Last modified Wed., September 19, 2007 - 04:19 PM
Originally created Thursday, September 20, 2007

CFC fund drive now under way

By MC2 Monica Nelson, Special Contributor

John Smith, regional director for the Combined Federal Campaign, addresses the audience during the kickoff for this year's Combined Federal Campaign at the NAS Jax Bachelor's Officer's Quarters Pavilion Sept. 14. Photos by MC2 Monica Nelson

The 2007 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is currently under way for NAS Jacksonville and all its tenant commands and departments. The drive officially kicked off Sept. 14 at the Bachelor Officer's Quarters Pavilion.

The annual event provides only qualifying agencies the opportunity to receive monetary contributions from government employees. Listed within the CFC program guide are short descriptions of each, including the percentage of donated funds that go to cover administration costs. This enables contributors to discern between charities based on their personal preferences and priorities.

"In 2006, Americans gave over $300 billion dollars to charity. The next nation was Great Britain; they gave half as much," said John Smith, regional director for the Combined Federal Campaign, who quoted from an August Times-Union article with statistics from Giving USA Foundation during the kick-off event.

Smith also made mention of the American Cancer Society for being the No. 1 charity given to from employees from the Southeast Region.

The goal set for NAS Jax's 2007 CFC fund drive is $622,000.

Doneese Kemp of Fleet Readiness Center Southeast offers her testimony to how agencies who benefit from the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) help those in need at the kick-off event. Kemp received a cornea transplant with financial help from the Lion's Club.

"Our goal this year is high, but it's reasonable," said NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. John Scorby. "NAS Jax is going to be a growth industry over the next few years and I expect we'll be able to do even more in the future."

Last year, hundreds of local agencies benefited from the drive, enabling them to provide critical services within the surrounding communities of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. There were also contributions that provided national support and assisted certain groups of people in need around the world.

Individuals can donate to CFC with a cash contribution up front or by pledging a specific amount

CFC fund drive now under way to be withheld regularly from their pay beginning in January and continuing through the following December.

Many commands also hold special fundraising events to benefit the CFC drive.

Command involvement and leadership are essential ingredients to making the campaign successful.

For more information on this year's CFC drive, contact CW03 Charles Jakes at 542-4539 or email charles.jakes@navy.mil.

Attendees of the annual Combined Federal Campaign kick-off load up with information about the different agencies the campaign benefits.

Joanna Blinn, special projects manager for Dreams Come True, informs QM1 Markus Deadwiler of Navy Operational Support Center Jax about the organization at the Combined Federal Campaign kick-off.

NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. gives the opening remarks at the Combined Federal Campaign kick-off Sept. 14.