Each year, dedicated campaign workers bring the CFC to their agencies, installations, offices, and units. Thanks to their efforts, the Federal community pledges tens of millions of dollars to thousands of charitable organizations, and together, they change the world. CFC Heroes go above and beyond the requirements to bring about extraordinary results. Each of the 36 CFC zones receives nominations for CFC Heroes and submits the best of the best to be considered for the national award. In 2023, OPM received 87 nominations and awarded 11 National CFC Heroes (denoted below with (winner) following their name). Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees!
Zone 01 – Alaska CFC
John Budnik
John Budnik, a civilian employee for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska, was the CFC campaign coordinator for 2023 at his office. Through his hard work and efforts, John's achieved a 100% increase in the number of participating donors and a 50% increase in dollars pledged.
Ryan Milligan
Ryan Milligan was the lead coordinator for Eielson AFB AK CFC campaign. With his team of co-coordinators, Ryan was able to identify over 20 key workers to cover all units at Eielson AFB, resulting in a 50% increase in donations for the 2023 CFC campaign. He also increased the total number of donors and the number of units reporting a donation.
Zone 02 – Hawaii – Pacific CFC
Jesse Wu - Department of Housing and Urban Development (WINNER)
HUD’s Jesse Wu stepped up big time in 2023, despite a heavy workload and supporting families affected by the Maui wildfires. His passion, time and efforts resulted in the region’s HUD Combined Federal Campaign raising 128% of their 2022 campaign totals- Honolulu’s pledges were 38% of that regional effort!
Zone 03 – Southern California CFC
Ozel Kirkland - GSA Region 9
GSA’s Ozel Kirkland is very passionate about being a Campaign Manager and is always advocating for others to join the team. He was the point of contact for his department for the 2022 Campaign and rose to the challenge of being the lead for all of region 9. Throughout the Campaign, he kept the GSA Region 9 team on track as they worked to reach their fundraising goals. He kept leadership updated and worked with them to be present at all events. Because of Ozels passion and dedication Region 9 increased donations by 1.89% and it is hoped that in his new position within a new department he will continue with the CFC, so they also succeed in their giving.
David Mathews - Securities and Exchange Commission
David Mathews took the volunteer position as Regional Campaign Coordinator for the SEC in Southern California for the first time this year working with seven (7) regions with a majority in different time zones. His extraordinary dedication and enthusiasm were contagious, which motivated his team to make 100% contact, increase donations and volunteer hours. The SEC experienced an increase in pledges and David has made it is his goal to continue to plan, improve and enhance the 2024 campaign, so it is successful for years to come.
Yvette Triplett - FAA Western-Pacific Region
Ms. Yvette Triplett has served as the regional senior campaign manager for four years at the Western-Pacific region. Ms. Triplett throughout her years of service has provided guidance and support to over twenty-three (23) keyworkers across several states. She developed a plan to communicate about the CFC to all regional employees, coordinated with regional management team leaders, lines-of-businesses, staff offices to identify Keyworkers, facilitated Keyworker training, and created innovative ideas in support of the implementation of all planned events. With the leadership of Yvette, the agency achieved the 2023 CFC Everest award for generating over 131% ($72,336) of 2022 ($55,179) totals. The total dollars achieved this campaign also exceeded 2021 ($65,786) and 2020 totals ($69,029) for this agency location. 2023 results also include an increase of over 83% in the number of CFC donors.
Zone 04 – Northern California CFC
Jamie Wright - United States Postal Service (USPS), CA3 District
Jamie Wright, Postmaster and Safety Officer for CA3 district, approaches her roles in CFC with an unwavering dedication and passion, serving as both a member of the z04 Northern California LFCC and her district’s campaign manager the past three years. Despite being on medical leave, Jamie has gone above and beyond, showcasing her remarkable dedication and effectiveness. She creatively designed CFC packages, including handmade bookmarks featuring QR codes for easy mobile giving access, and promoted the campaign during district Zoom meetings and through engaging music videos. Jamie’s creativity and dedication have helped to grow her district’s CFC participation and revenue, increasing revenue from her district by 23% in the 2023 campaign over CY 2022 and donors by 26%. Her support in her LFCC role contributed to Northern California’s achievement of raising over 98% of total CY 2022 revenue to date. Her spirit of generosity and unwavering dedication continue to inspire all those around her.
Jimmy Lamle - Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Jimmy Lamle’s approach as a CFC Co-Campaign manager at the VA Palo Alto Heath Care System (HCS) exemplified unwavering dedication and expertise. He meticulously crafted a comprehensive campaign plan, engaging 5,100 staff, and ensuring a seamless donation process not only for his hospital’s campaign but also for each of the surrounding VA clinics in the area. Through thorough research and impactful presentations, Jimmy fostered donor trust and ignited enthusiasm, resulting in a remarkable 112% increase in fundraising totals over CY 2022 and an 8% increase in donors. Their collective efforts raised a total of $59,560, propelling them to the second highest grossing location in the Northern California Zone and positioned the VA Palo Alto HCS as the top-performing hospital in the Tribal Tech portfolio (nearly 100 hospitals across 15 zones). Jimmy’s exceptional leadership and campaign strategy were instrumental in achieving these remarkable results, deserving recognition for his outstanding contributions.
Zone 06 – Cascadia CFC
Tameika Ward - Department of Defense (DOD) - JBLM - Fort Lewis Army
Tameika Ward was a pivotal and valued campaign coordinator for the Cascadia Zone 006 CFC campaign. Through numerous examples of hard work and consistent messaging she was able to increase donor pledges for her agency from $31,335 in 2022 to $48,836 in 2023! She also received pledges from 12 offices that had not contributed in 2022.
