Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs are getting a financial shot in the arm, thanks to donors to the European Combined Federal Campaign who designated $265,913 for MWR family support and youth programs.
U.S. Army Europe CFC donors contributed $106,625 to the programs, of which the majority was given to base support battalions this month. The amount was $26,067 more than last year’s.
Army CFC donors also designated nearly $6,000 for programs in the Balkans.
The U.S. Navy in Europe received $66,082 for European Navy commands.
The money was recently presented to Rear Adm. Lewis W. Crenshaw Jr., NAVEUR’s deputy commander. Making the presentation was Renee Acosta, president of Global Impact, the company that manages the overseas CFC.
“This will really help some of the summer camps and other programs that were cut back,” Crenshaw said, referring to cuts in the Navy MWR budget.
Acosta also presented U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander Gen. Gregory S. Martin with a mock check for $93,205. This was nearly $23,000 more than last year’s donations.
According to a USAFE press release, the money will be returned to the local communities where the donations originated, funding food lockers for families in need and offsetting child-care costs for hospitalized parents.
“Our CFC donations really do come back to help us, and go a long way towards improving our world and our own communities across USAFE,” said Martin.
“This is a great way for the USAFE community to support the quality of life in the places where they live,” said Vince Halverson, family support center director for the 86th Air Wing.
“By designating their contributions to [Family Support and Youth Programs], people are putting the money back to help their own community.”
Last year’s Overseas CFC raised $11,267,754 for more than 1,500 organizations.
More than 40 percent of those eligible to participate in CFC did, giving an average of $122 per person.
