Winner winner chicken dinner; well sort of

Published Jan. 18, 2011
By Monica Mendoza
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 21st Space Wing was awarded the Combined Federal Campaign "Regional Excellence Award" Jan. 13 at the annual CFC Awards ceremony on Peterson Air Force Base.

Col. Stephen N. Whiting, 21st SW commander, accepted the trophy on behalf of the wing, which was recognized for breaking its past records and donating $327,090 to charities across the globe through the workplace giving program.

"We beat our previous campaign record by more than 33 percent," Colonel Whiting said.

The organizers of the CFC threw a glitzy, New Year's Eve style party to celebrate the $2.4 million donated from across the region that includes, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB, U.S. Air Force Academy, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Fort Carson Army Installation, U.S. Postal Service and federal employees.

With noise makers and horns, active duty personnel and federal employees cheered with excitement as the statistics of this year's giving campaign were revealed: Air Force Space Command had a 51 percent participation rate and donated $252,887; Schriever AFB reported a 26 percent participation rate and donated $233,106; Fort Carson reported that the installation reached 98 percent of its goal with $575,000 in donations; and NORAD/NORTHCOM reported reaching 107 percent of its goal with $220,000 in donations.

The Academy had a 34 percent participation rate and donated $590,750, said Col. Tamra Rank, USAFA vice superintendent.

"That is over a half million dollars," she said. "I think that's just exceptional."

Sixteen individuals were recognized as "CFC Heroes" for outstanding campaign leadership, including 21st Space Wing Staff Sgt. Ronald Jensen, 21st Communications Squadron, who was "the most enthusiastic and dedicated UPO in the unit," according to his citation. He was credited with orchestrating $2,210 in donations from his squadron's members.

The CFC is the world's largest workplace giving program and allows active duty military and Department of Defense civilian employees to make one-time donations or make payroll deductions to thousands of charitable organizations. In the CFC campaign, employees can designate money to specific charities or allow the donation to go into a general fund, which is distributed equally among the charitable organizations. There are more than 3,000 charities worldwide that benefit from CFC.

Schriever AFB set an aggressive goal this year -- $15,000 over their record-breaking performance of 2009, said Col. Michael Mason, 50th Space Wing vice commander.

"A large majority of our units came through and really stepped up to the plate . . . we had a grand total of $233,106 out of little ol' Schriever," Colonel Mason said.

The average gift of the region was $226, said Barbara Barfield, Pikes Peak Region CFC director. Pikes Peak Region covers southern Colorado, from Monument to New Mexico and over to Utah. However, military bases make up 95 percent of the region's givers.

"Federal and military personnel are extraordinarily generous, particularly because they feel safe with their own employment," she said.

Peterson regional excellence award