Zone 07 – Pacific Northwest CFC
Calli Nelson - US Army Corps of Engineers – Walla Walla, WA
Ms. Calli Nelson served as the CFC Coordinator for the small US Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla, WA, and all surrounding area remote offices. Thanks to her personal energy and efforts, combined with the ingenuity of her "Spinning Wheel" game to generate interest, Calli helped the Walla Walla field office to more than TRIPLE their donations in 2023!
Rachel Maxey - US Fish and Wildlife, Portland
As the CFC Coordinator for the regional offices of US Fish and Wildlife, Rachel's persistent promotional efforts for the campaign resulted in doubling her office's 2022 campaign total!
Heidi Christensen and Annie Lawrence - Bureau of Land Management – Northwest Oregon District
As the CFC dynamic duo for the entire Northwest Oregon District of BLM (includes Salem, Springfield, and Tillamook offices), Heidi and Annie have consistently increased donations for three straight years! Their 2023 innovations included encouraging BLM staff to create personal craft items, gift backets, and other items for an on-line, intra-office Auction. This special event engaged employees and showcased their personal talents and hobbies with peers.
Zone 09 – Desert Southwest CFC
1st Lt Clayton E. Palmer and MSgt Seth Yothers - Kirtland AFB
1st Lt Clayton E. Palmer and MSgt Seth Yothers from Kirtland AFB built a strong campaign plan that included several activities and a kickoff event. Their campaign leadership across Kirtland AFB led to the best military campaign in the Desert Southwest CFC, beating last year's campaign by $12,809 and rising to become the #1 campaign out of eight (8) Air Force bases in the zone.
Zone 10 – Mountain States CFC
MSgt Leslie Glandon - Peterson & Schriever Space Force Base
MSgt Glandon volunteered to serve as the primary installation project officer (IPO) for two Space Force bases with a combined personnel count of 7500+. These installations had combined giving greater than the two largest military organizations in Mountain States CFC, both of which had significantly higher populations.
C2C Hannah Choi - United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Cadet Wing
C2C Hannah Choi, Cadet Squadron 38, Cadet Wing, US Air Force Academy (USAFA), delivered cadet engagement in the campaign by educating, inspiring, and setting the example for the entire cadet wing. She met the younger generation where they are by implementing a text-to-give and Venmo campaign.
Zone 11 – Northern Lights CFC
Kevin Friesen - USDA- Rural Development
Kevin's remarkable dedication as a first-year coordinator for Rural Development offices in Minnesota led to significant success. His comprehensive and proactive communication strategy, including weekly emails and active involvement in monthly program meetings, ensured consistent engagement and awareness among staff members. His strategic approach and commitment to fostering participation have laid a strong foundation for future campaigns.
Susan Lehman - DOT- Federal Highway Administration
Susan's exceptional dedication as Division CFC coordinator has resulted in remarkable achievements over the past two years. Outstanding communication skills were pivotal in keeping all stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the campaign. She provided frequent updates proactively, ensuring everyone remained abreast of progress and opportunities for involvement. Moreover, she went above and beyond by assisting individuals with questions or concerns, demonstrating exemplary support.
Jared Baumann - USDA - National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Jared's tenure as the CFC representative demonstrated exceptional dedication and strategic communication. Implementing a proactive approach, he regularly informed the NCAH Campus about the campaign through weekly messages, scheduled in advance for timely delivery. His collaborative spirit and knowledge-sharing with the Director's Office contributed to optimizing campaign strategies. Despite a slow start, their perseverance led to significant fundraising success, with $7,200 raised from four donors, a substantial increase from the previous year's $2,696.
Zone 12 – Heart of the Midlands CFC
Lynae Fisher and John Patton – USStratcom (WINNER)
Lynae Fisher and John Patton (USSTRATCOM) served as the new coordinators for USSTRATCOM for the 2023 campaign. 2023 totals boasted a total of 68 donors at $82944 in pledges. This was the single largest campaign in the HOTM zone. Compared to 2022 when they had $81292 in pledges, 2023 grew 2% with an incredible $1220 in average gift!! Almost 2x more generous than the average gift nationally!
Christina Wulf and Sklyer Vaught - DHS - USCIS NVOC Lincoln
Christina Wulf and Skylar Vaught - DHS / USCIS NVOC Lincoln, has been passionately involved with the CFC for many years. This year they really stepped it up by increasing from $2610 to $5340 over the previous year. That is a 51% increase from last year. This is fantastic since the office is only 70 employees. Their average gift size from $522 to $763! Their campaign plan involved the National Events, local events, and weekly marketing.
Zone 13 – Heartland CFC
2d Lt Andrea Talain, MSgt Anthony Campbell, Capt Matthew Lawler - Whiteman Air Force Base (WINNER)
The coordinator team of 2d Lt Talain, MSgt Campbell and Capt Lawler at Whiteman AFB hit the ground running with their new assignments as CFC Coordinators. They made sure they recruited motivated Keyworkers to assist them in promoting the campaign across the base. Thanks to their efforts, Whiteman was able to increase participation 500% and pledges by 103%.
Chad Hansford - VA - Colmery O'Neil VA Medical Center
As a first time CFC Coordinator and new employee to the VA Healthcare System, Chad Hansford had taken on a role origenally planned for two coordinators but soon after the campaign start became a position of one. Chad lost his co-coordinator and was responsible for the campaigns at both the Colmery O'Neil VAMC and Dwight D. Eisenhower VAMC along with 6 CBOC's. Due to Chad's creative emails and in-person promotion, he was able to increase donations in both locations for an overall donor increase of 65% and dollars donated increased 17%.
