The Oklahoma Department of Human Services received its seventh consecutive award for being the Single Largest Contributor to the annual State Charitable Campaign and accepted the traveling trophy during a ceremony in Oklahoma City.

The agency also received the Silver Medal certificate for showing a five percent or greater increase in dollars in the 2009 campaign. The trophy will be displayed in the Sequoyah Building lobby.

OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick was on hand to congratulate all the State Charitable Campaign coordinators.

"This is the first year any agency has collected over $100,000," he said. "With all the economic challenges and the uncertainty the state is facing, I can't say enough to express my gratitude to our employees."

Karen Jacobs, OKDHS volunteerism coordinator, serves as the agency coordinator for the state charitable campaign. She announced the total raised by OKDHS was $100,638.98. These funds will go to the State Charitable Campaign's partner charities, a group comprised of more than 250 local, state and international organizations that help Oklahomans in need.

Jacobs had special words of praise for OKDHS divisions that exceeded their campaign goal, achieved 100 percent participation or were the largest contributor. The OKDHS Data Services Division raised $20,536 to lead the pack. Achieving 100 percent participation were the Pauline Mayer Shelter and Deborah Rothe Group Home staffs; the Office of Planning, Research and Statistics; and the Office of Support Services Division's contracts and purchasing unit. Exceeding their fundraising goal were the Finance Division and the Oklahoma County 55D Human Services Center.