‘Give Happy:’ Combined Federal Campaign set to crank up in local communities Published Sept. 8, 2023 By Sarah Amato 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Federal employees and retirees make up a very generous community. Your giving spirit has made the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Combined Federal Campaign so successful –with nearly $8.7 billion pledged since 1961.(Graphic by Combined Federal Campaign) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Plans are underway for the start of the 2023 Combined Federal Campaign across the government enterprise in October, allowing service members and civilian workers the opportunity to support thousands of international, national and local charities monetarily or through volunteer hours. With a theme of “Give Happy,” the federal campaign began Sept. 1 and will conclude Jan. 14. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our military and civilians to donate to those charities they wholeheartedly support,” said Lt. Col. Olga Brandt, director of staff at the Air Force Installation Contracting Center and 2023 CFC Dayton District chair. “This allows them to give back to them or pay it forward.” This is a wonderful opportunity for our military and civilians to donate to those charities they wholeheartedly support. Lt. Col. Olga Brandt, 2023 CFC Dayton District chair Overseen by the Office of Personnel Management, CFC works each year to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees and retirees the opportunity to improve quality of life for all. CFC is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace-charity campaign with almost 200 operations throughout the country and oversees raising millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season will support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. The federal campaign raised more than $70 million in 2022. Once local campaigns begins, key workers will help solicit donations in respective base units, along with communicating information about the contribution process. Craig Erford, division chief for Air Force Materiel Command’s Engineering and Technical Management Directorate and 2023 CFC Dayton District vice chair, said the premise around this year’s campaign is when you give happiness, you get happiness in return. “This kind of plays along with our mission that we have for the Air Force as we continue to serve our country,” he said. “Through our work and donations, we are giving back to our own communities and those charities we support to get happiness in return.” For those who may not be able to donate monetarily, various volunteer opportunities to support the campaign also exist. Campaign organizers are also seeking people to share their personal “why I give” stories during 30-60 second recorded video testimonials. Interested donors should provide their name, organization, email, phone number and a brief description of why they donate to the campaign organizers listed below. For more information about the CFC, watch this brief video: https://givecfc.org/2023-cfc-promo-video. For questions about the local Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 2023 CFC campaign, volunteer opportunities or “why I give” testimonials, contact the CFC chair or vice chair at: olga.brandt@us.af.mil and craig.erford@us.af.mil.