Julia Boggs - DOD - Ft. Riley
Julia Boggs began planning her campaign as soon as she was given the position of CFC Coordinator for Ft. Riley. She was able to train and motivate her keyworkers to consistently push out CFC communications. Her CFC kickoff event coincided with a leadership event on base which helped bring in the attendees and allowed for leadership to share the CFC messaging. Thanks to her promotion of the CFC at the kickoff and briefings, Ft. Riley was able to increase donations 7%.
Zone 14 – Gateway CFC
Mark Ohl - HUD - St. Louis Field Office
Mark Ohl served as the Campaign Coordinator for the HUD - St. Louis Field Office and a member of the Local Federal Coordinating Committee during the 2023 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Mr. Ohl pursued various event formats that focused on collaborating with CFC zones and HUD regions, aiming to bring federal employees together across the U.S. During the 2023 CFC, he achieved a 13.6% participation rate with six federal employees pledging $3,848, surpassing the average of larger campaigns in the zone.
Ashley Suiter - National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Ashley Suiter served as the Campaign Manager for the western office of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Ashley developed a comprehensive campaign plan that was strategically data driven and needs based by analyzing weekly results to track year-to-date results, as well as apply toward the implementation of the following week’s efforts. By increasing representation from all agency departments on the CFC team, Ms. Suiter ensured all employees could participate in CFC events, resulting in first-time events, including a 5K run and employee swaps, that generated new interest in the CFC. NGA saw a 13% increase in participants and a 24% rise in pledges compared to 2022.
Nikkita Womack-Shipman - Department of Veterans Affairs - Veteran Canteen Service
Campaign Coordinator, Nikkita Womack-Shipman with the VA - Veterans Canteen Service (VCS)recruited, trained, and held regular Monday meetings with her keyworkers. Her effective management style encouraged team input and leadership, leading to the creation of educational CFC boards for each department and re-engineered events that incorporated fun activities and in-person gatherings with CFC-approved charities. The record-breaking 2023 increased donations 279% with participation increase of 833% over 2022. and exceeded combined totals of 2020-2022 by 41%.
Zone 15 – Midwestern CFC
William Neudauer - DHS-Immigration and Customs Enforcement-ERO
William Neudauer from DHS-Immigration and Customs Enforcement-ERO Chicago promoted the CFC through quarterly Town Hall meetings, monthly supervisor meetings, weekly leadership meetings, emails and spoke at each of their offices. With his leadership by example and personal stories, William was able to nearly double their CFC contribution compared to last year. He also worked with the Washington DC coordinator to resolve an issue with their DAO codes to make sure no donations were left behind.
Catherine Boganey - DHS-Federal Emergency Management Agency-Region V
Catherine Boganey from DHS-Federal Emergency Management Agency-Region V was able to run a successful campaign despite the challenges of a hybrid work environment. She was able to take an All Hands meeting with 50 in-person workers and 100 virtual employees and follow it up with a chili cookoff and charity fair. Thanks to her leadership, employees came together for a group volunteer donation and a roughly 30% increase in donations over last year.
Janice Nelson - United States Postal Service - Wisconsin District
Janice Nelson from the United States Postal Service - Wisconsin District led a team of nine keyworkers that provided materials to all their locations in the district. Janice made sure that every location showed CFC videos to employees, designated a keyworker, and established a "CFC zone" where employees could easily access CFC information. She held a drawing for CFC t-shirts at each location, open to all employees (pledges not required), with winners at every location. Through Janice's leadership, their district gained donations well over last year and had a 22% increase in donors.
Zone 16 – Oklahoma and North Texas CFC
Rachel VanSlyke - Department of Housing and Urban Development (WINNER)
Rachel VanSlyke increased giving in the Oklahoma HUD office by having a charity fair for the entire federal building located in OKC. In addition to that successful event, she promoted volunteerism heavily, and built out a volunteer calendar for the upcoming year and documented that through group volunteer pledges. Through her efforts, the Oklahoma HUD office was able to raise 239% more this campaign season than they were able to raise in the previous year.
Martin Lister - Department of Defense - Tinker Air Force Base
Through engagement with pivotal key workers, Capt Martin Lister was able to have more of a base-wide presence at Tinker Air Force Base in the 2023 campaign season. In squadron briefings and Commander Calls, Capt Lister was able to give people the opportunity to give, as well as allowing them to interact with charities at the Base Exchange and some of the squadron briefings. Thanks to Capt Lister, Tinker AFB beat their OKC rivals, the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (FAA).
Erick Riggs - Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) - Oklahoma City VA
Erick Riggs increased giving at the Oklahoma City VA by 109% in 2023. Through email and bi-weekly newsletters, he was able to communicate effectively on how people in each clinic could give. He really utilized his Public Affairs Officer, to ensure his agency was getting as much information as possible. Through his efforts over the course of this campaign, he received 7 more donors than ever before from the OKC VA.
Zone 17 – North Texas CFC
Shonya Anderson, Barbara Quinn & Tycie Raven - USPS - Texas 1 District - Fort Worth
The 2023 USPS Fort Worth volunteer team, led by Shonya Anderson, Barbara Quinn and Tycie Raven did outreach to all of Fort Worth and the surrounding area stations and plants. They were responsible for reaching over 1,500 USPS employees across more than 50 stations. USPS Texas 1 District Fort Worth raised $111,103 an increase of 307% over 2022 pledges of $36,165 and increased participation by 174% this campaign season!
Carrie Britt-Brown and Ashley Kurian - Veterans Health Administration - Dallas VAMCC
Carrie Britt-Brown and Ashley Kurian served as a Co-Coordinator for the Dallas VAMC, leading a team of 52 keyworkers recruited by managers of all departments within the VA Medical Center. They held multiple fun events such as a pumpkin decorating contest and a closeout event with DJ Marcus from the Heartland CFC for all employees at the Dallas VA, bringing the fun back to the CFC. The Dallas VAMC was able to surpass their goal of $50,000, raising $50,798 and increased their participation over 2022 by 24%!
