Charity campaign kicks off new season

by Tina Ray
Paraglide

Charity organizations were gathered in the Hodge Room at Fort Bragg Officers’ Club Sept. 1 for the annual Combined Federal Campaign kickoff luncheon.

The CFC campaign began Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 15, said Laurie McKeithen, CFC assistant director.
According to its Web site, CFC is the world’s largest workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 campaigns nationwide and internationally that help raise millions of dollars each year.

Military, federal civilian and postal donors may make pledges during the campaign season.
Based at Fort Bragg, the CFC of Southeastern North Carolina raised more than $2.5 million in charitable pledges for 2008, said Daniel Russell, CFC director.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management awarded the CFC of Southeastern North Carolina a plaque for those contributions in a July ceremony at the White House. The plaque was presented Tuesday to Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Allen, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg command sergeant major, on behalf of Maj. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, deputy commanding general, XVIII Abn. Corps and Fort Bragg, and CFC federal board chairman.

Russell said that the goal for the 2009 campaign is $2 million.

One of the charities represented at the luncheon was the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Eastern North Carolina Chapter. Jeff Furst, president and chief executive officer, addressed CFC campaign managers, donors and other audience members.

“As you go out and raise money, please know that a lot of that goes back to you and to the people in this community,” Furst said.

Monies raised by the CFC are used for programs such as research and education, he said.

As a young lieutenant, Allyn, who also attended the kickoff luncheon, said it was an easy decision to donate money to CFC.

Diabetes, he said, first affected his father; it now affects both Allyn and his daughter.

“Teach those young folks that you may not be giving for immediate impact on a personal level, but you will have an opportunity to make it personal,” Allyn said. “There is a reason that we give to those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Judy Yahn said that she has served as a campaign manager for the U.S. Postal Service for two years.

Any money raised would help to benefit people diagnosed with such illnesses as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure, she said.

“It will help people out there who cannot afford health care,” Yahn said.

Russell said that donors must be careful in selecting a code to which money is to be distributed.
“Each charity listed in the donor guide has an individual five digit code that belongs exclusively to them,” said Russell. “No two charities have the same number in the brochure.”

Sterling White serves with an organization whose motto is “transferring resources to people who need them.”

He sits on the board of The Institute for Black Charities Federation and said he hopes to benefit from the donations to the CFC campaign.

Those interested in making contributions to the CFC may contact campaign managers at each company, federal agency or directorate for brochures.