JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson personnel banded together to raise money for charities of the Combined Federal Campaign from Oct. 16 to Nov. 30.
The CFC is a government program that gives federal employees the opportunity to donate to nonprofit organizations at the local, national and international levels. It promotes employee-focused, cost-efficient efforts to in provide all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
“CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign,” said U.S. Air Force Airman Tylar Gilstrap, JBER CFC campaign volunteer. “Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.”
Similar to past years, there was a monetary goal set, but this year the emphasis was placed on 100-percent contact throughout the JBER family.
“We've all been affected by ‘real life’ at one point or another, and that is really what the CFC is all about,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerde Quattlebaum, JBER CFC coordinator. “There are so many organizations that work to cure diseases, help recover after emergencies and disasters, and of course organizations that give back to our communities. The CFC enables those great organizations to do the amazing things they do every day.”
While the JBER drive has come to an end, people can still donate through Jan. 12 at http://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome.
Since 1961, the annual campaign has raised over $8.2 million for health and human services charities around the world. This year’s theme was “Show Some Love.”
Today, the CFC is known to be the most inclusive workplace giving campaign in the world, with the number of participating charities estimated at over 20,000 nonprofit charitable organizations. The charities supported through the CFC range from emerging community groups to large, well-known charities.
“Each year the CFC provides us with an opportunity to join together and help those in need and bring about dramatic changes in the communities that need it most,” Gilstrap said.
Partnerships with nonprofit organizations are a core part of the CFC structure. In each of the 320 CFC areas throughout the country, local and national nonprofit organizations collaborate closely with committees of volunteer federal employees. They work together designing marketing strategies for the campaign and to process the receipt and distribution of federal employee contributions to the charities they choose.
For next year's campaign, Quattlebaum says he hopes to see the same volunteer spirit he witnessed this year.
“It was awesome to see so many from the JBER family step up for this cause,” he said. “The sense of community and togetherness we displayed was extremely encouraging and inspiring. I can’t wait to see how we come out next year.”