Wing CFC campaign sets record Published Dec. 20, 2010 By Monica Mendoza 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Personnel from the 21st Space Wing dug deep into their pockets and donated a record amount to this year's Combined Federal Campaign, reinvigorating a culture of giving. Lt. Col. Allen Reeves, 21st Space Wing Safety Office chief and 2010 CFC project officer on Peterson Air Force Base, thanked Airmen at the Dec. 14 commander's call saying, "You guys had a staggering $327,090 total donation." The most the 21st Space Wing had previously raised for charity was $250,000 in 2005, Colonel Reeves said. "We exceeded that amount this year by 30 percent," he said. 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. This year, Col. Stephen N. Whiting, 21st Space Wing commander, was focused on creating what he called "a culture of giving." In recent years, participation by 21st SW Airmen had declined. During this year's CFC, Colonel Whiting placed emphasis on exposing younger Airmen to the campaign in hopes of instilling a lifelong habit of charity toward others. Airmen blew away the CFC committee's expectations, Colonel Reeves said. This year, the 21st SW Airmen and DoD civilians, on average, gave a higher donation amount than in years past and made this year's campaign the most successful in wing history. Across the Pikes Peak Region, which includes the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson Army installation, the U.S. Post Office, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, and Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases, active duty military and DoD civilians met a $2.4 million goal of giving, 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. The average gift of the region was $226, Ms. Barfield said. The 21st SW, Air Force Space Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command gave a combined total of $817,507 - another record, Ms. Barfield said. That number is up from last year's $695,401 in gifts. "Federal and military personnel are extraordinarily generous, particularly because they feel safe with their own employment," she said. The 21st SW met its goal of a 25 percent participation rate. Next year, the wing's goal is a 27 percent participation rate, Colonel Reeves said. "I think we've truly demonstrated a culture of giving," Colonel Reeves said to Airmen. "And your generous donations will significantly improve the lives of others." CFC organizers will host a celebration and awards party at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at The Club.