News

The Giving Tree

Thoughts from the Commander by Col. Kenneth O. McCreedy,
2007 CFC Leadership Chair and Installation Commander, Ft. Meade

As my children have grown, I've found that I miss those special moments of tucking them into bed and reading the mandatory bedtime story. One of my favorite stories to read to my children at bedtime was Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." You remember that one, don't you? The tree freely gives of itself over the course of a boy's lifetime to meet his every need and desire. Reduced to a stump, the tree still finds happiness when the boy returns as an old man and uses it for a seat upon which to rest. Or another favorite was a beautifully illustrated edition of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi." That's the tearjerker about a young, impoverished couple who sell their most prized possessions -- he his watch, she her hair -- to buy what each thought the other would most want: he an ornament for his watch chain, she a beautiful comb for her hair. Both stories shared the theme of selfless love that gave without regard to cost, love that gave because giving was the only possible response.

I mention these stories -- and there are many more like them -- because we are embarking once again upon the annual Combined Federal Campaign. This is our chance as a community to give selflessly and generously. There are 111 pages of charitable organizations in this year's campaign book, over 9,000 different charities involved in a truly staggering variety of work. You can give to international, national, regional, and local organizations. You can give to organizations dedicated to the arts, or to pets, or youth, or historic preservation, or fighting disease or preserving wildlife habitats. Whatever your interests, your passions, your personal experiences, you will find one or more organizations dedicated to doing something worthwhile on behalf of that cause. Rather than bombard you throughout the year with multiple appeals, the federal government created the Combined Federal Campaign to bring greater attention and focus to the process.

In 2005, Federal employees raised more than $268 million for charitable causes. People like you took the time to sit down and fill out the pledge form or dropped a donation into a jar. People like you gave a little of themselves to make this community, this state, this nation, this world better places. I have established a goal of $320,000 for our community to raise in support of this year's Combined Federal Campaign. We will make it as easy as we can for you to give. Already unit representatives are being selected and trained. They will be approaching you with the pledge card and the book listing charities. Please sit down as soon as possible and give. Give something. It doesn't have to be much (although much would be appreciated). But in reaching the decision to give, you are doing something within your power to make things better somewhere for someone. You'll note that the pledge card allows you to give cash, a check (made out to CFC), or set up payroll deductions spaced over a year. I challenge each of you to respond to this year's campaign. In the act of giving you will find the reward of the Magi and the Giving Tree: you will experience the warmth of a selfless act and the joy of a gift given freely. Remember the refrain from "The Giving Tree?" "Oh, the tree was happy. Oh, the tree was glad." I know it's sappy (pun intended) -- but taking the time to find that right charity to give to this year in the CFC can have the same result on you.

As a NEW applicant, how do I Apply for the 2008 CFC ? ? ?

**Please note that all CFC Organizations that were approved for inclusion in the 2007 CFC should have received notice via mail to advise them of their acceptance.

As a NEW applicant, if your charity is not participating in the 2007 CFC and would like to receive an application for the 2008 CFC, please fax a request on your organization's letterhead to the Local Federal Coordinating Committee, Attention: Edward Novak @ 410.962.6198. 

2007 Official Welcome Letter

Dear Federal Civilian and Postal Employees and Military Personnel:

THANK YOU for your generous support of the 2006 Central Maryland Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

In 2006, nearly 21,000 members of our federal community donated more than $6.1 M. Your generous contributions enabled the Central Maryland CFC to advance to become the third largest CFC worldwide.

As we embark upon the 2007 campaign, we ask you to "Be A Beacon of Hope", a theme that reflects the ability for YOU to make a difference. More than 2,000 charities are included in this year's CFC. Your contributions and designations allow you to give to charities of your choice - locally, nationally, or globally. You can give to organizations dedicated to the arts, or to pets, or youth, or historic preservation, or fighting disease or preserving wildlife habitats.

