CFC begins its "Reach Out! Raise Hope!" campaign

Published Sept. 21, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Victoria Brayton
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- This year's Combined Federal Campaign held its official kick-off ceremony at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Sept. 17. Forty-Three agencies from the local area attended the event along with the key workers, coordinators and unit project officers from both Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base.

Diane Thomas, vice president of the CFC for Okaloosa and Walton Counties United Way, said the purpose of the kick-off was to give the volunteers the opportunity to meet with representatives from the various agencies.

"It's a great chance for people to see what's in their own backyard," Ms. Thomas said.

To begin the event, Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing Commander and Chairman of the Local Federal Coordinating Committee of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, spoke about three concepts: service, leadership and family. He said the CFC was not only a vehicle for service, but also a leadership opportunity for volunteers to "go out and find ways to inspire those you work with ... to step up and participate in things around the community." He also said the CFC was a way to "help a fellow family member in your community to fulfill their unfulfilled needs."

The agencies in attendance brought posters, pamphlets and prizes to inform the volunteers of their causes.

"This event is also a great recruiting tool for the agencies," Ms. Thomas said. "People find what they're interested in, and the agencies can gain them as volunteers."

For example, representatives from the Mental Health Association explained to CFC volunteers about their efforts to help pay for indigent medication and to refer individuals to doctors, therapists and group activities in the community.

Virginia Barr, executive director of the MHA, said the CFC has been very beneficial to their organization.

"We're always grateful to the CFC--they're a necessary portion of the funds we get," she said. Last year donations through the CFC accounted for 10.6 percent of their total donated funds.

Lunches for Learning, an agency that provides lunches to elementary school children in rural Honduras to help break the poverty cycle, was also in attendance, getting their word out as this is their first year working with the CFC.

"A lot of the Air Force has been to places like Honduras, so they have a soft spot for these developing areas," said Christopher Sellers, a Lunches for Learning volunteer. "They really understand the need to help even more than those of us who were born and raised here."

According to Capt. Charri Leonard, Hurlburt's co-project officer, this year's base goal is $430,000 and 32 percent participation.

"We [federal employees] have a steady paycheck, but there are many in the community that don't have jobs right now, so this year it's even more important to support the CFC," Captain Leonard said.