Hanscom’s CFC drive underway Published Oct. 26, 2016 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 2016 Hanscom Combined Federal Campaign is now underway with a goal to raise $150,000 through donations made by service members and civil service employees. The annual CFC drive will continue here through Dec. 16. Since its inception in 1961, the CFC has promoted and supported philanthropy through an employee-focused program that provides federal employees a way to give back to their communities through a number of charities. “There are more than 20,000 local, national and international nonprofit charitable organizations currently listed online for federal employees to consider donating to,” said Capt. Elizabeth Simkus, this year’s CFC project officer. Included among them is the Hanscom-based Friends of Family Services, a 501 (c)(3) private organization. “Friends of Family Services is the volunteer division of the Airman and Family Readiness Center,” said Kathy Vaillancourt, A&FRC community readiness consultant. “Friends of Family Services programs are tailored to meet the needs of military families, while providing excellent volunteer opportunities for those interested in helping others.” Donations fund programs to help military families adjust to frequent relocations and deployments through welcome activities, the household loan locker, newborn layettes and support groups. The code for Friends of Family Services is 33931. “Whether donating to the Hanscom-based charity or one of the many others, giving through CFC is easier than ever,” Simkus said. “Members can donate online via MyPay or CFC Nexus; it eliminates paper, saves time for employees, and provides a fast way to find charities.” A link to the “Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)” is 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. CFC Nexus is another option for electronic donation, where employees can use a credit card for a one-time donation or do a payroll deduction. When signing up at www.cfcnexus.org, find “CFC of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut” on the map, select “Department of Defense/US Air Force,” then select “Hanscom Air Force Base.” In addition to the electronic donation options, federal employees can make a donation by completing a pledge card. Donors may choose to deduct a certain amount from each paycheck or give a one-time donation. “Each unit at Hanscom has a CFC representative responsible for assisting employees with the Nexus program or one of the other ways to donate,” said Simkus. Hanscom is 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. 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. For learn more about the Friends of Family Services charity, contact Vaillancourt at 781-225-2756.