CFCNCA - Personal Stories

Giving is Not Limited to Financial Donations

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:54:35 -0500

Prachi Patel is a Public Affairs Specialist at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Institutes of Health. She reflects, "I had been a Federal employee for just under two years when I was introduced to the Combined Federal Campaign and the spirit of giving. The idea of giving is not limited to financial donations, but also includes time spent volunteering."

Renée Pedersen Launches a Freeway of Love for CFC

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:56:40 -0500

When Renée Pedersen lost her dad to cancer, she wanted an opportunity to become more involved with CFC as a way of paying tribute to his life-long practice of giving back. Today, she has been involved with the CFCNCA for most of her 25 year career as an engineer with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

In 2009, Renée served as a Loaned Executive with the Department of Transportation (DOT). She noticed that few DOT employees were using Employee Express (EEX) to make CFC pledges. Remembering the success of the program at the NRC, she devised a campaign to educate DOT employees about the benefits of pledging to the CFC by making online payroll deductions using EEX.

Renée launched the DOT "CFC Freeway of Love" campaign. It kicked off with Linda Washington, DOT's Assistant Secretary for Administration, yelling "Start your engines!" before a large crowd in the atrium of the DOT headquarters. The event featured a group of employees, The DOTs, singing the campaign version of "Freeway of Love."

Employee Express follow the signs,

It's easy, don't take lots of time

Private and secure, pledges go direct to CFC!

"This proved to be a popular theme, and employees definitely got on the "Employee Expressway of Giving," Renée says. "The use of EEX to make CFC pledges went up by 345%!"

Thanks to her clever campaign that included road signs, theme-based trinkets and a pink Cadillac trophy, DOT won the award for the most innovative campaign for 2009.

Teresa Torres Makes Fundraising Fun

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:14:54 -0500

Many volunteers use creative methods to raise money for the campaign. Teresa Torres uses raffles, M&M candies and Zumba dance lessons.

Under her direction, the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) secured a volunteer instructor and arranged a one hour Zumba dance lesson. "This lively activity gave new impetus for employees to participate and contribute, pushing our earnings to exceed our campaign goal," Teresa says. "We collected a total of $10,473, surpassing our campaign goal by almost $2,000."

Teresa held a raffle at the annual holiday lunch that raised nearly $300 dollars. Her team also placed a candy dispenser at the reception desk and staff and visitors donated a quarter for a handful of M&M candies. This popular project collected more than $50 dollars.

All this hard work and creativity paid off; the IAF team won a CFCNCA Summit Award and Participation Award in 2008. In 2009, more than 50 percent of IAF employees participated in the CFC, earning the IAF team an Honor Award in recognition of their "exemplary support for people through the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area 2009."

"The events and rewards are awesome and made us proud, but the best part was the end result of our efforts, helping others in need," Teresa says.

Janet Weiner Is a Hero in the Battle to Find a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:28:40 -0500

Janet and Harvey Weiner's daughter Melissa seemed perfect at birth. With a healthy, two-and-a-half year-old boy at home, things seemed to be going great until they realized that Melissa was not developing as expected. After a series of tests, they learned that both Melissa and her older brother Matthew have cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disorder that causes mucus to build up and clog many of the body's organs, particularly the lungs and the pancreas. There is no cure for the disease, and symptoms generally get worse over time.

"I can't even begin to tell you the heartache we felt," said Janet, an Attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the agency's 2009 CFC Campaign Manager. "Like all parents, we had big dreams for our kids. But, at the time they were diagnosed, the average life expectancy for cystic fibrosis patients was approximately 20 years; today it has doubled to 40 years."

Despite a daily regimen of 30 plus pills per day, 45 minutes of breathing in medicated inhalers, and 30 minutes of chest physiotherapy to keep their airways open, Matthew, 15, and Melissa, 13, lead very active lives.

"They are such an inspiration to me because they just make it work, but they do what they must to stay healthy," Janet declares proudly. "Melissa plays on a youth league basketball team and goes camping with her Girl Scout troop. Matthew has joined his high school crew team and is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. Being physically active helps cystic fibrosis patients by strengthening the lungs."

"I want my kids to be able to make their own dreams come true, and if we continue to fund important research, that could happen," she said.

After 12 years of fund raising for cystic fibrosis, in 2009 Janet received the CFC Hero of the Year award that recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding personal commitment to the campaign and in doing so touched the lives of many people.

Leona C. Wang Follows in Her Mother’s Footsteps

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:25:41 -0500

"I would definitely say that the reason I always give to the CFC has a lot to do with watching my mother constantly do so much for the community where I grew up, and the enormous effect she had on others," explains Leona C. Wang, a Confidential Assistant at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Leona's mother founded the DC Metro Asian Marrow Network.

Leona has participated in CFC each of the three years she has been with PBGC. "It is really such an awesome feeling to see just how capable and caring others can be and how even a relatively small donation can make such a big impact," she says. Leona favors charities that help children who are very sick. The exceptional courage and hope these children display always inspires her.

