Fort Benning kicks off annual Combined Federal Campaign

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 25, 2013) -- There was no shortage of sports and community spirit Sept. 18 when Fort Benning gathered to kick off the annual Combined Federal Campaign at Smith Fitness Center with speakers and a dodgeball tournament.

The CFC is a charitable giving program that provides federal employees and service members the opportunity to contribute to thousands of organizations around the U.S. and the world. The Columbus/Fort Benning Regional CFC serves 11 counties in the Chattahoochee Valley.

Laura Walker, local CFC manager, spoke at the kickoff about the positive impact organizations that benefit from CFC funds can have on people in the local community. She shared a story about how, as a new mother, she received help from March of Dimes, one of the charities included in CFC.

"Each person here is only one degree away from being helped by a CFC agency," Walker said.

Maj. Gen. H. R. McMaster, commander of Fort Benning and the Maneuver Center of Excellence, spoke about the importance of working together as a community to help one another.

"One of the most important lessons we learn in training is that as an individual, you can accomplish a little bit; but as a team, you can accomplish a whole lot and go well beyond what any individual could ever contribute," he said. "And that's what the CFC allows us to do. It allows us to make small contributions as individuals, but have a huge impact on our fellow Soldiers and Families."

In 2012, the Wounded Warrior Project was the largest recipient of CFC donations from the Fort Benning area. Jason Larivee, who works in the organization's Warriors to Work employment preparation program, spoke about some of the ways the Wounded Warrior Project provides support to wounded service members and their Families.

The guest speakers were followed by a dodgeball tournament between teams representing units and offices from across Fort Benning. Team MEDDAC won the tournament after defeating the Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

The CFC season runs through Dec. 15. For the first time, federal employees and service members can donate by clicking on CFC link on the MyPay online payroll system. For more information, contact your agency's CFC key person.