Commentary: Thanks to generosity of Team Kirtland, $334,000 raised in CFC Published Jan. 21, 2014 By Col. Tom Miller 377th Air Base Wing commander KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Through the 2013 Combined Federal Campaign, members of Team Kirtland pledged more than $334,000 in contributions to approved charitable organizations. The generosity of Team Kirtland's military and civilian employees has made it possible for much-needed assistance to reach countless people on our base, improve research in scientific and medical fields, and provide humanitarian assistance in the Albuquerque community and throughout the world. What I appreciate about the CFC is that a broad spectrum of worthy causes is available in one place, and that the donors get to choose where to contribute and how to support the agencies that work on issues that are important to them. The campaign came during a difficult time, on the heels of government furloughs, a government shutdown and in the midst of uncertainty regarding the federal budget, yet the members of Team Kirtland came through by choosing to support causes that they believe in. Although it may have been difficult or challenging, you definitely showed your steadfast commitment to support the vast number of charities involved in the CFC. That is the true meaning of charity. A hallmark of the men and women who make up Team Kirtland is that we care about others who have fallen on hard times. The CFC makes it easy for us to reach out in a meaningful way to people who really need help - the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the disabled, children, and families in need, to name a few. The current challenges of our nation's economy have meant that charitable organizations have had to redouble their efforts to meet the growing demand for assistance. That makes our donations even more powerful, because the scope and intensity of need is greater. While we understandably fell a little short of our monetary goal this year, we managed to raise more than $300,000 to help others less fortunate than ourselves and Kirtland was recognized by the executive director for the New Mexico CFC as the largest single donor agency in the state. Above all, know that your contributions will continue to make a difference in the lives of others. On behalf of the many people who will benefit from your kindness and generosity, thank you.