Incirlik on campaign trail with CFC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heather Stanton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Incirlik embarked on a month-long quest to raise more than $130,000 for the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign Oct. 1. 

The CFC is a fundraiser that allows federal employees to donate to the charity of their choice. 

"The '3 Cs' of the campaign are Confidence, Convenience and Choice," said 2nd Lt. Kelly Geers, 39th Operations Squadron and Incirlik CFC coordinator. "There is confidence in the charities because the Office of Personnel Management screens them and more money goes to the charity rather than overhead costs. There is convenience because the fundraiser is once-a-year and donations can be deducted from your payroll. And, there is choice because people can choose to donate from more than 1,900 charities." 

In 2007, more than $273 million was raised for a wide-range of charities, from domestic to international, to humanitarian and medical research. 

A charity unique to CFC-Overseas is the Family Support and Youth Program where all money raised goes back to the Incirlik community. 

Lieutenant Geers believes everyone donating enhances the Air Force community. 

"Donating can enhance the esprit de corps at Incirlik and help Airmen with the whole-person concept they strive for because they are helping and giving back to the community and the world," she said. 

All federal employees from active duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers to all Department of Defense civilians and teachers can contribute to CFC, said Lieutenant Geers. 

Donations can be made monthly or one-time only and there are three ways to chip in.
Payroll deductions can be made with a paper pledge card or the new online pledge assistant, both of which must be turned in to a CFC representative. The third way and new this year is credit card giving. If a contributor wants to use either online pledge assistant or credit card giving, they will have to log on to the CFC Web site, www.cfcoverseas.org. 

On top of individual donations, many fundraisers for the CFC are scheduled throughout October. 

"There will be six fundraisers, starting with a bowl-a-thon Oct. 4," said Lieutenant Geers.
Other fundraisers include a car wash Oct. 11, a banana-split booth at Fall Festival Oct. 18, a softball tournament Oct. 24, a golf tournament Nov. 1, and a bike-a-thon Nov. 15. 

The CFC is only possible by willing volunteers and Team Incirlik is no exception as there is at least one CFC representative in each squadron and many keypersons throughout each unit. 

"I think this is a wonderful program and all the charity organizations involved have a large impact on their target group," said Airman Katie Fleming, 39th Medical Operations Squadron and 39th Medical Group CFC coordinator. "I volunteered because this position allows me to step up and take the lead in a positive way." 

The goal is 100 percent face-to-face contact with eligible personnel in each unit, said Airman Fleming. This gives everyone the opportunity to donate and have a greater level of knowledge about the cause they are giving to. 

Incirlik's donation progress is on display in the form of a CFC thermometer in front of the official document center. 

"Please join us in giving to this amazing cause," said Airman Fleming. "Even if it's just a dollar, it goes a long way and may change someone's life." 

For more information on the CFC, contact your unit representative or Lieutenant Geers at 676-6283 or Chaplain (Capt.) Gerald Harvey At 676-6441.