Combined Federal Campaign draws to close

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Federal employees and service members from around the Midlands got together Monday at the Officers' Club to recognize the area's contributions to the Combined Federal Campaign.

As of Monday, the CFC Midlands reported just short of $1 million in donations with 97 percent of the local campaigns reporting results. The campaign runs through Saturday, and campaign officials said they hope to reach $1 million by then.

Arnold Miller, president of the Federal Executive Council and CFC co-chair, said he was impressed by the willingness of federal employees to donate even in economic hard times.

"Once a year, we appeal to folks in the federal community to donate. We don't do a lot of arm twisting. We put it out there for them, and the folks always respond," Miller said. "Even in tough times, we give."

Sharon Bryant, community campaign co-chair for the United Way of the Midlands, said that willingness to give makes a difference in many peoples' lives.

"The reason we are here is because there are so many people who are so less fortunate than we are and who are facing this holiday season with very tough times ahead of them -- whether it's a natural disaster or things that happen in their lives that they simply can't control. So, everything that we do counts so much in their lives, and that's really what it's all about," Bryant said. "Whether it's addressing homelessness or food insecurities or a host of other issues around town and around the world, please know that every gift and every giver is important to helping create a future that we would all like to see."

Col. Stephen Yackley, Fort Jackson's deputy commanding officer, said Fort Jackson is in the unique position of being both -- contributor and recipient.

"Just here on Fort Jackson alone, there are probably about 100 different agencies that impact us in our daily lives," Yackley said. "So, not only do we give, but we also receive."

The CFC is the world's largest workplace charity fundraising campaign. The Midlands-area campaign covers 21 counties and reaches out to about 41,000 federal employees and service members.