News Release

Washington, D.C.--The Combined Federal Campaign received near-record support last year from federal employees, military personnel and the Postal Service to score the second-largest pledge tally in its 42-year history, despite vigorous competition in the philanthropic community for donors’ dollars.

While working to make America stronger and safer, federal employees and America’s military families reached into their own pockets to donate nearly $237 million to the CFC in 2002.

Speaking on behalf of Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the federal agency responsible for the CFC, OPM Deputy Director Dan Blair said: “Since September 11, federal employees, postal workers and those serving in uniform have worked hard to make our country, and indeed our world, safer from those who might seek to do us harm. So it is especially fitting that we honor those in our federal family who have stepped forward in answering the call to help those most in need. Such giving and contributions to our communities truly exemplify what is best about our nation.”

Blair’s comments were delivered today during the National CFC Awards Ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to honor “CFC heroes.”

Worldwide contributions to the 2002 CFC campaign totaled $236,888,903, down 1.9 percent over the previous year’s record tally of $241,400,814. However, the average donation in 2002 increased to $175, up from $167 one year earlier.

Last month, James issued new audit guidelines strengthening oversight of the CFC and promoting better financial accountability. The guidelines, James said, “protect the integrity of the CFC” and is one of OPM’s highest priorities in its oversight of the program.

The CFC was established in 1961 and is the largest workplace charity campaign in the country. Nearly four million federal civilian and postal employees and military personnel are given the opportunity to contribute to the charities of their choice during the annual charity drive, which runs from September 1 through December 15. It is the only campaign authorized to solicit and collect contributions from federal employees in the workplace.

The following are the categories and winners of the 2002 National Combined Federal Campaign Award:

Five Highest-Performing Campaigns

• National Capital Area ($47,001,033)
• Overseas Area CFC ($11,267,754)
• San Diego County CFC ($6,180,373)
• Hawaii-Pacific Area CFC ($5,425,480)
• San Antonio Area CFC ($5,308,597)

Campaigns Over $1 Million

HIGHEST PERCENT DOLLAR INCREASE:

• CFC of Pike’s Peak Area (Colorado Springs) (18.4 percent increase to $1,654,035 in 2002 from $1,396,548 in 2001)

HIGHEST AVERAGE GIFT:

• King County CFC ($343.42)

Campaigns From $250,000 - $1 Million

HIGHEST PERCENT DOLLAR INCREASE:

• Rio Grande Valley CFC (McAllen, TX) (22.4 percent increase to $263,986 in 2002 from $215,715 in 2001)

HIGHEST AVERAGE GIFT:

• Smokey Mountain Region CFC ($363.27)

Campaigns under $250,000

HIGHEST PERCENT DOLLAR INCREASE:

• Henderson-Daviess CFC (Owensboro, KY) (57.4 percent to $13,841 in 2002 from $8,791 in 2001)

HIGHEST AVERAGE GIFT:

• Mid-Columbia Area CFC ($341.12)

INNOVATOR’S AWARD:

• CFC of Pikes Peak Region
• Central Oklahoma CFC
• Orange County CFC
• Southeast Wisconsin CFC

CFC Heroes

• CIVILIAN:

  Zachary Bunkley

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Pinellas County (FL) CFC

• MILITARY (UNIFORMED):

  1^st Lieutenant Matthew E. Gillespie

  United States Army

  Overseas County Area CFC

• MILITARY (CIVILIAN):

  Mary Lou Bogden

  United States Air Force

  National Capital Area CFC

• POSTAL:

  Catherine Litke

  United States Postal Service

  Greater Hartford CFC

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OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.

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