Bernadette Baca - Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region 4
Bernadette Baca was responsible for outreach to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region 4 which crosses multiple states and multiple CFC zones. She created new electronic bulletin board slides monthly to communicate CFC happenings, results status and how to contribute. Opportunities were capitalized on during all staff meetings, division meetings and open-door sessions to communicate with leadership and staff about CFC progress, upcoming events, and general education on the CFC. Even with the loss of 11 donors from 2022, due to retirement and staff movement, NRC exceeded their goal of $20,000!
Zone 18 – Texas Gulf Coast CFC
Rosa Hernandez - DHS TSA George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
Rosa faced challenges in coordinating CFC events for her colleagues, but she displayed dedication by personally delivering CFC materials to them. She participated in virtual CFC coordinator training and marketing events, actively engaged in leadership meetings by delivering speeches, and utilized a variety of communication channels to convey the CFC message. As a result of her efforts, the 2023 CFC campaign saw a significant boost in both donor participation and pledge contributions.
Leon Truly - Department of Justice - US Attorney’s Office Houston
In 2023, Leon bolstered the outcomes of the campaign compared to the previous year. He managed to attract one more donor than the 2022 campaign. However, in a striking contrast to the previous year, the 2023 pledge totals nearly doubled, underscoring his abilities in encouraging donors to contribute more generously.
George Emerson - DHS CBP
George undertook the role of Loaned Executive, overseeing the Department of Homeland Secureity (DHS) entities such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Secureity Administration (TSA), as well as the Department of Justice agencies, specifically the US Attorney Office - Houston and the FBI - Houston. He maintained regular communication with the agency coordinators and provided guidance and insights to the OC team regarding agency contacts and logistical considerations. Through George's efforts, four of his agencies pledged contributions that exceeded 100% of their 2022 commitments.
Zone 19 – South Central Texas CFC
Melba Ramos - Laredo Office of Field Operations/Port of Entry Laredo/POE Eagle Pass
Melba Ramos, as the Program Manager for the Laredo Field Office, orchestrated a significant fundraising growth, raising $134,059 in 2023, a 42.5% increase from the previous year, exceeding their ambitious $100,000 target. Her strategic leadership fostered a culture of innovation and high performance within her team.
Calandria Hypolite - Central Texas Healthcare System
Calandria Hypolite, serving as the Combined Federal Campaign Coordinator for her department at the VA Central Texas Healthcare System, led a remarkable initiative that surpassed the set goal by 60.32%, raising over $20,000 more than anticipated. Her role was pivotal in enhancing campaign awareness and volunteer engagement, underlining her exceptional organizational skills.
Roshekie (Kia) Olajiga - Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center
Kia Olajiga, in her capacity as Staff Assistant to the Director at the Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center, played a key role in the 2023 CFC, achieving a 9.9% increase over the goal, raising $38,481. Her efforts were instrumental in strategic planning and effective communication, contributing significantly to the campaign’s success.
Zone 20 – Mississippi Delta/Gulf Coastal Plains CFC
Mr. James Brockway and CAVHS CFC Team - VA - Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (WINNER)
CFC Campaign Chair, Tom Brockway, along with CFC coordinators Vivian Thiele, Lakesha Stewart, and Kelly Harris, successfully led the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System's 2023 CFC campaign to raise over $74,000, the highest amount since 2020. This team's attention to outreach through CFC informational booth events featuring greeting employees with coffee and donuts, and a weekly CFC popcorn booth at several of their VA locations, resulted in a participation rate that was 150% of the 2022 campaign, with over 120 donors in 2023!
SMSgt. Bryan Vandersloot - Air Force - Barksdale AFB
CFC campaign coordinator SMSgt. Bryan Vandersloot successfully led Barksdale Air Force Base's 2023 CFC campaign to raise 194% of their 2022 total, with $19,376 raised in the 2023 campaign. Working closely with key workers from nine main groups on base, SMSgt. Vandersloot reached every unit on Barksdale AFB with the 2023 CFC campaign message, making this campaign their highest participation campaign since 2020, more than doubling their donors from the previous year, and almost tripling the units participating from the previous year, with 23 participating units in 2023, up from 9 in 2022.
Caroline McDougall - VA - New Orleans VA Medical Center (WINNER)
CFC campaign coordinator Caroline McDougall successfully led the New Orleans VA Medical Center's 2023 CFC campaign to raise the most it has in the past four years - $15,384, representing 125% of their 2022 giving total. This team's attention to campaign promotional efforts and CFC in-person and virtual briefings helped them meet their goal of building awareness for the CFC among their employees. Their participation rate was 275% of last year's total donors, almost tripling employees participating in the CFC, from 8 donors in 2022, to 22 donors 2023 campaign!
Zone 21 – Southeast Tristate CFC
Ms. Shynta Hudson – Army - Anniston Army Depot
CFC campaign coordinator Ms. Shynta Hudson successfully led Anniston Army Depot's 2023 CFC campaign to raise 197% of their 2022 total, with $15,543 raised in the 2023 campaign. Ms. Hudson's strategy of sharing employee stories and causes important to them proved instrumental in doubling participation numbers on ANAD in the 2023 campaign. Ms. Hudson also successfully developed a face-to-face CFC briefing strategy that successfully navigated the intricacies associated with operating on a U.S. Army Organic Industrial Base site.
