Charity fair will launch March's 2011 Combined Federal Campaign Published Oct. 14, 2011 By Megan Just 452 AMW Public Affairs MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- March's 2011 Combined Federal Campaign is set to kick off Thursday, Oct.20, with a charity fair that will be held in the Hap Arnold Club atrium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, the base's goal is for March employees and service members to pledge a total of $125,000 for non-profit organizations. "Despite the struggling economy, donations from March have continued to increase in recent years, and we're hoping to raise a total amount that is slightly higher than we did last year," said Capt. Dave Schuster, March Air Reserve Base's campaign coordinator. Last year, Team March members raised a total of $123,598. In 2009, the total was $111,871. In both campaigns, the amount of money raised surpassed the year's goal. But money is not the only goal of this year's campaign. "We're hoping to reach out to new federal employees or to people who haven't given in the past, " Schuster said. "People who have given before are more likely to give again in the future. In the long run, an increased number of givers could result in greater support for the charities." This year marks the 50th anniversary of CFC, which President John F. Kennedy enacted in 1961. Over the campaign's history, the contributions of civilian and military federal employees have raised a total of $7 billion for charitable causes, according to the CFC website. "It is incredibly easy for employees to give," Schuster said. "They don't even need to leave their office; their CFC worker will come to them. All they have to do is fill out the pledge form. If they want, they can even have the donations taken directly from their salary." Schuster said donating through CFC helps employees make informed giving choices. In order to be included in the CFC, charitable organizations must go through an extensive screening and validation process. The "Catalog of Caring" key workers will be distributing contains information about each organization's purpose and overhead costs. The catalog advises donors to be wary of organizations that have administrative costs that are higher than 35%. "When people give to charities, they want to know their money is going toward the cause, not toward executive salaries or other administrative costs," Schuster said. Schuster described CFC as being more secure and legitimate than other methods of giving. "It's not some stranger at the grocery store or an unidentified person on the phone asking for money," Schuster said. "When our employees give to CFC, they are working with a person they already know in their office, who is representing a federally sponsored organization. They can have peace of mind that their money is actually going where it's supposed to go." March's CFC is part of the SoCal Tri-County Combined Federal Campaign, which was formed last year by merging the Western Riverside, Mojave, Orange County and San Bernardino County CFCs to further reduce the administrative costs of the campaign. The March campaign includes the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and all military and civilian federal associate units on the base. "One of the challenges so far has been reaching all of those units to make sure they have the opportunity to participate," Schuster said. In a memorandum dated Aug. 31, John Berry, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, wrote, "We give because it feels right. Because we speak of high ideals, and we are as good as our word. Because we are moved by an event, an image, a catastrophe. Because we, too, have known hardship. We give in memory of those lost, and in hopes that others will be saved. We give because we can." According to the CFC website, federal employees and service members have pledged $280 million in each of the last two years. "The outpouring of kindness from our Nation's public servants reflects the American spirit of compassion, and reminds each of us of the profound impact we can have when we join together in common cause," wrote President Barack Obama in a Sept. 13 memo. To participate in this year's CFC, contact your key worker or Capt. Dave Schuster (951-655-4179). More information is available online at http://socaltri-countycfc.org. Keep up with what's going on at March through the base website, Facebook and Twitter.