Team Mildenhall gives back to A&FRC, youth program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Light
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The time of the year for Team Mildenhall members to give back to their community through the Combined Federal Campaign is here once again.

The campaign is an annual federal fundraiser which gives federal employees the opportunity to donate to any of the nonprofit charity organizations registered to the CFC.
Additionally, military personnel have the opportunity to donate funds back into their own community through the Airmen and Family Readiness Center and youth programs.

"We (the A&FRC and youth program) are the only registered CFC charitable organization in the community at a typical Air Force base like here at RAF Mildenhall," said Matt Driver, 100th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Services chief.

Driver said when people donate to CFC, whether it's on or offline, the process will ask for a four digit code specific to the charity they would like the fund to be distributed to. If they use the code 'FSYP', which is specific to the A&FRC and youth program, the funds will go to those organizations at the installation they're assigned to and are equally divided between the two programs.

Once the A&FRC and youth program receive their donations, the funds go directly back into the community through events, programs and services which are free of charge or benefit everyone on base.

"A good thing to know is the funds do not benefit the 100th FSS in any way," Driver said. "We use the funds to enhance events such as the annual Day for Kids event, the Easter egg hunt every year or the monthly Hearts Apart dinner, so that we have smiling faces on kids and we don't have commands just updating people on their deployed spouses, but take time to enjoy a nice dinner and make it bit more personal."

Even though the donations aren't needed, every dollar is appreciated.

"There are countless registered charities in need to the CFC that are doing great work with their donations, but it's also nice to see some of those funds come back into our own community," Driver said.

Additionally, over the last couple of years there were heavy fiscal constraints through budget cuts and the Air Force witnessed many important programs go away because the money wasn't there to sustain them. The CFC funds help RAF Mildenhall sustain some of those programs that would otherwise have been cut.

For more information, contact Driver at DSN 238-3515 or commercial at 01638 543515.