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CFC 2008 generates $266,949
By Marti Gatlin,
Army Flier Editor
Fort Rucker’s 2008 Wiregrass Area Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) exceeded its goal this year by more than $36,000 installation officials announced during a closing ceremony Monday at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
The campaign, which ran from Sept. 16 through Nov. 14, raised $266,949, which surpassed its goal of $230,000, and continued a trend of exceeding expectations. Donations collected for the 2007 CFC were $18,729 above the campaign’s $225,000 goal.
“The 2008 CFC has been a great success,” said Col. Yolanda Ruiz-Isales, chairman, Local Federal Coordinating Committee. “I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your time and generosity in supporting the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign.”
She said the CFC’s Local Federal Coordinating Committee, which is made up of several Fort Rucker community leaders, debated over whether the $230,000 goal was too high.
“Thanks to all the Soldiers and civilians of the Wiregrass community who stood up to the challenge,” Ruiz-Isales Vsaid.
She thanked the CFC key workers, Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, and others for their hard work.
“We can’t do this without great key workers. Without them, this campaign could not have achieved the overwhelming success it has achieved,” she said.
During the closing ceremony, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker Commanding General Maj. Gen. James O. Barclay III signed the pledge check and presented it to Joe Rutkowski, Fort Rucker’s CFC Manager. Barclay served as the campaign’s chairman.
Barclay thanked everyone for their support and said the campaign wasn’t about pushing people to give but pushing people to make contact with everyone to make sure they had the opportunity to give.
“Our nation is made up of givers regardless of where you are or where you stand or how much you have or how little you have, that’s the beauty of our nation (and) the fact that we always will give,” he said.
Barclay added that the funds collected will provide resources to 62 local Wiregrass area agencies and more than 2,000 other charities.
“The $36,000 over what our goal was speaks very highly of the people that we reach out and touch, not just Fort Rucker but all these different organizations,” he said.
Officials recognized 11 of the 43 Leadership Givers, who pledged or already have given a gift of $1,020 or more during the ceremony. There were 1,505 donors for this year’s campaign and 1,489 in 2007, Ruiz,Isales said.
“The key is contact and if you ask the people, they’ll donate,” he said. “Generous people know even when the economy is down charities will only succeed if people who have jobs give these gifts. Some charities’ requirements are always there and generous people recognize that.”
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