Combined Federal Campaign Published Feb. 20, 2013 By Maj. Lisa Weaver 117th Air Refueling Wing Executive Officer Birmingham, Ala. -- Did you know that the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the ONLY charity fundraising drive authorized by the DoD to target government employees? This annual event is a chance to give back to your local, national, or international community. The best part is that the CFC is comprised of THOUSANDS of charities for you to choose from, so your donations go exactly where you want them to go. The government even does the work for you to screen all participating charities to ensure they are above board, and plainly discloses exactly what percentage of every donated dollar goes to administrative and fundraising expenses rather than charity support. Participation in CFC is entirely voluntary. No one can coerce you to donate. Supervisors and commanders are forbidden from tracking individual donations or participation. There is no career benefit, no "brownie points" to earn by donating. I have donated to CFC every year since I joined the military. I've never tracked where I donated or how much. Still, I would like to share with you why I have donated to some of my charities in the past to give you an idea of the variety of causes supported by the CFC. The Humane Society. Sydney was five months old when I adopted her from the Humane Society. Everyone who sees her asks what breed of dog she is and my answer is always the same - she is purebred Mutt. She is the worst guard dog in the world and the best friend I will ever have. She was abandoned as a puppy for reasons I will never understand. The Humane Society took her in until I was lucky enough to find her, as they do for so many other abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. St. Jude's Children's Hospital. St. Jude's will never turn away a child diagnosed with cancer because the family cannot afford to pay. When insurance stops, St. Jude's keeps going. A former commander of mine had a daughter who was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age. St. Jude's not only treated her, but went so far above and beyond to take care of her entire family and successfully return her to health that he still gets tears in his eyes, 15 years later, when he tells the story. Susan G. Komen. I doubt there is an entire person in this Wing who has not been touched by cancer. In my case, it came in threes. My brother-in-law's mother, a good friend of my parents and a second mother to me, died in 2000 after a very long and painful battle with breast cancer. That same year, within months, another good friend and a second father to me was diagnosed with colon cancer. And then, a few months after that, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. In many ways, our families were blessed - two of the three are cancer survivors today. Zelda was not so lucky, and I carry her memory very close in my heart. Now, 12 years later, I have three more breast cancer survivors and very good friends that I carry with me every time I see that pink ribbon. Many of us open our wallets and our hearts every year to donate to various causes. It is a small price to pay for the assistance, support and caring these charities give to those who need them. CFC allows you to choose the charity that matters to you, whether it is cancer treatment, wounded warriors, public broadcasting, environmental protection, or USA Basketball. These agencies cannot help anyone without help from you. Contact your CFC rep today for a donation form and a book of all of the eligible charities. If you cannot find your CFC rep, call me at 205-714-2527!