CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The base's annual Combined Federal Campaign, which will run until Nov. 12, kicked off Sept. 3 with a senior leadership breakfast at the Charleston Club.
More than 60 Airmen from across the wing attended the breakfast to support the campaign with many of them filling out a pledge card before leaving the event. The guest speaker for the kickoff was Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander.
"In six weeks from now, I will look each of you in the eye and ask one question, 'did you make this year's campaign personal,'" he said in his remarks. "If you look back and say 'yes sir I did', we are good."
Colonel Millander asked those in attendance to make the campaign a priority and provide Airmen, civilians and contractors the opportunity to support charities of their choosing.
"This is a mentoring moment for our younger Airmen to educate them on what is happening locally, nationally and internationally and how they can help," he said.
Colonel Millander said almost everyone has some situation in their life where they or someone they know has benefitted from a CFC organization. CFC allows us to give back in the form of a donation.
The CFC is the largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns held throughout the country and world to help to raise millions of dollars each year.
Making the base campaign a success is the responsibility of chairman Maj. Jason Engle from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron and vice chairman Senior Master Sgt. Chris Wells, 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
"The success will be measured by making this campaign personal to everyone on base so they have the opportunity to support philanthropy to improve quality of life for everyone regardless if it is here locally, nationally or internationally," Major Engle said. "Everyone has a reason to contribute to CFC and it will be up to our key workers to assist them in finding an organization that fits into their reason to give."
Major Engle said the base established the following goals for the campaign: 100 percent quality personal contact with Airmen, civilians and contractors working on the base. He also said while there is a monetary goal established, the personal contact and education or awareness for new Airmen is more important.
Key workers from squadrons and groups received training Aug. 28 on how to make contact with individuals and will train work center contacts who will speak to people individually in larger organizations.
For more information about the CFC, contact a unit CFC representative, Major Engle at 963-3220 or Sergeant Wells at 963-5090.