Federal Fund Raiser Completes Successful 2012 Campaign

By Linda LoebachJanuary 28, 2013

Federal Fund Raiser Completes Successful 2012 Campaign
Brig. Gen. Duane A. Gamble, Army Sustainment Command deputy commander and Illowa Bi-State Combined Federal Campaign acting honorary chair, presents Rick Widdell, principal combined fund organization representative, with a check for $610,191 to charit... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Federal, military and postal employees, donated $610,191 to 960 local, national and international charities, through the Illowa Bi-State Combined Federal Campaign during the recently-completed 2012 campaign.

At a recent CFC awards ceremony, Brig. Gen. Duane Gamble, deputy commanding general of Army Sustainment Command, and acting honorary chairperson of the local CFC, presented Rick Widdell, principal combined fund organization representative, with a check to the hundreds of charities designated by employees.

"CFC has always been part of my Army career, but I didn't know all that federal civilian employees do to make it happen, until now," said Gamble. "I commend all of those who made this campaign successful."

The Combined Federal Campaign is the only authorized solicitation of federal and postal employees in the workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. Employees donate to CFC charities to make a lasting difference in people's lives in Quad City Area and beyond. The 2012 slogan was "Give a Little, Help a Lot".

"The wonderful people I have worked with in the CFC this year have shown me that the depths of giving does not come from the dollars in their pockets but from the love in their hearts," said Matthew Kopel, Illowa Bi-State CFC chair.

With 40 percent of donations staying in the Quad City area, 20 percent of federal and postal workers in the 37- county area made donations. The top three agencies with the highest donations were United Way of the Quad Cities Area, Humane Society of Rock Island and American Red Cross.

Award-winning organizations recognized were:

Innovative Award-Joint Manufacturing and Technolgy Center, Rock Island Arsenal

Highest Average Gift -- Veterans Administration Hospital, Iowa City

Postal Offices-Dubuque Post Office

Organizational Participation Awards (greatest participation per group size):

- Small Organization (269 or less employees): Rock Island Arsenal U.S. Army Garrison-69 percent of employees donated $36,796

- Medium Organization (270-699 employees): First U.S. Army-43 percent of employees donated $32,419

- Large Organization (700+ employees): U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command-38 percent of employees donated $81,991

More information on the Illowa Bi-State Combined Federal Campaign is available at http://illowacfc.org/. General information on the national campaign is available on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Web site, at www.opm.gov/cfc.