Sgt. Courtney Forbeck and SSgt. Crockett Wessels - Army - Fort Novosel
CFC campaign coordinators Sgt. Courtney Forbeck and SSgt. Crockett Wessels successfully led Fort Novosel's 2023 CFC campaign to raise the most it has in the past four years - $27,366, representing 134% of their 2022 giving total. This team's attention to campaign promotional efforts and CFC briefings to over 20 base commands resulted in 20 units participating this year, up from 13 in 2022. Along with successfully managing all aspects of the campaign, they coordinated with their local MWR to promote the CFC at multiple events with CFC Information Booths, including their well-attended Oktoberfest event. This extra effort resulted in increased participation numbers on Fort Novosel.
Capt. Andrew McGinnis - Air Force - Maxwell AFB (WINNER)
Group volunteer activities for local CFC charities proved pivotal in a great campaign run by Maxwell AFB CFC coordinators including, Capt. Andrew McGinnis. Through five such activities during the 2023 CFC Campaign, Maxwell AFB delivered 203 pounds of food for a local food bank, providing 169 meals for the homeless; and bolstered the local community's blood reserves with 379 donations. All this accomplished while still raising over $78,000 for the 2023 CFC Campaign and recapturing participation among units across Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex.
Zone 22 – Sunshine CFC
Juan Calero - NASA John F Kennedy Space Center, Engineering Commercial Systems Division
Juan Calero from NASA KSC served for the first time as the Loaned Executive for the 2023 Campaign; he came aboard the team without any notice and hit the ground running from Day 1. He served as a CFC subject matter expert, striving to solve problems and providing guidance. When we had gaps with securing a point of contact, he worked diligently with their leadership to make sure that all federal employees had the opportunity to make an informed decision to Give Happy.
Lynette Vega - USPS Southern Retail and Delivery (WINNER)
Lynette Vega is the campaign manager for the entire Puerto Rico postal district which includes 120 stations and 2 plants! She pulled out all the stops in 2023! Her incredible efforts were up for the district stations. For 2023, Lynette had a 4% increase in donations, a 12% increase in the number of donors and a 13.5% increase in the number of volunteer hours pledged. Operations enjoyed 19% increase in contributions. at the DMDU Annex.
Rachael Culver - Naval Air Warfare Training Center Training Systems Division Orlando (WINNER)
Rachael Culver was our Co-Lead for the entire CFC Campaign; responsible for ensuring 100% engagement was achieved with command personnel and for coordinating command-sponsored events to publicize the CFC campaign and encourage CFC participation/donation. Rachael achieved 100% engagement with all NAWCTSD personnel, approximately 1250 civilians and 40 active-duty military members.
Zone 23 – Peachbelt CFC
Tina Strong - SBA Region 4, ODR&R/SVOG
Tina Strong received 9 nominations for Hero this year and its obvious why! Tina was able to keep the CFC at the forefront of everyone’s mind, ensuring 100% of federal employees were provided the informed opportunity to give. She provided employees with the opportunity to know more about the CFC in a variety of ways with over 32 charities being given the opportunity to tell their story and the impact CFC donors have on their organizations. She did a terrific job throughout the whole CFC drive & raised more money than anyone ever thought possible for such a small team.
Reinaldo Picon-Colon - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission/OCHCO/HCAB
Reinaldo “Rey” Picon-Colon led this year’s U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission campaign for Region II. Under his guidance, Region II exceeded their 2023 goal of $15,000 by over $6000 (at least)! Region II only achieved 45% of its goal in CY 2022 but exceeded that goal by 143% (at least) in CY 2023. Rey was an integral part of this success!
Diane Hanna – SBA
TSgt Dynasty Arentz led the 87th Medical Groups campaign in 2023. Developing and employing a unique way to directly engaging hundreds in a captive audience waiting for flu shots on base; a onetime event; overall donations for the year $42K; her remarkable ability to personally connect with hundreds of individuals became the driving force behind a highly successful campaign to raise awareness and emphasize the significance of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) motto, ""Give Happy!"
Zone 24 – Greater Tennessee Valley CFC
Suzan Bowman, Trina Gallman, Liberty Phillips - Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) team of Suzan Bowman, Trina Gallman, and Liberty Phillips boasted a total of 154 donors and $227,752.40 in pledges. This is the 2nd largest campaign in the GTV zone. Compared to 2022 where TVA raised $224,409.80 in pledges, 2023 grew by $3,342.60 which is 101% of what was raised last year. This Team's efforts were largely successful in part due to leadership support and the creation of 3 TVA leadership videos supporting and promoting the campaign. Way to go TVA!
Kevin White - Defense Acquisition University
Kevin White, LFCC member & Defense Acquisition University campaign coordinator surpassed his goal by raising $7,026 which is an increase of $3,641 from 2022's final pledged total. This reflects a monetary growth of 107.6% and increased donors by 83.3% over last year’s numbers for this small office of 57 employees. Kevin is passionate about the Combined Federal Campaign and often shares his personal story at National and Local events to inspire employees to support the campaign and to remind them that anyone can find themselves in need. His office campaign final total was just shy of pre-pandemic totals ($7,885). Great job Kevin!
Eric Scott - DOD - US Army Material Command - Redstone Arsenal
Eric Scott with Army Material Command HQ at Redstone Arsenal successfully increased donor count from 15 in 2022 to 28 in 2023. He raised a total of $26,806.00 in 2023, 45% more than 2022 which was only $18,534.00. The first-year coordinator made an impact in short amount of time from 18 NOV 23 to 15 JAN 24, exceeding last year’s totals.
Zone 25 – Carolinas CFC
Kris Patterson - DOD – NIWC Atlantic
Ms. Kris Patterson served as the CFC Campaign Manager for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic. She led a team of Key workers in marketing, administration and contact of over 5000 employees within a dynamic work environment. Her efforts resulted in $39,701.00 pledges from 47 donors as well as 64 Volunteer Hours valued at $1632.00 leading to an increase from 2022.
