Despite economy’s alleged pickup, wounded charities still depending on CFC

  • Published
  • By Capt. Geoff Buteau
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The end of September means the beginning of the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign and though many economic analysts are forecasting an improving economy in the months and years to come, the recession has still left millions of charitable organizations starving for funds to execute their missions, making the 2009 CFC a unique one. 

That's the view from one of the two installation coordinators, 2nd Lt. Greg Ferry, 66th Comptroller Squadron. "These organizations are in desperate need of help." Along with his fellow installation coordinator, Kay Teahan, 350th Electronic Systems Group, they will lead a group of unit representatives from wings, geographically separated units and area students, to reach Hanscom's goal of about $245,000. 

The goal is based on last year's goal of $237,000 factored with current inflation rates. 

"It's one of the two donation campaigns officially sanctioned by the Air Force to solicit and collect funds from Airmen and civilian employees," Lieutenant Ferry said. The other Air Force-sanctioned donation campaign is the one surrounding the Air Force Assistance Fund. 

The official CFC giving period is from Sept. 1 through Dec. 15, but Hanscom's is scheduled to begin the second week of October and run through the middle of November. 

Donors can choose from a database of more than 3,000 charities to directly support, have the CFC choose one or more, or specify their giving to organizations with specific missions, said the Lieutenant. 

For the campaign at Hanscom, each organization here will sponsor an event to help drive donations, said Lieutenant Ferry. October's Wounded Warrior and the Pie-in-the-Face events are examples of events on the horizon that are scheduled to generate funds for the in-need charities. 

According to the CFC page on the Office of Personnel Management Web site, CFC was established in 1961 by President John. F. Kennedy as a way to provide cost-efficient, federal-employee-focused and effective aid to eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.
Contact the representatives below to make a contribution or ask questions about the CFC. 

Hanscom Representatives: 2nd Lt. Gregory Ferry (781) 377-2297 or Kay Teahan (781) 377-5389