CFC drive begins Oct. 7 with social Published Oct. 4, 2016 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Organizers of this year’s Hanscom Combined Federal Campaign will kick off its 2016 fundraising effort with an ice cream social at the Minuteman Commons Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. The CFC drive here will officially begin Oct. 10 and continue through Dec. 16. The goal for Hanscom’s campaign is to raise $150,000 and make 100 percent contact with federal employees. “The Combined Federal Campaign is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace fundraising campaign,” said Capt. Elizabeth K. Simkus, who along with Capt. Christopher J. McNamee, is a CFC installation project officer. “The CFC is wonderful way for federal employees to make a difference in their respective communities.” Base organizers added that there are more than 20,000 nonprofit charitable organizations currently listed online that employees can contribute to by making a one-time donation or donating each pay period. Hanscom is again part of the CFC of Eastern Massachusetts, which includes other federal organizations in the region, such as the National Park Service and U.S. Postal Service. Simkus highlighted the many ways Hanscom employees can contribute to this year’s campaign. “There is an online pledge option available through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service’s MyPay website, which most people already use to view their federal leave and earnings statements,” she said. A link to the “Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)” is now included under “Pay Changes” on the first page of MyPay after log in. Donors will need to enter the contribution amount per pay period and then enter the Eastern Massachusetts campaign code of 0427. MyPay provides a “Name Search,” Category Search,” or “Advanced Search” for employees to find a charitable organization during the MyPay donation process. She added that in addition to the MyPay option, federal employees have other options for giving. Employees may choose to deduct a certain amount from each paycheck or give a one-time donation. For those who 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 with their unit CFC representative. In addition to an ice cream social, CFC organizers are planning other fundraising activities throughout the campaign. “There will be numerous fundraising activities to supplement the charitable contributions employees make,” Simkus said. “Additional details on them will be shared when finalized.” The CFC began in the 1960s to coordinate the fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations so that federal employees would be solicited only one time per year. Since that time, federal employees have given more than $7 billion. According to the CFC website, the CFC mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient and effective in providing federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. For further information about the Combined Federal Campaign of Eastern Massachusetts, including a nationwide list of charities, visit www.easternmasscfc.org. For more information on Hanscom’s CFC drive, contact Simkus at 781-225-0528.