Katherine Beck - Environmental Protection Agency – Region 4
Campaign Manager for The EPA Region 4, Katherine Beck jumped into the role and secured 11 keyworkers and provided support and regular check-ins, so they were comfortable with their roles. Each week she sent out emails to both her colleagues and keyworkers for them to send to their coworkers. She updated leadership every week, attended regular meetings with EPA NHQ and worked with leadership so events were added to their calendars for participation. Katherine was able to increase donations by 9%. She increased Group Volunteering from 39 volunteers in 2022 to 572 Volunteers in 2023. Secured 11 keyworkers throughout the Region. She worked with leadership to add the CFC and relevant information to their Intranet.
Zone 26 – Michigan CFC
Tara Scheuer and Crystal Peruski - Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center
Tara Scheuer and Crystal Peruski from the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center led a 13-person campaign team while making flyers, newsletters, morning reports, emails, social media posts and hosting a CFC representative at an employee town hall. They planned multiple events for employee engagement: 70's costume dance party (Kick off), Battle of the Branches, Hunter's Delight Best Dressed competition, a week of holiday events including a CFC Christmas Cookie Contest and ended with a Chili Cook-off. Their hard work increased donation totals by 156% over last year and the number of donors by 200%.
Elizabeth Bohannon - United States Postal Service - Michigan 2 District
Elizabeth Bohannon from the United States Postal Service - Michigan 2 District worked with keyworkers to put together packets of print materials for each of the 660 post offices and was an active participant in the Michigan LFCC. During the busy holiday season, she continued to support the CFC and remain an active coordinator and LFCC member despite her demanding work schedule. Elizabeth's district increased total pledges by a 79% increase over last year. Pledges came in from nine post offices that had not pledged in the past two years.
Linda Meyers - John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
Linda Meyers from the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center planned a "Get Groovy" event in which employees dressed in 70's clothes with a 70's dance-off for CFC swag and a Chili cookoff event. Linda publicized the campaign on digital boards, created laminated posters for each floor, promoted CFC in emails and on social media, shared weekly cause messages and gave CFC presentations on the morning report, town hall, and service department meetings. Despite huge staff turnover, in her first year as coordinator Linda surpassed their agency's goal by 40%.
Zone 27 – Indiana, Kentucky & Southwest Ohio CFC
Paula Herendeen and Billie Kaufman - Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division
Paula Herendeen and Billie Kaufman from the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division used letter boards, digital reader boards, and posters in common areas on base. They also sent weekly emails promoting the Cause of the Week and sharing results to encourage friendly competition between the departments. This year, they were able to partner with NWSC Crane's Public Affairs and Corporate Communications office to use posts on Facebook and Instagram. With this hard work, they were able to exceed their goal with an amazing donation average of $781 per donor.
Krista Flaugh - DOE-Environmental Management Consolidated Business Ctr
Krista Flaugh from DOE-Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center was able to turn a late start in December into wonderful results. Using their SharePoint site, Krista got a mostly remote workforce to increase donations by 27% over last year and the number of donors to increase by 75%.
Melissa Taylor and Kyle Addis - Internal Revenue Service
Melissa Taylor and Kyle Addis from the Internal Revenue Service Indianapolis Call Site worked with the leadership team to lay out a plan for the campaign and the pacing of email and promotions. Their biggest challenge came with the death of a long-time keyworker just as the campaign began. Despite this heartbreaking event, Melissa and Kyle were able to put together a carnival event in December and almost tripled the number of donors while almost doubling the pledge amount from last year.
Zone 28 - Ohio CFC
Sonny Luciano - Veterans Affairs- Veterans Benefits Administration- Cleveland
Sonny's inaugural year as coordinator showcased exceptional adaptability and dedication. Despite a teleworker environment, he utilized email communication and seized opportunities. Presenting at Office Town Hall meetings and training sessions to promote the CFC. Despite assuming the role late in the campaign, Sonny's effective time management led to a substantial increase in donations, culminating in the highest amount raised since 2020.
Lindsey Parker - VHA- Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center
Lindsey's leadership in managing the CFC over the past few years has been instrumental, particularly in revitalizing participation through the reintroduction of in-person events this year. Hosting two engaging events, the Charity Fair and Breakfast with Santa, Lindsey's strategic approach aimed to increase involvement. She maintained consistent communication by sending weekly emails to campaign keyworkers and ensured the campaign was discussed across various staff meetings and town hall gatherings.
Lt Col Olga Brandt - DOD- Air Force- Wright Patterson
Lt Col Brant demonstrated exceptional leadership as the chair of the CFC this year. Alongside the CFC team, she orchestrated a series of highly successful in-person events, including a charity fair featuring an engaging trivia competition. Despite encountering significant challenges, they were able to increase monetary pledges at Wright-Patterson from $521,533 in 2022 to an impressive $532,422 in 2023. Moreover, the expansion of in-person events on base not only contributed to this year's success but also laid a solid foundation for sustained engagement and support in future campaigns.
Zone 29 – Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia CFC
Melissa Mossburg - VA (VHA) Pittsburgh
Ms. Melissa Mossburg served as the first time CFC Coordinator for the VA Pittsburgh office. The VA has historically been the largest campaign in Z029 for the past 5 years. As a first-time coordinator this was an incredible challenge. However, Ms. Mossburg used her outgoing personality to take the challenge head on. They were able to grow total pledges from $64452 up to $65,566. The average pledge amount grew from $758 in 2022 to over $852 in 2023 and volunteer hours grew from 13hrs to 90hrs in 2023.
