The U.S. Office of Personnel Management authorized the special COVID-19 solicitation. Pledges can be made through Ohio CFC's website https://ohiocfc.org/ or www.opm.gov/ShowSomeLoveCFC .
The CFC represents charities that are local, national and international. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s diverse community has the opportunity to have a positive impact on the charities, whose programs and services serve beneficiaries.
“The need is there,” said Susy Himelhoch, director of the Ohio Combined Federal Campaign, Dayton District. “We know from what we see in the news globally that food insecurity – which already existed – has taken on a whole new life. Our children need parks to go to for the summer because so many activities have been canceled, and arts and cultural offerings to inspire them. There’s job training that many people may be seeking to find new or different employment. CFC spans all of that, including, of course, our wounded warriors and veterans. We are all beneficiaries of CFC-supported programs and services.”
The “safety net” created by community programs and services has been strained by COVID-19, she said. Donors can choose from more than 6,000 charities globally.
Local donors have responded by giving supplies and thousands of dollars; however, more is needed, Himelhoch added.
“Those monies are donor-directed to specific charities. That’s the beauty of CFC; the donors make the decision where they want their contribution directed,” she pointed out.
By June 26, the special solicitation will have raised $2 million globally.
“That’s an impressive amount when so many people are feeling a strain,” she said. “In Ohio, we are at $20,000, and I challenge everybody to put us over $25,000. The pledge portal closes June 30.”
The special solicitation is open to any donor, regardless if active duty, civil servant, retiree or member of the community who does not have Department of Defense/federal affiliation.
To contribute and learn about volunteer opportunities, visit https://ohiocfc.org/ , click "Donate" button in upper right corner, or www.opm.gov/ShowSomeLoveCFC.
“Every contribution makes a difference. … No gift is too small,” Himelhoch said.
100% of the monies contributed through this special solicitation go to the recipient charities. CFC charities are vetted and approved by volunteers from the Federal workforce, which is assuring to donors, she noted.
According to a CFC Special Solicitation Frequently Asked Questions document, key points about the special solicitation include:
• Donors who contributed through the 2019 campaign can make another contribution; they cannot change their original pledge, however.
• Individuals who did not participate in the 2019 campaign can contribute to the special solicitation.
• Charities have been notified of the special solicitation.
• A mobile app, with instructions available at https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/faq-special , is available for pledging via Apple and Android devices. The app may be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
• Notable is that 100% of dollars contributed through this solicitation will be forwarded to the designated charities, without a distribution fee being charged.
• Active-duty and DoD civilian employees, as well as retirees and contractors, may make a contribution through June 30 to the participating CFC charities of their choice. Existing donors who pledged payroll allotments in the falI of 2019 can make additional donations with electronic credit card, debit or automated clearinghouse on the CFC giving platform or the mobile application.
• Any recurring pledges made during the CFC Special Solicitation will commence after the pledge is “submitted” and sent to the bank, credit card company or payroll service provider. The final recurring pledge installment will be January 15, 2021.
“This solicitation is supplemental to other fundraising efforts and does not preclude personnel from making similar gifts through the military relief societies during their 2020 fundraising campaigns,” the memorandum continues. “Military Relief Societies such as the Army Emergency Relief Fund, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Air Force Aid Society assist Service members, families, retirees, and survivors with basic living expenses and emergencies – circumstances that may have increased across the force as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the timing and special nature of this campaign, the military relief societies are authorized to conduct or continue their campaigns during the Special CFC solicitation.”
Additional information is available at www.cfcgiving.opm.gov . The CCA call center support will service donor calls during the special solicitation at 800-797-0098 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST). Please note that the call center is operating remotely.
Donations can be designated to one or more of the more than 6,000 local, national, and international approved and vetted 501 (c)(3) organizations from the 2019 CFC Charity List. While the CFC special solicitation has been launched in response to the global pandemic, donations will be distributed as unrestricted funds to work wherever they are needed most.
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