Photo By Dustin Senger | Constance T. Baker, Director of Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas (CFC-O) Europe and...... read more read more
By Dustin Senger
Area Support Group Qatar Public Affairs
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – Americans serving in Qatar at Camp As Sayliyah, positioned between Saudi Arabia's eastern border and the Persian Gulf, are preparing for this season's Combined Federal Campaign Overseas fund raiser. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines will seek generosity from various tenant units on the U.S. military base from Oct. 15 through Dec 15. Charitable organizations can change lives, but they require participation.
"It's our job to reach out to everyone," said Constance T. Baker, Director of CFC-O Europe and Central Command, during a training session for unit coordinators at Camp As Sayliyah on Sept. 24. "We get tons of requests from people in Iraq, Afghanistan – in danger and still thinking about giving to the CFC-O. People want to participate. Our concern is to make sure everyone is asked – how much is not important – and it all starts with each office of personnel management."
"Last year, Area Support Group Qatar earned the CFC-O Special Merit Award from the commander of U.S. Central Command," said Army Sgt. Lumbala Wa Lumbala, from Sacramento, Calif. He is the ASG-QA unit coordinator and a three-year veteran of the campaign at Camp As Sayliyah. "We had 100 percent contact and doubled the amount raised from the previous year. Camp As Sayliyah's volunteers are obviously doing something right – the commander was pleased by our performance and teamwork." U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid awarded ASG-QA for their role in coordinating exceptional participation and extraordinary volunteer spirit during the fall 2006 fund raiser.
U.S. Army Capt. John Bond, from Silver Spring, Md., is the community/area project officer responsible for organizing the campaign's goal for 100 percent installation-wide contact. Wa Lumbala serves as an alternate CAPO, able to accept donations from any smaller units without direct representation. CFC-O information and materials are delivered by respective unit coordinators, appointed by the installation CAPO, to effectively motivate and inform everyone about the campaign. Unit coordinators appoint key persons for further dissemination though large commands. These representatives provide personal assistance for the personal requests.
"We only have national and international charities – we don't have local organizations," said Baker. "As a local charity, we do have Family Support and Youth Programs (FSYP) to give to your installation of origin." Furthermore, only legitimate organizations with low-overhead costs qualify under CFC-O's strict guidelines. Representatives can not influence anyone's choice; it's up to each individual to select which organizations warrant their support. The coordinators have two primary missions: make 100 percent contact and raise funds. The fund raiser has helped millions of people while promoting philanthropy.
"The CFC-O has been around for about 50 years," said Baker. "It was signed into order by former President Kennedy to organize and smooth out the process of fund raising." Prior to the 1950's, on-the-job fund raising in the federal workplace was unorganized and therefore unproductive. After a study of the troubles, former President Eisenhower formally charged advisors to develop a campaign for federal employees in the workplace. Once a well-established program was presented, Kennedy completed the administrative labors in 1961 with Executive Order 10927. Today, over 3,000 campaign volunteers raise millions of dollars to support the CFC-O in various overseas locations.
Donations can be accepted in a variety of ways to ensure a successful fund raiser year; such as payroll deduction, personal check, money order and credit card. If required, cash can also be accepted, including foreign currency. American contractors and foreign nationals can not be solicited; however, they may request the information to support the fund raiser. The 2007 campaign has introduced two new ways to give: an online pledge assistant and credit card giving.
"You will be able to go online and use a shopping cart system to pick your charities," said Baker. After selecting the organizations, a form can be printed out and handed to unit coordinators. "Online pledge assistance is not submitted, only credit card giving is fully automated online." A local CAPO only tracks contact with credit card pledges, the contributions completed online are automatically credited to the individual's unit fund raising statistics.
"Klumpy Nuts is a food supplement given to third-world countries," said Baker. "It cost 50 cents per sachet." Even small contributions can place 500 food calories, fortified with vitamins and minerals, into starving stomachs. Thousands of meager pledges can present mountains of hope in needed hands. Camp As Sayliyah residents continue to execute the CFC-O fund raising campaign, seeking out generosity from an overseas location actively supporting the Global War on Terrorism.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2007 03:21 |
| Story ID: | 12532 |
| Location: | CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA |
| Web Views: | 488 |
| Downloads: | 428 |
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