MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- This year's Combined Federal Campaign kicked off Oct. 19th, with a 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. fair at The Hap Arnold Club. Sixteen local charities were on hand to provide information and raise awareness for their causes.
The fair, open to everyone, gave possible donors the opportunity to talk with workers from local charitable organizations and learn how donations would help the charities. The information will help individuals make more educated decisions on whether to donate and how to distribute their donations. The organizations also provided information about volunteer opportunities, as well.
"CFC is the foundation of just about any non-profit organization because it gives us the opportunity to mingle with federal employees and get them to donate to whatever organization their heart guides them toward," said Keith Gibbs, a retired Marine operating Commit II Achieve Youth Boot Camp.
Recently, the Western Riverside CFC merged with the Orange County/San Bernardino CFC to form the So Cal Tri-County CFC.
"Because that merger allowed us to reduce overhead expenses, we expect to have less than eight percent overhead costs, which beats the nationwide average," said Susan Blum, local federal coordinating committee member.
Historically, CFC administrative costs nationwide have averaged 10 percent, which cover printing materials, training volunteers, contribution audits and other operating expenses, according to CFC literature.
The Team March CFC coordinator, Capt. Jonathan Askins, 729th Airlift Squadron, said his team has set a goal of $115,000 for the 2010 campaign.
"We looked at our number last year and decided that even in this tough economic time, we can beat last year's number," he said. "We added a three to five percent increase to last year's total. We plan to motivate our key workers to get 100 percent contact to everyone on base and get people excited about CFC this year."
"Any dollar that we get from CFC goes to a great cause and it helps us out tremendously," said Beatriz Barragan, St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, event marketing manager. "It's a dollar more than we had the day before."
Reservists, civilians and air reserve technicians can give to CFC in a one-time donation. Civilians and air reserve technicians also have the option of donating through payroll deductions.
"You have no idea how even the smallest token of giving can have a dramatic impact on our organization or any non-profit," said Montrice Shabete, sight director, Boy and Girls Clubs of Redlands. "Even the small gifts are big for us."
Literature from the CFC has March Air Reserve Base listed as the top contributor for the Western Riverside County CFC during the 2009 campaign with $111,871 donated, followed closely by Corona Naval Surface War Center. Community Health Charities is listed as the top local/national/international charity for the same area with Christian Service Charities coming in second.
The CFC, established by President John F. Kennedy via Presidential Order in 1961, is the world's largest and most successful charitable drive. The Office of Personnel Management's website says the CFC mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. The OPM is the office of primary responsibility for the program.
For more information visit
http://www.opm.gov/cfc or talk to your squadron volunteer.