Campaign time is upon us Published Sept. 14, 2015 By Maj. Robert McNulty 908th Airlift Wing MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the program within the federal government which allows those employees who wish to give to charitable organizations to do so. This year's campaign will run from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15. Prior to the 1950s, fundraising for federal employees was not controlled in any way. There was no one entity that coordinated and took control of workplace fundraising. This was wasteful and led to worker dissatisfaction. Imagine being asked to contribute to some organization or another every couple of weeks; this was frustrating and caused a host of problems. So in 1956, President Eisenhower started the process to change the giving and fundraising process to one more developed and streamlined. Fund Raising Bulletins No. 1 and No. 2 were issued, identifying charitable organizations and designating the times of the year during which their solicitations could occur. President Kennedy established the Combined Federal Campaign by Executive Order and, in 1964 the first of what we now know as the CFC was conducted. The result was an overwhelming success and met with a highly favorable response from federal employees. I n 1971, President Nixon announced that the CFC would be the uniform fundraising method for the federal service. So what does all this mean? President Kennedy once asked Americans, "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." The CFC is a way to give back and do something for your country, for your community and for your neighbors. Over the course of your life, you may encounter situations where you may need assistance. If you've never been in such a situation, consider yourself blessed but at some point it might be you or someone you love. It could range from minor and relatively insignificant or it could be life changing. If you happen to encounter something like this, there are many organizations out there that are willing to step up and help. However, many of these organizations rely on donations from people like us to make a difference. If you are able to give please make a donation or see your unit POC for more information. Thank you.