Chief Petty Officer Henry Harris is a big fan of National Public Radio.
Harris said he donated to the nonprofit radio network in the past and has the logo hats and shirts to prove it.
But at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, where Harris is stationed, there is no local NPR affiliate to run pledge drives and collect contributions, which are key to keeping the radio network alive.
Harris said the urge to contribute to his favorite radio station was one reason he decided to help organize this year’s Combined Federal Campaign, which runs Wednesday through Dec. 3 across the Pacific.
"This allows me to do it" — contribute to NPR and a long list of other charities, including local family and youth programs, said Harris, a CFC Community Area Project Officer at Yokosuka.
The CFC is the world’s largest annual workplace charity program and includes hundreds of fund drives in the United States and overseas that raise money for thousands of public service and social welfare groups, including groups providing relief in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
In 2007, the overseas CFC said it raised about $15.7 million of the program’s $273 million total charitable donations.
Military installations throughout the Pacific region are preparing for the CFC program this week with football kickoffs, chili cook-offs and cake cuttings.
At U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan, Commander Col. Dave Hall is to kick off the fund drive season, literally, by punting a CFC football to a team of unit coordinators before a high school varsity football game. Squadrons at Kusan Air Base will compete in a chili cook-off to begin the charitable giving season.
Amid the events, CFC representatives like Harris will speak to potential donors in hopes of whipping up support and increasing donations.
Last year, Yokosuka received contributions from 50 percent of those directly informed of the campaign and raised $252,904, Harris said.
CFC representatives, including a member from the newly arrived USS George Washington, hope to increase those who donate by 2 percent this year, Harris said.
"It’s a steep increase but we are going to go for it," he said.
Servicemembers and federal employees can contribute to CFC through payroll deductions and choose which charities receive their money. Open contributions, which are divided up among groups by the CFC, are also allowed.
Eligible groups include local programs and agencies. In Guam, for example, donors can give to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Guam Animals in Need, Guam Humanities Council and the Salvation Army.
Federal and military employees on Guam raised $201,531 in 2007, according to the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas public affairs office.
Meanwhile, overseas family and youth programs received $714,000 through the CFC program. No overhead costs are deducted from those donations, meaning 100 percent goes to local overseas services, according to the Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas.
For more information about CFC, visit www.opm.gov/cfc.
CFC Overseas Events
Korea
U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan: Saturday at 1:30 p.m., football kickoff before the high school varsity football game.
Camp Humphreys: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., at the Main PX Entrance, Building 400, with Garrison Commander Col. John E. Dumoulin Jr.
Kunsan Air Force Base: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., chili cook-off at the Base Exchange courtyard area and flag football.
Japan
Yokota Air Base: Wednesday at 11 a.m., at Yokota Community Ceremony, Enlisted Club and Officer’s Club.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi: Oct. 9 at 9 a.m., outside the Navy Exchange Food Court.
Misawa Air Base: Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will kick off the CFC campaign with a cake-cutting ceremony and cook-off at the base exchange. A "haunted forest" fundraising event is also planned during October, according to base officials. Details are to be announced.
Okinawa
Kadena Air Base, Wednesday, 7 a.m., 5K run at Risner Gym, registration is $12.
Camp Foster, Wednesday at 12 p.m., cake cutting at the Marine Corps exchange.
