FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 1998

CONTACT: Sharon J. Wells (202) 606-1800 sjwells@opm.gov

OPM Kicks Off 1998 CFC Campaign

Washington, D.C.--The Office of Personnel Management will kick off its 1998 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) on October 1, 1998. This years theme is, Caring through the Decades.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Alan K. Campbell Auditorium.

The October 1 kick off signals the beginning of OPMs internal CFC campaign. Numerous events are planned throughout the campaign which begins officially on Monday, October 5 and runs through November 19, 1998. During that time, OPM employees will have an opportunity to give to the charity of their choice through the convenience of payroll deductions. The National Capital Area Combined Federal Campaign, of which OPM is a part, kicked off on September 9.

OPM employees continue to raise the bar on generosity in the workplace through our annual Combined Federal Campaign event, said OPM Director Janice Lachance. Both inside and outside the agency, federal workers repeatedly show their willingness to help those in need across our community and throughout the world.

Last year, OPM raised $214,000, exceeding its goal by more than 4 percent. This years OPM goal is $220, 400, a targeted increase of 3 percent. The agencys level of employee participation is 74.7 percent, one of the highest in the National Capital area. Of 54 agency campaigns, only seven had higher employee participation rates.

Nationally, 1997 was the second consecutive year that the CFC showed an increase in donations from federal employees and military personnel. In 1997, contributions to the campaign totaled $197.1 million. By comparison, in 1996, $193.6 million was raised; in 1995, $189.3 million was raised. Despite fewer employees in the federal workforce, the campaign continues to grow.

Last year, the National Capital CFC, which represents the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, had the highest campaign receipts among the 397 localized campaigns, totaling $38,041,502.

The CFC was established in 1961 as a way to consolidate many informal charity solicitations into one organized charity drive. The campaign is the only government-authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. It continues to be the largest and most successful workplace fundraising model in the world.

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