Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” That certainly applies to the Hearts of Texas Campaign at The University of Texas at Austin. Last year, the State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign (SECC) awarded the university the 2009 Highest Per Capita Gift and 2009 Highest Percent Participation awards. Together we raised more than $641,000 for those in need in Central Texas. The recognition is quite an honor and says a lot about the generosity of The University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff. The 2010 Hearts of Texas Campaign gets underway October 1 and runs through October 31. It is the best and easiest way to support the people and causes you care about. Since 1996, the Hearts of Texas has proven that by combining our contributions, we make them go further and have a greater impact. As a University employee, you already are an important part of our Austin community, but by contributing to the campaign, you increase your service to the community and put a personal stamp on it. The campaign’s primary goal is to make it possible for charities to focus more on serving people by decreasing their fundraising costs. With more than 500 charities to choose from, you can select a cause that has particular meaning to you. All charities have been carefully screened and range from national organizations to local ones. They include Doctors Without Borders, Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, as well as the Austin Child Guidance Center and The University of Texas at Austin student and staff emergency fund administered through the UT Foundation. In uncertain economic times, it is even more important to reach out to those individuals who have the greatest need. Your gift, large or small, can allow a charity to feed one more child, immunize one more baby, provide one more night of shelter for a homeless family, rescue one more animal or conserve one more acre of forest.  Every dollar makes a difference. To donate or to learn more about the worthy organizations you can help support, please visit Hearts of Texas at http://www.utexas.edu/events/secc/ or contact your departmental representative. Your gift will address our community’s most critical needs. Please make a gift today. Dr. Gregory J. Vincent Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement Honorary Chair, Hearts of Texas Campaign