CFC provides opportunity to donate to charity, support base programs

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Combined Federal Campaign is one of the Air Force's two annual sanctioned fundraisers, along with the Air Force Assistance Fund, and this year's campaign officially runs through Dec. 3.

Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, has personally emphasized the importance of the CFC and has stated a desire to close out USAFE's campaign as soon as possible.

That being said, Lt. Gen. Phil Breedlove, 3rd Air Force commander, took this desire one step further and wants the 3rd Air Force to have 100 percent contact with its personnel by Nov. 7. Unit CFC representatives will continue soliciting and accepting donations until the campaign ends.

"I would encourage people to donate through CFC because it's a great way to give back to charitable organizations," said 1st Lt. Christina Flynn, 100th Air Refueling Wing Protocol and CFC wing project officer.

Every base has a coordinator, who in turn leads key people (about one per 20 people) in soliciting donations. Those key personnel are responsible for making contact with 100 percent of the people assigned to their unit.

"This fundraising campaign has a long history of helping those in need," said the lieutenant. "The 2007 CFC drive raised over $273 million for worthwhile charities (RAF Mildenhall contributed $225,000). People can target their donations to more than 2,000 national and international charities for causes ranging from cancer research to veterans' organizations."

Donors can also contribute to family support and youth programs at RAF Mildenhall, and all U.S. federal employees, both military and civilian, can pledge money.

In 2007's campaign, Lieutenant Flynn said that 33 percent of the base contributed, including partner units. This year's aim is for 35 percent participation.

Key personnel aim to make face-to-face contact with everyone during the two-month drive, but contributions will continue to be accepted during the year. Donations can be set up online at www.cfcoverseas.org as a one-off payment or as a monthly allotment. Payments can also be made in a variety of ways: cash, check, payroll deduction or credit card.

"I would highly recommend donating to our family support and youth programs, because you know your donations are going to have a direct impact on the families in our community," said Lieutenant Flynn. "I personally support Cancer Research, because both of my grandmothers were diagnosed with cancer."

To give money to RAF Mildenhall's family support and youth programs, look for the box on the pledge form marked "FSYP" and put the amount you would like to contribute.
For more information, call Lieutenant Flynn at DSN 238-5432 or Senior Master Sgt. John Host at DSN 238-2592.

About CFC: The campaign began in the early 1960s to coordinate fundraising efforts of various charitable organizations. It was designed so federal workers, who could donate, would only be solicited once in the workplace, and would have the opportunity to make charitable donations through a payroll deduction.

Team Mildenhall CFC unit coordinators:

100th Air Refueling Wing - Tech. Sgt. Bonnie Gribble, 238-7133
100th Comptroller Squadron - Senior Airman Kevin Smith, 238-6357
100th Operations Group - Capt. Greg Miller, 238-6667
100th Operations Support Squadron - 2nd Lt. Tim McDevitt, 238-8643
351st Air Refueling Squadron - 1st Lt. Christine Todd, 238-8761
100th Maintenance Group - Master Sgt. Darren Hylton, 238-7314
100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron - 2nd Lt. Timothy Gaydosh, 238-6867
100th Maintenance Squadron - Master Sgt. James Duncan, 238-4991
100th Mission Support Group - Master Sgt. Robert Stuart, 238-2762
100th Security Forces Squadron - Tech. Sgt. Craig Reeves, 238-3095
100th Civil Engineer Squadron - Tech. Sgt. Michael Liston, 238-2763
100th Communications Squadron - Master Sgt. Jennifer Tate, 238-2299
100th Logistics Readiness Squadron - Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Matychowiak, 238-3864 100th Force Support Squadron - Staff Sgt. Kathleen Staehle, 238-6843
3rd Air Force - Senior Master Sgt. Hyon Lee, 238-2132
7th Special Operations Squadron - Capt. Samuel Herring, 238-4810
25th IOS - Staff Sgt. David Meron, 238-5152
67th Special Operations Squadron - Staff Sgt. Francine Gumina, 238-5004
95th Reconnaissance Squadron - Master Sgt. Derek Flom, 238-2490
352nd Special Operations Group - Master Sgt. Kenneth Nowinski, 238-4484
352nd Maintenance Squadron - Master Sgt. Kenneth Nowinski, 238-4484
352nd Operations Support Squadron - Staff Sgt. Tara Stacy-Smith, 238-2172
321st Special Tactics Squadron - Master Sgt. Brad Reilly, 238-2462
373rd Training Squadron - Tech. Sgt. Sarah Shuss, 238-4316
488th Intelligence Squadron - Senior Airman Leticia Elias, 238-8404
727th Air Mobility Command - Staff Sgt. Walter Schmitt, 238-2242