"If you can do something, anything at all, find an organization that you care about and donate through the CFC," she says. "I promise that it will give you something to smile about."

Family Is the Motivator for Shaunda Villones’ Giving

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:21:51 -0500

Shaunda Villones' father always had the support of a large, loving family, even though he grew up in poverty in the Philippines. His family was there for him when he sought out better education and opportunities that would eventually lead him to the United States and a job with a prominent architectural firm in Washington, DC. Shaunda says that she cannot imagine how differently her own life and her father's would have been without these family ties.

Shaunda's husband lost his father to brain cancer. Although her husband has many memories and wonderful stories to tell about his father, she has always wished that she had a chance to meet the man that helped shape her husband's values and character.

"The charities that I support through the CFC are very important to me," says Shaunda, now a Senior Economist at the Bureau of Economic Analysis. "I give to charities that focus on improving poverty around the world and curing cancer because these are issues that have directly impacted my life and those I love."

"In some small way, I hope that my contributions to CFC supported charities will help people to lead more fulfilled lives." she continues. "The beauty of CFC is the wide range of charities that conveniently allow federal employees to tailor their chartable giving to organizations that mean the most to them."

Friendship Teaches Brad Trullinger How His Contribution Can Save Lives

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:19:42 -0500

"For years, I have been contributing to a few well-known CFC supported charities to help the office reach its goal," says Brad Trullinger. "I had never really considered whose lives I may have been affecting with my contribution."

That changed when a close friend died from complications of HIV/AIDS. Brad says that it was a wakeup call when he saw his friend a few weeks prior to his death and learned that the friend had not been taking his medication because he couldn't afford to pay for the cocktails of pills that helped to manage his condition.

Brad, who works as a Management Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor, still wonders if his friend's fate would have been different had he known more about the CFC charities that help pay for medicines.

"There are many people in need who can still be helped by the services that are provided by any one of more than 4,000 CFC approved charities," he notes. "Whether the disease is HIV/AIDS, breast cancer or prostate cancer, contributions to CFC supported charities help save lives, give hope to those who need it most and bring all of us a little bit closer as human beings."

Injured hero gives back by racing Marine Corps Marathon

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:16:58 -0500

Marine Master Sergeant (Retired) Carl Traub lost both legs and suffered paralysis from a severe spinal cord injury while serving his country in Iraq. Despite these setbacks, he continues to serve his community and support his fellow injured warriors.

On October 25, 2009, Mr. Traub completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia, with a hand cycle. He used the race to raise a significant amount of money for a CFC supported charity that helps wounded veterans. "I had always meant to run the Marine Corps Marathon when I had legs," Mr. Traub says.

The charity Mr. Traub chose to support provides financial, physical and emotional aid to wounded warriors like himself. Recently, the organization helped install a pool in his backyard that will allow him to play with his two sons and exercise to continue his recovery.

Mr. Traub views his injuries as an opportunity, not a setback. Now medically retired from the Marine Corps, he has enrolled in college and the family is in the process of adopting foster children. The entire Traub family exemplifies how to live in hope beyond recovery.

Adria Tippins Finds a New Way to Serve Her Community

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:12:16 -0500

Adria M. Tippins' parents instilled a spirit of public and community service in their daughter who is now a fiscal law attorney for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

As a young Federal employee, she was unaware of the impact CFC has on individuals, families and groups. That changed last year when she became a CFC Loaned Executive for the Department of Homeland Security.

Adria found her service a Loaned Executive rewarding. "This program allows so many people to have the benefit of a meal, clothes or stable housing. No contribution is too small," she asserts. "Contributing to the CFC allows me to continue to serve my community in another capacity."

Stan Stewart Needed Shelter as a Child and Now He Gives Back

ann.canela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:08:24 -0500

As a child, Stan Stewart walked along the streets of Northwest Washington, DC, homeless, with his mother, four sisters and brother, carrying his clothing in a plastic bag. His life has truly been a journey. Stan earned a place in an award-winning high school band and then went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force. After the Air Force, he joined the Federal government and moved from the mailroom to the executive ranks. He also is a professional actor, published poet and motivational speaker.

Along the way Stan knows he benefited from the generosity of individuals and from programs available through CFC supported groups. When his mother found refuge for her family at churches and other programs that provided shelter, she made sure they also had recreational activities for the children. Adults at these programs served as the father figure Stan needed.

"They gave me the opportunity to play sports as opposed to hanging on the streets, joy riding or breaking into houses. Once I started playing sports and doing music, I found out how much I was enjoying them. That's what kept me off the street. I would have been one of those kids that when you see them, you run," Stan reflects.

As a two-time Loaned Executive to the CFCNCA, he takes every opportunity to share his message with Federal co-workers. "Federal workers are so blessed. If somebody foregoes an $8 or $9 lunch once a week and eats leftovers instead, that's $416 to $468 per year that could be contributed to CFC," he says.

"We surpassed our goal last year and my hope is that every year the CFC exceeds its goal," he replies. "And then I hope we no longer need a CFC. In a perfect world the CFC would cease to exist because every need would be met."