff,” Ms. Williamson said. “And we have a little fun along the way building teamwork and raising funds for a good cause.”
And the efforts are paying off for those in need. As of Oct. 26, UTSW has raised more than $50,000 as part of the SECC.
Administrative Coordinator Julie Lively