The holidays are often seen as the season of giving. As Forest Service employees, you already believe strongly in the value of service and helping others; this is who we are and who we have always been. One of my favorite ways to ring in the season is with a gift through the Combined Federal Campaign. Each year, CFC gives us the opportunity to support the causes that we care about—and the need is especially critical at this time, as many are still recovering from the challenges of the past few years and facing new challenges in 2022.

I would like to share why I believe the CFC is so important to our purpose-driven organization. First, the CFC allows members of the federal community to support causes they care about through a one-time donation or through automatic payroll deduction. Second, you can make all your charitable donations and pledges online and in one place. And third, our collective CFC donations add up to make a huge impact and provide a critical source of revenue that can be relied on throughout the year by thousands of vetted charities.

This year, CFC celebrated its 61st anniversary, and the theme remains “You can be the face of change.” Last year, federal employees heard the urgent call to action and responded by giving generously. Overall, USDA pledged more than $1.7 million to charities in 2021. Here in the Forest Service, you gave both your time and money. You pledged $425,700 and 230 volunteer hours, truly embodying our core value of service.

I am asking you to help celebrate 61 years of giving with me this CFC season! Here at the Chief Financial Officer Deputy Area, we invite all federal employees to consider those in need as it gets colder, and lonelier, for many near and far. Think about the positive impact your gift will have. You can make your pledge through the CFC online giving platform. When we all work together, we can make a difference in the lives of people and organizations throughout our nation. Since its inception, CFC has raised more than $8.5 billion for charities and people in need.

If you have pledged before, the online giving platform makes it easy to renew your gift. If you are new to giving or have questions, please talk to your unit coordinator or our Forest Service national coordinator, William (Bill) Clark, or visit GiveCFC.org to learn how you can help. There are countless causes to choose from and multiple ways to pledge. Your gift remains anonymous unless you choose otherwise.

Thank you for being the faces of change for charitable organizations that support everything from disaster relief to environmental protection. I truly value and applaud your participation as well as your continued service to each other and the American people.

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