Fundraisers, fun special events kick annual fund drive into high gear

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins and Cindy Holbook
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, --  All of the major fundraising events supporting the 2014 Miami Valley Combined Federal Campaign have been held, and their influence is more than showing: The campaign is at 51 percent of its goal, MVCFC officials said Oct. 29.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the annual workplace charitable giving campaign for the Department of Defense and federal workforce. Contributions support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide health and human welfare benefits. Since its inception in 1961, DOD and federal employees have contributed more than $7 billion through CFC.  

With a theme of "Making a Difference Together," MVCFC's 2014 goal is $2,310,000. About 90 percent of that amount will be contributed by the Wright-Patterson AFB workforce, said Michael Gill, executive director, Air Force Materiel Command, and the 2014 MVCFC grand marshal.

More than 2,000 pledges averaging $569 each have been made for a total of $1,167,284.63 pledged dollars. The campaign runs through Nov. 14, with e-pledges accepted through Dec. 15. Payroll deductions will be made from January to December 2015.

New this year is universal giving, introduced by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Donors can direct their pledges to any CFC-approved charity regardless of duty location or charity location. For instance, a donor can designate his/her pledge to a CFC-approved charity in his/her hometown. The pledge counts where it is made. The entire list   of CFC-approved charities may be found online at  www.miamivalleycfc.org  , (click Search Charities).

This year's campaign saw the return of the Charity Fair and Campaign Kickoff Oct. 8 at Wright State University's Nutter Center. More than 900 people attended the event that featured food and fun along with a chance to learn and collect information from 138 charities exhibiting on the Nutter Center concourse. Meanwhile, there was a flash mob dance, a lip sync performance and a chance to win prizes in a "minute to win it" competition on the main floor.

Community partners JTM Food Group provided a picnic-style lunch while Mike-sell's Potato Chip Co. also contributed to the meal. Other sponsors of the event included Wright State University's Nutter Center, D J Billy T, the Wright-Patterson Junior Force Council (WPJFC), Spark Space Creative LLC, Tim Horton's and Starbucks.

Last year, MVCFC was adversely impacted by government furloughs, a government shutdown and the canceling of many key events. This year organizers have spent many hours trying to refresh the 2014 campaign through new events, extended marketing efforts and additional senior leadership presence.

Campaign events started Oct. 1 with a "burger burn" hosted by Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at the AFIT pavilion, followed by a motorcycle ride, a car show and National Air and Space Intelligence Center's (NASIC) kickoff on Oct. 3 that featured three charities and other events.

More cars than expected turned out for the first charity cruise-in that was open to all models of cars, trucks and motorcycles Oct. 2 in the parking lot opposite the Air Force museum annex along C Street in Area B.

Hosted by the Association of Old Crows, Kitty-hawk Chapter, with support from the WPJFC and the Association of Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy, the cruise-in featured more than 75 cars -- some classics, some flashbacks from the '80s, some military and some just really cool.

The event included a 50/50 drawing, scavenger hunt and food trucks with proceeds benefiting the campaign.

The second week of the campaign included the charity fair, a basketball shoot hosted by the WPJFC at the Wright Field Fitness Center, a golf outing at Prairie Trace Golf Course and a volleyball tournament hosted by NASIC. The 2014 Pumpkin Chuck was bigger and better than in past years, and took place Oct. 17. Food trucks, big and little chuckers, and a pie-eating and pie-baking contest were just a few highlights of the event.

The most recent and final campaign events were Retiree Appreciation Day on Oct. 24 at the Hope Hotel and the Agile Combat Support Paper Airplane Competition at Bldg. 12, Area B, Oct. 29.

Organizations have found other exciting ways to make money through penny wars, bowling, sporting events, charity fairs, special lunches, chili cook-offs, scavenger hunts and other games.

Miami Valley CFC is the local charitable-giving campaign in an 11-county region including Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby and Warren counties. Nearly 28,000 federal government employees work in Miami Valley CFC's 11-county region. The local federal workforce has contributed more than $88 million through Miami Valley CFC since its inception.