The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) kicked off the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) fund drive, Sept. 16.
The mission of the CFC is to support and to promote philanthropy through a voluntary program that is employee-focused, cost efficient and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
“The primary purpose of CFC is to provide a resource to contact more people to contribute to charities around the world,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Jordan Orr, George Washington’s CFC coordinator. “It’s a good avenue for our service members to have the ability to reach out and contribute to charities or organizations.”
The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of the U.S. military and Federal employees in their workplaces on behalf of approved charitable organizations. The CFC is made up 165 campaigns that organize the annual fund raising effort in Federal workplaces in the U.S. and abroad.
“It has a governed and regulated list for charities so that a person knows exactly how much is being donated,” said Orr. “When a person chooses a charity, it establishes how much of the proceeds go into it. Each listing includes what percent goes into the charity. All you have to do is look at what which one you’re passionate about.”
CFC offers a chance to donate to more than 2,500 charities ranging from art, education, animal rescue, medical research, housing, civil rights, and religion and youth development.
“I’ve been donating money to the CFC ever since I’ve heard of it and I just keep increasing my money every time,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Megan McConahy, George Washington’s weapons department CFC representative. “I have a couple of organizations I choose, one is for multiple sclerosis and one is for leukemia. I have family members with those illnesses and it hits close to home so that’s where I donate my money.”
The CFC has made it convenient and efficient for George Washington Sailors to donate to any organization in its 2013 listing.
First, Sailors choose an organization from the charity listing catalog or search on cfcoverseas.org. Second, a pledge card is filled out and a donation is made by a 12-month paycheck allotment or a one-time donation by cash or check. Third, pledge cards are given to departmental or divisional CFC representatives then ultimately collected by the command CFC coordinator to be give to CFC headquarters.
“No one has ever got where they are today by themselves; everyone has been taught or helped,” said Orr. “Last year, our goal was to make 150,000 dollars and we made 189,000 and some change. Our goal this year is 175,000. If every Sailor on the ship donates just four dollars a month this year, that would be 200,400 dollars. It can easily be turned into food, water or cures for those who need it most. It would make a huge impact.”
George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
[mappress] Press Release, September 18, 2013