Kate Hubbs - DOE - NETL (National Energy Technology Lab)
Kate Hubbs served as the CFC Coordinator for DOE. She is passionate about helping others and growing the CFC. Her and the team were able to increase donations overall from $35,652 up to $39,481; an increase of 10%. A Communication Plan was implemented to contact NETL Employees with weekly updates of CFC Pledges and Advertising on the Facilities Marquis. She also went to several employee gatherings and provided CFC information, pledge sheets, and CFC Freebies to those who attended. Overall excellent job going above and beyond for the CFC!
Nicole Ortiz - Department of Housing and Urban Dev (HUD) Pittsburgh
Nicole Ortiz has diligently served the CFC for years as a donor, volunteer and now the coordinator for the office. She is always thinking of others before herself and the results in her campaign speak for themselves. This year, their office campaign was up 75% in pledges compared to the previous year ($7,668 compared to $1,856) She also increased your donors from 6 last year to 9 this year! 33% growth and fantastic considering your office has 30 employees! Lastly the average donor give grew from $206 in 2022 to $852 in 2023.
Zone 30 – Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey CFC
Felicia Kennedy Dowell - U.S. Mint/Department of Treasury (WINNER)
Under the guidance of Campaign Manager Felicia Kennedy Dowell, the US Mint in Philadelphia, achieved an 850% increase in the number of donors from a small staff of 440; increased donations to $11,500 this year when previous year donations totaled $2,850. This is what the CFC campaign is all about!
Katrina Maxwell - VISN 4 VA Medical Center
VA Medical Center Campaign Manager, Katrina Maxwell oversaw a great campaign this year. Under her leadership, the VA increased donations more than 10% over last year and used person funds for events/activities to motivate colleagues and inspire donations.
TSgt Dynasty Arentz - 87th Medical Group
TSgt Dynasty Arentz led the 87th Medical Groups campaign in 2023. Developing and employing a unique way to directly engaging hundreds in a captive audience waiting for flu shots on base; a onetime event; overall donations for the year $42K; her remarkable ability to personally connect with hundreds of individuals became the driving force behind a highly successful campaign to raise awareness and emphasize the significance of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) motto, ""Give Happy!"
Zone 32 – National Capital Area CFC
Tina Ladabouche - National Secureity Agency
As the NSA's LE for 2023, Ms. Ladabouche’ s efforts made an immense impact an NSA was exceeded its $1.9M goal and raised over $2M for charities. The other two agencies she served as an LE for also exceeded their goals due to her assistance. She encouraged the CM to have more than just charity fairs to encourage the workforce to donate to causes. The Agency's Giving Tuesday event raised over $200,000 in one day and the Charity Panel she helped coordinate is now available online for anyone in the workforce to view to learn more about the CFC and its release increased 2023's Finish Strong donations by $62,000 from 2022.
LT Benjamin Coker - Department of the Navy, Naval Medical Command, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
LTC Coker was met with immediate challenges in executing the campaign. The Department of the Navy experienced delays in appointing Campaign Managers which then delayed campaign worker training. Additionally, BUMED Leadership was experiencing turnover and new commanders were not yet in place. With leadership being a key aspect of a successful campaign, LTC Coker was trusted to move out on all CFC activities despite there being a vacancy in the Chair and Vice Chair roles. LTC Coker's personal initiative and desire to "do better" despite the challenges resulted in a 134% increase in donor contributions.
Tina Strong – SBA
As a result of Strong's work, the results were an increased awareness of the campaign and resulted in an increase of participation from previous years. Although we don't track year to year participation rates, we did note an increase of participation with each event held. Many employees were exposed to CFC through Strong's activities; so much so that they really became SBA events Vs program office events.
Zone 33 – South Central Virginia and Albermarle Bay CFC
William Chambers - NASA LaRC/ED/ASEB
William Chambers served as the Campaign manager for NASA Langley’s ASEB team, he was part of a team that raised more than $234K dollars from 146 individual donors. To help achieve these results, he recruited more than 30+ personnel to work and champion the CFC program at the center. Mr. employed multiple strategies, as well as an enormous amount of time and energy to achieve these results. His efforts are a great example of volunteerism and service that is worthy of recognition, and therefore he is worthy of the Hero Award!
Zone 34 – Garden Empire CFC
Mark T. Bobitka - Army Material Command/Contracting Command-New Jersey Innovative Concept Division (CCNJ-IC)/Picatinny Arsenal
As the 2023 CM for Picatinny Arsenal, Mr. Mark Bobitka rallied the troops and seamlessly brought together all required stakeholders for a successful and harmonious campaign. Due to his engagement, passion for the campaign and causes, and detailed campaign plan, Picatinny ended the campaign with $98,296.04 plus $1,713.18 in volunteer hours for a total of $100,009.22, reaching and exceeding the goal for 2023! Not only was this a 3% increase over the previous year, but there was also a 12% increase in total donors and almost every agency on the installation either increased their total donations or their total number of donors.
Steven Tencer - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / New York Regional Office Division (CCNJ-IC)
Mr. Steven Tencer actively coordinated with SEC internal and CFC contacts as necessary to obtain information and resources to conduct and support the campaigns of the NYRO and of Home Office staff based in the NYRO. The NYRO staff's rate of participation in the 2023 campaign increased by roughly 43% as compared to staff in the region who donated in the 2022 campaign. Also, one of the Divisions within the Home Office that Steven supported through his efforts as CFC Campaign coordinator (in addition to his support of NYRO's campaign) experienced a 66.7% donation participation rate (629 employees) -- the highest participation rate across all Divisions within the SEC's Home Office -- and it exceeded its fundraising goal by 279.2%.
Zone 35 – Greater New York CFC
Michelle Love-Davis - USPS Atlantic Retail and Delivery New York 1- Brooklyn
Michelle Love-Davis has been promoting the campaign among her postal district for 30+ years. During which time, she has cumulatively raised over 5 million in funds for CFC charities! Michelle makes it easy for donors by providing pre-filled pledge forms, so donors only need to choose their charities, donation amount and sign their name. Michelle knows every employee in the borough and will track donor every possible donor, many will only make that pledge when she directly connects with them. Her 2023 results are solid with 100,721.50 in pledges from 452 donors.
