ROCK ISLAND, Ill.--Heading into the home stretch of the 2015 Illowa Bi-State Combined Federal Campaign, federal government employees have been donating generously to CFC charities to make a difference for people in the Quad City Area and beyond. They're taking to heart this year's CFC campaign slogan, "You can change a life."
"An amazing statistic this year is the fact that 41 percent of donations so far are from people who have not donated before," said Rick Widdel, from United Way, the Principal Combined Fund Organization that manages Illowa Bi-State CFC's funds. "Already, employees have donated almost $234,000 to those in need."
The "work horses" of the campaign are the four loaned executives, who are the only full-time workers on the campaign, and the multitude of key people at each organization, who ask their office mates to consider making a donation to CFC.
The four LEs are volunteers on loan from their respective organizations for a three-month assignment. They give speeches, present rallies, distribute materials, and collect pledges at all federal and postal organizations within the 37-county bi-state area that makes up the local CFC. Their agencies continue to pay their salaries, thereby allowing CFC to lower its administrative costs.
"I volunteered to be an LE, because the mission of CFC tugs at my heart," said Chioma Ezeugwu, from Army Contracting Command. "I have family members dealing with health issues, and charities that help people with these types of problems benefit from donations to CFC."
Tony Ratti, who works at the Rock Island Garrison, was a key person last year, and wanted to get more involved. This year, as an LE, he has enjoyed meeting many federal employees, both at Rock Island Arsenal and in the outlying communities, has helped with some organizations' fundraisers, and has enjoyed the opportunity "to temporarily change things up" jobwise.
"The four LE's clicked right away," said Ratti. "We work together very well, which is so important to the successful outcome of this campaign."
Ken Valenca is an LE whose regular job is at First U.S. Army.
"What has impressed me the most is hearing stories from people who have benefitted from CFC charities. It makes me realize how good our lives are, and to not take life for granted," he said.
Graham Geigle, who works for Civilian Human Resources Agency, said that the federal organizations he has called on have been very responsive. Employees at Thomson Correctional Center have been especially enthusiastic in their fundraising and donations this year, he said.
Federal employees in the bi-state area can choose from 2,500 local, national and international charities to make donations. Last year, area federal employees pledged almost $400,000 to CFC charities, and 42 percent of those donations stayed in the Quad City area.
More information on the Illowa Bi-State Combined Federal Campaign can be found 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.
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