Combined Federal Campaign Overseas: Giving to others in need

  • Published
  • By Tanju Varlikli
  • 425th Air Base Squadron Host Nation Adviser
IZMIR, Turkey --  It is the time of the year service members and civilian employees can make contributions to the Combined Federal Campaign Overseas, which is a charity campaign designed to make giving convenient. It is the world's largest and most successful giving effort.

This year's campaign kicked off Sept. 16 and runs through Nov. 15, and is in full swing with the joint support effort of the 425th Air Base Squadron and NATO Headquarters Allied Land Command Izmir members. The CFC is the only Department of Defense authorized solicitation of federal employees in their workplaces on behalf of approved charitable organizations.

With the CFC-O, potential donators can give to organizations they feel are important. Payments can be automatically deducted from one's paycheck, or you can consider donating a small cash amount, maybe even as little as a dollar, to a cause you believe in.

"Even a small donation can make a big difference," said U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Smith, NATO Headquarters Allied Land Command Izmir representative. "Through the CFC-O, you have the opportunity to directly contribute to more than 2,600 nonprofit agencies that support the military communities."

You can help improve the quality of life of those in need by supporting a good cause.

"It is the time of the year again where we show we are not only defenders of our freedom, but we fully support humanitarian efforts as well," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bassel Noori, 425th ABS CFC-O representative. "There are more than 2,600 charities you can make contributions to. For those who would like to make donations, information about the list of hundreds of charities you can contribute to is available online."

CFC-O donors can get more information about specific charities by contacting NATO representative Smith at DSN 675-6828, or 425th ABS representatives Noori at DSN 675-6832 and Senior Airman Kameron Deno at DSN 675-6771 or by visiting http://www.cfcoverseas.org.