It was a lucky day for many on Dec. 4 when the Clinical Center picked 19 winners for their Combined Federal Campaign themed baskets. This year, different departments in the CC created gift baskets through staff donation to be won in a drawing open to NIH staff, patients, families and visitors. Proceeds from the drawing went to the winners’ CFC charity of choice; more than $7,000 was collected.

With the country facing an economic downturn, the CFC is more important than ever to the thousands of nonprofit organizations that rely on CFC donations. During times of economic hardship, the demand for charitable work is expanding and, at the same time, the charitable giving from corporations and the private sector may drop.

The Clinical Center drawing, and the many other CFC events and activities, are creative ways to remind NIH employees that they have the chance to give. NIH has a strong tradition of giving generously to the CFC.

	Left: CC Executive Officer Maureen Gormley (l) and Debbie Byram, deputy CFC coordinator for the CC, get help with the drawing from Sydnie Gapper, 3, whose dad is a patient. Below: Showing off gift basket treasures are CC employees (from l) Josette Blocker of the pharmacy department and Nicole Jackson and Vernessa Gibson, both from nursing and patient care services.

As the campaign nears its end, NIH is at more than 80 percent of its $2.2 million goal. There is still time to give. NIH will accept contributions through January 2009. You can still ensure your favorite charities are receiving a steady stream of funding throughout the year by giving through payroll deduction. The CFC has found that people can afford to give more than three to four times as much through payroll deduction than they do when making a direct cash gift. For more information on the CFC, contact your keyworker or http://cfc.nih.gov.