CFC underway

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The Aviano Combined Federal Campaign kicked off Oct. 5 with a celebration at the base exchange.

During the event, Brig. Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., 31st Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Laten Williams, 31st FW command chief, were the first to sign their contribution forms, followed by other members of the Aviano community.

"Giving is part of being an American and CFC affords people the opportunity to contribute to any of thousands of charitable organizations around the globe," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Luu, co-Aviano CFC community area project officer.

The sergeant, assigned to the 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, said he understands the importance of donating to charity having been on the receiving end.

"I was a refugee until I was 14," he said. "Before that, my family and I lived by charity donations from others. I truly understand the needs required by those families who are helped. To quote Mother Theresa, 'The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service."

Federal employees have made CFC the largest and most successful workplace philanthropic fundraiser in the world, according to the CFC Overseas Web site. In 2008, Federal employees raised more than $15.8 million for charitable causes around the world, with Aviano donations totaling $260,000.

"Our goal is always 100 percent contact, but we would like to increase giving participation by almost 10 percent this year going from 31 to 40 percent," said Capt. James Capra, co-Aviano CFC community area project officer.

The captain, assigned to the 603rd Air Control Squadron, added that each squadron has a CFC representative who should make contact with all unit members in the coming weeks.

"Those not wanting to wait for their representative to contact them can also make contributions by credit card by going online to the CFC Overseas Web site located at www.cfcoverseas.org," he said.

Contributors can also use the CFC Overseas Web site online pledge assistant to fill out their pledge sheet in advance to give to their unit representative. A complete list of CFC charities is available on the Web site.

Donations can be made by cash, credit card, check or direct deposit.

The captain added that this year's participants will also be entered into a drawing for one of three U.S. Savings Bonds valued at $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Each pledge form will be entered into a grand prize drawing at the end of the campaign in December.

The CFC dates back to the early 1960s in an effort to coordinate the fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations so that the federal donor would only be solicited once in the workplace, according to campaign officials.

For more information on the CFC Overseas, visit www.cfcoverseas.org.