Whatever your interests, your passions, or your personal experiences, you can find one or more charitable organizations dedicated to doing something worthwhile on behalf of that cause. What a great opportunity to support an organization you care about and to help others at the same time!

The CFC provides you with the ability to donate through payroll deduction. About 90% of CFC donors use payroll deduction, an easy and flexible way to give. Payroll deduction, combined with designations of your donation, provides you the opportunity to ensure that your contribution supports the charities that you care about.

If you have previously supported the CFC, THANK YOU. If you have not, we urge you to consider donating this year to a great campaign supported by many of your co-workers. While each of you is guided by your own financial situation, we encourage you to give generously and experience the warmth of a selfless act and the joy of a gift given freely. This is your opportunity to become a "BEACON of HOPE" in someone's life.

Edward J. Novak
Chair
2007 Local Federal Coordinating Committee

Kenneth O. McCreedy
Colonel, U.S. Army
Chair, 2007 CFC Leadership Committee

2007 Contributor's Guide

The 2007 Contributor's Guide is NOW available.  Please use this site to download the PDF version of the guide or to search by 5-digit code or keyword -- Click on the Contributor's Guide link above to get started. 

2008 Notice: Principal Combined Fund Organization Applicants (PCFO)

2008 Notice Combined Federal Campaign

The Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) manages the Central Maryland Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and is soliciting applications from non-profit federations, charitable organizations or combinations thereof interested in being considered to serve as the Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO) for the Central Maryland CFC.  PCFO duties require supporting the effective and efficient operation of a large workplace charity campaign that solicits funds from federal employees.  PCFO activities must comply with regulations contained in 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 950 and the decisions of the LFCC. In accordance with those regulations, the organization selected to serve as the PCFO may be awarded a contract with a term not less than one (1) campaign period and up to three (3) campaign periods. 

Interested organizations may contact the LFCC at 410-962-4047 to obtain additional information as well as a copy of a sample request for proposal.  Applications submitted for consideration must comply with requirements contained in 5 CFR Part 950.105 and must include detailed and specific information, including information regarding a campaign budget and a campaign activities implementation plan. The completed application and all necessary supporting documentation must be received by the LFCC no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 15, 2008.  Interested organizations should submit their application packages to the LFCC c/o Baltimore Federal Executive Board, Suite 820A, Fallon Federal Building, 31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201.

2008 CFC Applications are now available ! ! !

Follow the "Non-Profit Agencies" link above to download the latest CFC Local Independent and Local Federation Applications.  Once you've done this, please then click on "Participating in CFC".

*All directions and relevant deadlines as relates to the 2008 CFC Applications are provided for you.

Welcome Eastern Shore Area CFC!

Our campaign is pleased to announce that we have recently agreed to manage the Eastern Shore Area CFC!  While this campaign is relatively small in size compared to our current campaign, it provides the opportunity to share ideas and greatly reduce the cost of the Eastern Shore Area campaign. 

The good news for charities that planned to apply to the Eastern Shore Area campaign is that your organizations will now be included in the campaign for the Central Maryland area as well, providing you with greatly increased exposure to the federal employee community.  This also works in reverse, providing those charities that apply to the Central Maryland campaign the opportunity to appeal to more federal employees in another CFC region as well.

The merging of these campaigns will result in a single, consolidated Contributor's Guide under the new Chesapeake Bay Area CFC.  We are excited at the prospect of working with the charities and federal employees in the Eastern Shore region, which include the Maryland counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Worcester, Somerset, Talbot and Wicomico, as well as the Virginia counties of Accomack and Northampton.  

Applying to the 2008 campaign is quick and easy.  Application forms are available for download on our site (please follow the "2008 CFCCMD Applications are now available" link above). 

*Local federation applications are due by 14 March 2008, while local independent applications are due by 28 March 2008. 

We look forward to serving the Eastern Shore Area, please contact our CFC Director, Christopher Wilborn, or LFCC Chair, Linda Siegle if you have any questions regarding the newly merged campaign!