Combined Federal Campaign
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao
Combined Federal Campaign
Washington, DC
December 4, 2018
Thank you, Willis [Morris, Office of Administration]. Thank you, Jessica [Koehler, Manager, Departmental Special Programs] for managing the DOT CFC effort. And Cindy Rheaume who is on loan from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and helping us with CFC. And thank you, Vince Micone [Chairperson, Local Federal Coordinating Committee].
Ryan Arbuckle and Erva Cockfield — thank you both for your inspiring accounts of what positive effects charities supported through CFC can have. And let’s all thank the charities who are represented here today. Visit their tables and learn about their mission. They do so much and we appreciate their efforts to be here.
The Peace Corps, where I served as Director after my first stint at DOT, gave me a first-hand view on how all over the world one person’s time and efforts can make a big difference for others. And being President and CEO of the United Way of America fostered a keen appreciation for the power of small donations, pooled together, to do good.
So it makes me even more proud of the U.S. Department of Transportation to know that since 2005, DOT employees in the D.C. metro area alone have contributed over $18 million through CFC! Last year, all 11 of the Department’s operating administrations met or exceeded their goals. And already this year, DOT employees have pledged hundreds of hours of volunteer time to charitable organizations through CFC.
So the CFC theme for 2018 — “Show Some Love” — rings true and loud at DOT!
Let’s applaud every one of our DOT colleagues in Washington, and around the country and the world, who have stepped up to help others through the Combined Federal Campaign. They are doing a lot of good for others.
Now, because we at DOT are always striving to do better, I’m going to encourage all of our colleagues to “Show More Love” in 2018 and 2019 by considering giving through CFC. We want everyone to know how easy it is to contribute and to learn about the thousands of charities participating in the CFC. Everyone can customize their giving to reflect the causes and missions closest to their heart. Federal employees can also now pledge volunteer hours — on their own time — in addition to making monetary donations. And new employees and retirees can now participate in the CFC.
Just go to cfcgiving.opm.gov
Please let everyone in your office know this website exists and how useful and easy it is.
Even a small amount every month can be so helpful. The steady stream of donations throughout the year which CFC makes possible is a tremendous boost to an organization’s ability to plan and go forward with charitable activities.
There’s plenty of time left to sign up —the campaign closes on January 11, 2019.
In looking back on the life of President George H.W. Bush, our country is reminded this week that helping others is in the finest tradition of America. President Bush believed and said that “any definition of a successful life must include service to others.”
That is the essence of the CFC: service to others.
And now I’d like to introduce a longtime friend and former colleague whose life and career embody commitment to helping others. In 1966, she was one of the first Peace Corps Volunteers in Tunisia. In subsequent years and in various capacities, she advanced the Peace Corps mission around the world, including North Africa, the Near East, Asia and the Pacific. Today, she is the 20th Director of the Peace Corps and Chair of this year’s CFC Campaign. Dr. Jody Olsen. Thank you, Jody, for being here with us today.
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