News>Transit Center kicks off CFC-O with Fall Festival
Photos
Right, Col. Corey Martin and Capt. Julia Coppola cut a cake during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The Transit Center's goal is to donate more than $50,000 in this year's campaign. Martin is the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and Coppola is the 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather flight commander deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Left to right, Col. Robert Mallets, Col. Corey Martin, Capt. Julia Coppola and Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Creager sign their donation forms during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The Transit Center's goal is to donate more than $50,000 in this year's campaign. Mallets is the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander, Martin is the 376 AEW commander, Coppola is the 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather flight commander and Creager is the 376 AEW command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Col. Corey Martin gives opening remarks during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The CFC is an annual Department of Defense charity campaign, with more than 200 CFC campaigns throughout the U.S to help to raise millions of dollars to improve quality of life of eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits each year. Martin is the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Col. Robert Mallets completes a donation form during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The CFC is an annual Department of Defense charity campaign, with more than 200 CFC campaigns throughout the U.S to help to raise millions of dollars to improve quality of life of eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits each year. Mallets is the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Staff Sgt. Darrell Coleman takes a pie to Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Greensage during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The event hosted a pie-to-the-face auction for service members with proceeds going to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation donates homes to military and Veteran Affairs medical centers to allow family members to be close to service members. Coleman is the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron learning resource center manager deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. and a native of Chicago. Greensage is the 376 EFSS senior enlisted manager deployed from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Tech. Sgt. Christin Foley sings during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Top Flight" performed during the event. Foley is deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and a native of Cleveland. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Staff Sgt. Gregory Lacy plays a guitar during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Top Flight" performed during the event. Lacy is deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and a native of Houston. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Tech. Sgt. Chad Newman plays the drums during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Top Flight" performed during the event. Newman is deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and a native of Arlington, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Senior Airman Henry Roberson plays the bass guitar during a Combined Federal Campaign kick-off event at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2012. The U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Top Flight" performed during the event. Roberson is deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and a native of Detroit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
by Master Sgt. Jason Vaught
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
9/30/2012 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KYRGYZSTAN -- Service members at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan raised the bar and morale on this year's Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas by hosting a Fall Fest barbecue Sept. 22, 2012.
The fundraising event, which began with a feature performance by the U.S. Air Forces Central Band, "Top Flight," treated guests to music, food and games while supporting their favorite charities.
The annual campaign began Sept. 17 and runs until Nov. 16, is a workplace giving opportunity for the five overseas combatant commands. According to Global Impact, the CFC-O raised nearly $14.3 million in 2011, demonstrating the generosity of Department of Defense uniformed and civilian personnel.
The Transit Center set this year's goal at $50,000 in the hopes of breaking last year's goal of $16,000 and surpassing the more than $43,000 that was collected in the first few weeks of the previous campaign.
With a week into fundraising, Capt. Julia Coppola, Transit Center CFC-O project officer sees the wing's commitment to taking care of others as one that will help in reaching the goal.
"The wing's goal this year is the highest ever set for the Transit Center. Last year's CFC drive was a success, so we are hoping to exceed last year's donations by providing plenty of fundraising and other opportunities to give," said Coppola, who serves as the 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron's Weather Flight commander and is deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
"Fall Fest brought together people who support CFC and are passionate about their charity," she said. "The ability to enjoy barbeque, good music and fun, while having an opportunity to give to worthwhile causes made it a truly rewarding experience."
With more than 2,500 charities from which to choose, contributors can find and support causes that have personal significance.
Col. Corey Martin, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, was on hand for opening remarks and to thank all the volunteers for their efforts.
One only needs to look within their family to easily find someone who will benefit from one of the many charitable organization's within CFC, Martin said.
Games like pie-in-the-face were crowd favorites. All donations collected were in support of the Fisher House Foundation, who provides military personnel and family members housing while loved ones receive treatment at a military medical facility.
"We were able to collect more than $2,300 for the Fisher House Foundation," Coppola said. "This would not have been possible without the help of all the volunteers who joined in to make it successful."
The five combatant commands pledged nearly $14.3 million in 2011 to provide life-saving and life-enriching services benefiting millions of people.
For more information on the Combined Federal Campaign, visit www.cfcoverseas.org.