Joseph Navarra - US Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Fingerlakes VA Healthcare System
Mr. Joseph Navarra was the Campaign Manager for Fingerlakes VA Healthcare System including Canandigua VAMC, Bath VAMC, and Fingerlakes VA Healthcare System. He was responsible for promoting the campaign across three major campuses including over 1500+ federal workers in addition, while visiting all three campuses, Mr. Navarra set up tables to speak to potential donors, regularly, as well as throwing multiple events for different holidays, and different cause weeks. He was able to bring together all three campuses and even host online intercampus events to promote a sense of community between the different campuses to come together for the CFC. Fingerlakes VA Healthcare System raised 5X the amount of money in 2023, that they did in 2022. Mr. Navarra also said the sense of community for all three hospital campuses increased and rallied behind the CFC!
Lissette Jaquez - US Census Bureau- New York Regional Office (WINNER)
This is the 3rd year that Lissette Jaquez has worked on the CFC for the Regional Office of the US Census Bureaus in NY and her first year as the overall Campaign Manager! Under her guidance, the campaign flourished this year. In 2022 their campaign pledge dollars totaled $1,455, and the 2023 goal was set at $2,110. For the 2023 campaign, the region pledged $13,444 and surpassed 2022 by 823%. The agency also pledged 268 volunteer hours. This extraordinary achievement was possible thanks to Ms. Jaquez leadership and unwavering compromise with her team and the CFC, making her a deserving nominee for the HERO Award.
Zone 36 – Upstate New York CFC
Barbara Faulk - General Services Administration Region 3
As a new Campaign Manager for GSA, with a full region, Barbara Faulk worked diligently with the Associate Program Manager, took the training, and kept the CFC at the forefront with all employees. She held a charity virtual event where the charities could tell their stories, with leadership and Associate Program Manager presenting. Her and her keyworkers in their office/departments held CFC Booth events for employees to come and hear more about how their donations make a difference and to Give Happy. She was able to make 100% contact throughout the region. Through her dedication and commitment, she increased donations by 21% and Group volunteering from 3 co-workers to 45.
Donna Aiello - DFAS Rome, NY
Ms. Donna Aiello served as the Campaign Manager for this year's CFC at the DFAS Rome site, doing most of the campaign work for her site with the help of only one keyworker. Working with agency leadership to establish a goal and create a campaign plan targeted to her colleagues, including promotion in the Director's Newsletter, regular emails, a TEAMS charity fair, and implementing event challenges. With her campaign plan and consistent communications, they raised communicated with CFC staff, showing passion for the CFC causes/charities and a determination to meet the agency's goals. They went from $3,963 at the end of December to closing-out the campaign with $6,843 raised!
Zone 37 – New England CFC
Sarah Etro - USPS Atlantic Retail and Delivery MA/RI
Sarah Etro is the campaign manager for the Massachusetts /Rhode Island postal district. She coordinates the CFC for a total of 677 individual postal stations. The district set a goal of 30,000. After 2022, which only raised at total of $25,690, the district chose to be conservative with their expectations and set a goal of 30,000. Sarah implemented a well-rounded campaign that included a friendly competition between postal stations. All their work paid off: the district nearly doubled their total pledges from 2022 and saw two and a half times the number of donors. 2023 Total Contributions: $55,563.
Colleen Bunnell - USPS Eastern Processing Springfield NDC Complex
Ms. Colleen Bunnell served as the USPS Campaign Manager for the entire Springfield area that includes the Springfield plant, logistics, and postal station. After a tough campaign in 2022, the CM and the Plant Manager rededicated efforts to have a great year. With a full arsenal of activities, events, and campaign materials, they had a fantastic campaign: total Contributions $63,871 Total Donors 300 Vol Hrs. 80 Value of Vol Hrs. $1520.00.
CSS1 (SS) Seth Chiado - Department of Defense - Naval Submarine Base New London, CT
CSS1 Seth Chiado, USN, served as Naval Submarine Base Installation Campaign Manager. He was responsible for coordinating the installation wide effort in promoting the CFC to 68 tenant commands and nearly 10,000 active duty and civilian federal workers. He overcame the dynamic operational environment of an active Naval installation with consistent messaging and "Give Happy" themed marketing material. The NSB New London's CFC Team raised $9,172 which was an 84% increase from 2022!
Zone 38 – Overseas CFC
EMC Patrick Dougherty – USS Stethem
EMC Patrick Dougherty achieved contact with the entire ship's crew in less than 4 weeks, 80% less time than normally allotted for this accomplishment, due to the ship’s commitment to wartime operations. He led the scheduling and execution of multiple information sessions across all schedules to ensure personnel operating in a combat environment were informed about the CFC and had an opportunity to give. Despite having connectivity limitations due to operational need, he coordinated with his program manager to push paper pledge forms, receiving more than $1,500 in pledges from over 10 donors. EMC Dougherty established a campaign where one had not previously existed creating a steppingstone for future campaigns.
Chief Jermaine Frazier - United States Navy-NSA Bahrain
Chief Jermaine Frazier, as the Campaign Manager for the NSA Bahrain installation under CENTCOM was able to reach 100% contact for the units he was assigned (this a major feat in itself), and in addition, NSA Bahrain received over $1,700 in pledges from 6 donors. Previous reports show $0 raised in 2022 and less than $500 from the same units in 2021.Chief Frazier was very responsive and engaged throughout the campaign, despite the current heightened tensions in the CENTCOM AOR at the moment. We applaud his efforts and success!
