Team Eglin finishes strong in 2009 Combined Federal Campaign

  • Published
  • By Leslie Brown
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  To say that the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign at Eglin was a success would be an understatement.

For the seventh consecutive year, Team Eglin raised more than $700,000 for the CFC and considering current economic challenges, the amount raised is even more impressive.

"We knew this year's goal would be a stretch with recent personnel draw downs affecting many Team Eglin units," said Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander and campaign chairman. "We set a challenging, but achievable goal."

But Colonel McClintock was optimistic throughout the campaign.

"The CFC volunteers did a fantastic job inspiring participants across the installation," he said. "With their hard work, Team Eglin was able to surpass the $675,000 goal by more than $35,000."

Eglin's contributions combined with Hurlburt Field's and other federal agencies in Okaloosa and Walton counties totaled more than $1,222,815 for the 2009 campaign.

"The overall participation rate was 29 percent," said Johnny Long, 2009 CFC Eglin base project officer. "That means the average donation was more than $207 per contributor."

The 96th Medical Group won the Large Unit Participation award with a more than 50 percent participation rate. The 96th ABW wing staff agencies won the small unit award with a 64 percent participation rate.

"The CFC team members were so optimistic the entire campaign," said Diane M. Thomas, CFC vice president for Okaloosa-Walton counties United Way. "We started calling it the shock and awe campaign because the donations kept coming in."