By Rhonda Apple
Pentagram Staff Writer
JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - The annual Combined Federal Campaign took center court Nov. 12, as campaign organizers on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall hosted a mid-point rally at the Fort Myer Fitness Center gymnasium.
CFC key workers, active duty and civilian employees and guests joined forces, with about a dozen people in attendance wearing their favorite sports team’s jerseys for the team spirit themed event.
Due to the recent government shutdown, the joint base CFC kick-off event was cancelled and the Nov. 12 event was the first “official” event held for this year’s campaign season.
“I’m going to open this year’s CFC campaign with a request that you consider digging a little bit deeper. There are always people out there who are much less fortunate than we are … in some cases, those who can’t even put food on the table,” said JBM-HH Commander Col. Fern O. Sumpter, who serves as the joint base chair for the annual fund drive.
“Our goal this year is to raise a very modest $37,000 … and I am hopeful that we can exceed that amount,” she said.
Guest speaker at the event was Lorraine Holmes Settles, corporate director of development with NEXUS Health Inc., the parent company of Fort Washington Medical Center, Maryland.
Holmes Settles told guests this is the first year the medical center is listed as a charity through the CFC. She described the facility, its services and benefit to the community, saying, “we consider [the facility and our services] a safety net to the community.”
Holmes Settles was presented with a certificate of appreciation and commander’s coin at the conclusion of her speech.
Dick A. VanSise, Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association’s manager of support services on JBM-HH, presented a check for $500 to the CFC. “We count it a privilege to be able to offer help. As the government faces fiscal challenges, it has an impact locally. We’ve really seen that this year, and it’s important for other organizations because of the economic challenges we still face in the local community,” he said.
“I think the CFC is very important because we as Soldiers are examples for our communities, should first and foremost give back, whether it’s financial or a lifetime of giving of ourselves,” said Headquarters Command Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Alex L. Pratt.
This year the CFC campaign will continue until Jan. 15, 2014.
More than 4,000 charities will benefit from the voluntary donations generated from CFC.
For more information or to donate, log onto www.cfcnca.org.