CFC kickoff scheduled

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 2014 Combined Federal Campaign of Eastern Massachusetts is scheduled to kickoff Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. with an event onboard the U.S.S. Constitution in Charlestown, Mass. The campaign will continue through Nov. 21.

Maj. Adam Davis and his wife, Adrianne Haslet-Davis, are the scheduled guest speakers at the kickoff event and epitomize this year's CFC theme, "Make it Possible." Davis, C3I and Networks Directorate Protected Tactical Services Terminals program manager, and his wife, were seriously injured after a bomb exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013.

CFC began in the 1960s to coordinate the fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations so that federal donors would only be solicited one time per year in the workplace. It also offers the opportunity to make a charitable contribution through payroll deduction.

Made up of local campaigns throughout the country, Hanscom is part of the CFC of Eastern Massachusetts, which includes other local federal organizations such as the National Park Service, FBI and the U.S. Postal Service.

Base organizers have set a Hanscom CFC goal of $200,000 in donations for this year's campaign.

"There are many people and charities in even more need than usual this year," said Tech. Sgt. Scott J. Grittner, who along with Senior Master Sgt. Stephanie Poling is a CFC base representative. "CFC is an excellent way to contribute to those organizations and help others who may have been more adversely affected by budget cuts and economic uncertainty."

During a CFC kickoff event at the Pentagon, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said he is continually amazed and overwhelmed by the generosity of Defense Department employees.

"Because of that generosity, even though we missed [2013 goal] last year, the Department of Defense was - and I think will continue to be -- at the front of the pack in giving across the federal government," he said.

Grittner highlighted many ways to contribute again this year.

"There is an online pledge option for CFC available through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's MyPay website, which most service members and civilians already use to view their leave and earnings statements," he said.

A link for "Combined Federal Campaign" has been added under "Pay Changes" on the first page of MyPay. Donors will simply need to enter the Eastern Massachusetts campaign code of 0427 and then select their donation amount and charities.

In addition to the MyPay option, federal employees have other options for giving. They may choose to deduct a certain amount from each paycheck or give a one-time donation. If employees choose a payroll deduction, they may either fill out a pledge card or use MyPay. Those that choose to contribute a one-time donation will need to fill out a pledge card.

Unit CFC representatives are in the process of passing out pledge cards and charity catalogs. There are thousands of CFC-approved charities listed that range from local food pantries to international organizations. Employees may also visit the CFC of Eastern Massachusetts website to download a searchable charities list or search for charities directly through MyPay during the donation process.

For further information about the Combined Federal Campaign of Eastern Massachusetts, visit www.easternmasscfc.org.