MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Early on in a child’s life, parents try to teach and instill certain values and morals in their children, such as the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Sometimes it’s as simple as helping out those who may be less fortunate or those who may be experiencing a rough time.
Fortunately, there is an organization that makes it easier to help others.
Every year the Combined Federal Campaign holds drives all over the world to give government employees and service members the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others.
This year’s CFC is scheduled to kick off Sept. 9, with the theme “I care,” and will run until Nov. 23, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
“The CFC is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign,” stated the U.S. Office of Personnel Management CFC website. “More than 300 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally help to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.”
While there is not a monetary goal for this year’s campaign, there is one goal the CFC committee hopes to reach.
“Our goal this year is to have 100 percent contact,” said Robin McNece, the CFC director for MCB Camp Lejeune and Onslow County. “We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to give if they want to.”
The CFC program was designed so that government and federal employees would only be asked to donate to charitable organizations once a year.
“The CFC began in the early 1960s to coordinate the fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations so that the federal donor would only be solicited once in the workplace and have the opportunity to make charitable contributions through payroll deduction,” stated onslowcountycfc.org.
All service members and federal employees are eligible to donate. Donors may give using cash, check or money order. Donations can also be made online at onslowcountycfc.org beginning Sept. 1.
“This is an opportunity for people who have experienced crappy moments in their life, to
fix those moments for someone else because there is a cause they can donate to, to keep it from happening to someone else,” said McNece.
Last year, the CFC drive raised more than $930,000 for health and human welfare organizations as a collaborative effort between MCB Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River and Onslow County.
The top five charities for 2009 were the Onslow County Ministries, receiving $19,072; the American Red Cross, receiving $19,850; St. Jude Children’s Hospital, receiving $22,120; the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, receiving $54,090; and the Wounded Warrior Emergency Support Fund, receiving $33,644, according to McNece.
As the CFC drive kicks off, service members and federal employees will have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life by donating a portion of their earnings to charitable causes of their choosing.
For more information about the CFC, visit the websites, opm.gov/cfc or onslowcountycfc.org, or call Robin McNece at 449-9703.