Navy Leadership Outlines 2010 Combined Federal Campaign Goals

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shannon Burns, Defense Media Activity - Anacostia Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- Senior Navy leadership outlined individual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) goals for Navy organizations across the fleet during a Sept. 23 ceremony at the Pentagon Center Courtyard in Arlington, Va.

Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work described CFC donation goals to Navy leaders from 16 organizations, including Naval Information Operations Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and United States Marine Corps Headquarters.

He presented representatives from each organization with a small board denoting Department of the Navy (DoN) CFC goals during the ceremony. Work also explained how funds raised through CFC have a nationwide impact.

"This is worth doing," said Work. "It impacts Sailors, Wounded Warriors and communities throughout the United States."

Work added that although there are numerous reasons the CFC has remained integral in the DoN, the thousands of sea service members and Department of Defense (DoD) employees choosing to participate in the program are who ensure the program's continuing legacy.

"One reason why we're successful is because of our Sailors, Marines and civilians," said Work. "They have already dedicated their lives to providing a service to the country. They understand what it means to give and what it means to sacrifice."

Of the more than 4,000 charities eligible for participation in the 2010 CFC, numerous charities maintain close military ties, including Puppies Behind Bars, an organization which trains and donates aide dogs to Wounded Warriors.

"The CFC is an incredibly important donor to us not only because of the amount of funds generated as a whole but also because when we get private individuals who want to give us money from their paychecks it tells us that the work we are doing is important," said Gloria Gilbert Stoga, Puppies Behind Bars president.

DoN CFC expectations during 2009 were set at 3.82 million dollars, but more than 4 million dollars were collected. DoN CFC organizers established a goal of 3.9 million dollars for this year's campaign.

The CFC, officially formed in 1964 as a test project in six cities, consolidated numerous charity drives into one annual combined campaign resulting in a substantial increase in contributions ranging from 20 percent to 125 percent. In 1971, former President Richard Nixon announced that the CFC would be the uniform fundraising method for the federal service.