MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- The Combined Federal Campaign annual charity drive began Monday here at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, and across the island at all Federal Agencies. It will continue to raise money for more than 1,600 charities until Oct. 17, when the drive comes to a close.
Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the CFC was formed to consolidate numerous charity drives into a single, annual campaign.
In 1964, the first "combined" campaigns were conducted as experiments in six cities, consolidating all drives into one. The result was a substantial increase in contributions, ranging from 20 percent to 125 percent, and a highly favorable response within the federal community. Agency managers were pleased with having to deal only with a once-a-year effort and federal employees responded with favor to the single solicitation.
By 1971 all campaigns had become "combined." President Nixon announced on March 3, 1971, that the CFC would be the uniform fundraising method for the federal service.
Another major change at the time was the introduction of payroll deduction as a form of charitable contribution. This was made possible only by a truly combined, once-a-year campaign, and greatly increased the size of contributions.
Despite continued skepticism about whether the consolidated character of the CFC suited the fundraising philosophies of some of the major CFC participants, contributions grew dramatically: from $12.9 million in 1964 to $82.8 million in 1979. The numbers continue to grow annually, and the payroll deduction has developed into the easiest and most commonly utilized form of contribution.
"The goal this year is not only 100 percent contact, but 100 percent education," said Maj. Stephen Roberts, CFC projects officer for the mid-Hawaii region. "We want the contributors to not only be contacted with the CFC message, but to have an educated understanding of what charities are out there, and where their money is going."
Tomorrow, a CFC Fun Run and Kick Off Barbecue will be held at the Officer's Club from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to get the program rolling in the right direction.
"The CFC campaign is a fun part of the year where we as a Marine Corps population on base can join together to raise money for the organizations of our choice."
Giving to CFC means a charity of your choice will be that much more prepared to help their cause for the upcoming year.
"The charity that you donate to is your choice," said Roberts. "By designating on the pledge sheet what organization you want your money to go to, you aren't just giving your money to the campaign as a whole. One hundred percent of your donation will go to the exact organization in which you designate."
Frequently asked questions can be answered on the Web at http://www.
cfc-hawaii.org.