Fort Belvoir, Virginia –
Workers and contributors to the Defense Logistics Agency’s 2016 Combined Federal Campaign celebrated surpassing the organization’s donation goal during an awards ceremony in the McNamara Headquarters Complex Feb. 9.
The agency’s campaign in the National Capital Region raised more than $326,000, which is 103.5 percent of the original goal of $315,000.
“For the first time in a few years, we reached and exceeded our goal, thanks to you all and thanks to the volunteers across the DLA NCR,” said Brad Bunn, director of DLA Human Resources.
“In addition to exceeding our goal, our DLA CFC teams won two awards at the DoD CFC Communications Marketing Contest,” Bunn said. “We won the Best Overall Communications Program for medium-sized DoD agencies and [were the] runner-up for best special event for our Oct. 3, 2016, kick-off event.”
DLA’s contributions to the campaign are part of a larger department picture.
“Last summer, when we were preparing for this, I actually learned that DoD employees are the most generous in the federal government when it comes to CFC giving,” Bunn explained. “I wasn’t surprised by that; here in DLA we had almost two dozen ‘eagle’ and ‘double eagle’ donors, who are employees who pledge 1 or 2 percent of their annual pay to CFC charities. Our $326,000 is part of $14 million raised by DoD in the 2016 campaign.”
Curtis Rumbaugh, branch chief of Voluntary Campaigns for the DoD Washington Headquarters Services, applauded DLA’s work on the CFC.
“You all make it look easy … but the effort behind this is tremendous,” Rumbaugh said. “The fact that you sailed past your goal is a remarkable achievement.”
Rumbaugh spoke about changes to the CFC in 2017 after 52 years of fundraising.
- Changes start big, with a removal of CFC fundraising events to focus donations more effectively on payroll deductions.
- A continued reduction of paper will lessen overhead from printing and shipping costs.
- MyPay will stop being used in favor of an alternative online system with comprehensive data on every CFC charity that can be tied directly to the payroll system, allowing for more efficient and private donations.
- Cash will be eliminated to reduce expenses in favor of payroll deductions, credit or debit cards, or e-checks.
- Retirees will be allowed to make contributions through their annuity process.
- New employees will be able to set up donations as soon as they’re onboarded, instead of having to wait for the regular fall solicitation period.
- All charities applying to be in next year’s catalog are providing data on the types of volunteers they need so that employees have the option of donating time as well as money to their charity of choice.
Overall, Rumbaugh said he was looking forward to the positive impact of these changes, as well seeing more creative efforts from DLA, such as the DLA CFC 2016 Mannequin Challenge video.
The event also featured guest speaker Wayne Hanson, board chair for Wreaths Across America, who spoke on the history and actions of the CFC-supported charity that lays donated wreaths on the graves of veterans during the holiday season.
After Hanson’s account of what CFC efforts can mean to a charity, Bunn presented awards to DLA organizations based on their employees’ donations to the CFC.
The Merit Award, earned by having 50 percent employee participation or $125 per capita donations, was awarded to the DLA Director’s Staff, DLA Information Operations and DLA Acquisition
The Honor Awards represent those organizations that achieved 60 percent employee participation or $175 per capita donations. DLA Strategic Plans and Policy, DLA Logistics Operations and DLA Human resources earned Honor Awards.
The President’s Award, for organizations achieving a 75 percent employee participation or $275 per capita donations, was awarded to the DLA Joint Reserve Force.
The ceremony concluded with the ceremonial unveiling and handing off the CFC campaign book from the DLA Human Resources to 2017’s coordinators, DLA Logistics Operations, with one change from previous years resulting in a much thinner book.
“We read Ms. [Kathy] Cutler’s … print reduction initiative, ‘Think before you print,’ so instead of printing it all, it’s now one page with a link on it to the S drive where all the files are located,” Bunn said to his CFC successor and DLA Logistics Operations Director Navy Vice Adm. Vince Griffith.
“The challenge is now on to us to exceed last year,” Griffith said. “We’re looking forward to it and to everyone’s participation.”