News

It’s time to #ShowSomeLove for CFC

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs

It’s the time of year where giving thanks gives way to the insanity that has come to be known as Black Friday.

 

While surviving midnight madness to give gifts to those you love is somewhat satisfying, there is a gift this time of year that can make more of an impact locally, nationally and internationally.

 

In case you were wondering how you could possibly make an impact that will last beyond wrapping paper, it’s called the Combined Federal Campaign.

 

The CFC has almost 200 campaigns annually throughout the country and overseas raising millions of dollars each year.

 

This year the 55th Wing has a goal of $160,000 and U.S. Strategic Command has a goal of $260,000. The combined effort for Team Offutt is $420,000 with a goal to make contact with 100 percent of personnel so they have an opportunity to contribute.

 

Pledges made by DOD civilian and military donors during the campaign season (Sept. 1 to Dec. 15) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.

 

“The vetted charities represented by CFC are diverse and include local and national, secular and religious, military-affiliated and civilian, people-oriented and animal-oriented,” said 1st Lt. Michael Hofer, 55th Contracting Squadron contract specialist and 55th Wing CFC Campaign manager.  “The needs of this community and communities around the country are vast and [through CFC], federal employees can donate to one or several.

 

The campaign was established by Presidential Executive Order in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign.

 

“CFC makes a huge difference in the world,” Hofer said.  “It connects the generosity of federal employees with charities that work to instantiate the values that an individual employee wants to champion.”

 

“In this way, the CFC breathes life into these values throughout our community as well as concretizes them in the individuals who sacrifice for them

 

Each unit's designated CFC representative will be available to provide a CFC guide that includes a list of eligible charities, information about the charity and a pledge form.

 

Donors have a choice in how to contribute including cash, check or payroll deduction.

 

Those who have donated to the CFC prior or those who prefer not to wait to be contacted, can visit www.heartofthemidlandscfc.org for more information on the CFC and the charities involved. If you find your charity and want to donate, visit https://www.cfcnexus.org/.

 

CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of non-profit organizations. Federal employees can designate contributions to more than 2,500 local, national and international agencies.

 

Assisting those in need around the world is a personal choice.  Some express concerns about whether their contributions could actually help someone in need. The answer to that question could come from unexpected places.

 

“I take the CFC personally,” said 1st Lt. Dustin Bagnall, 55th Maintenance Squadron operations officer and CFC Campaign Manager. “Growing up, [my family] didn’t always have money for essential things, at one point we were homeless and often times struggle to get aid from the state because we didn’t qualify.”

 

“Organizations that receive donations through CFC helped my mother and I get to a better place in life and offered us opportunities to better ourselves,” Bagnall added.