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Charity fair creates awareness of dozens of organizations, causes

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Hundreds of employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other federal entities “showed some love” to the Combined Federal Campaign during its kickoff Oct. 2 at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.

The event was open to all Department of Defense, federal, U.S. Postal Service and Veterans Affairs employees. Using the national CFC theme of “Show Some Love”, the campaign will seek to contact 100 percent of base personnel’s eligible donors, said Susy Himelhoch, CFC Dayton District director.

CFC’s 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 support arts and culture, environment, animal welfare, veteran services, food insecurity and the well-being of military members and their families.

The CFC campaign will run on base through Nov. 15.

“Today was great because it gave the local community an opportunity to come through and see more than 70 charities,” said CFC loaned executive Victoria Russell, a contract specialist in the Mobility Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. “It provided a chance for people to talk one-on-one and learn about the work the charities do. Some of the charities get a substantial percentage of their budget from the CFC.”

The visibility within the community is a key factor to their success, she added.

“It’s a win-win for our community,” Russell said. “The CFC has had a multi-million-dollar impact annually on the Dayton area with the campaign just at Wright-Patt.”

“Today is a way to get people excited about making a difference in ways that maybe throughout the year they don’t think about,” said CFC chair Joe Nalepka, director of Management Operations, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory. “I’m really excited about the numbers of people here to see the 70-plus charities we have.

“‘Dayton Strong’ applies year-round,” he continued.

“We had the Memorial Day tornadoes, then the unfortunate incident in the Oregon District. When you see the outpouring of response in the community, we have a very generous and giving community. But we want to remind everyone that people are in need year-round and raise awareness to put our minds and energies in places that really need it.”

“I want people to know how important the work is that the charities do for our community –— whether it is local, national or international,” Himelhoch said. “In addition to the military, they are unspoken heroes.”

“What’s nice about our campaign is that if you have a cause that you feel passionately about and it’s not here in the Dayton area, you can donate to any CFC-approved charity across the United States,” Nalepka reminded. “I love giving my time and my energies to charities. I’m a different person today because of my work and volunteering. If you get involved, it’s a life-changing experience.”

Donations in any amount are greeted by the charities with gratitude, Himelhoch said, because the needs are so vast and recent disasters and other events mean the charitable organizations need to replenish their supplies.

Donors may give to any CFC-approved charity, no matter where it or the donor’s duty assignment is located. The www.ohiocfc.org website can accept pledges already and through Jan. 12, 2020. Payroll deductions will be made from February 2010 through early 2021.

E-pledges made at www.ohiocfc.org and credit and debit pledges are being emphasized. Pledges may be fulfilled through payroll deduction, money orders and personal and bank checks. Paper pledge forms can be used and are available for download from the website.

For more information on the CFC campaign, call 937-257-0292.