Sailors aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) recently demonstrated their generosity and support of local and national charities by participating in this year’s Combined Federal Campaign, or CFC, carried out from Sept. 13 to Oct. 13.

Patrons attached to “America’s Favorite Aircraft Carrier” contributed nearly $100,000 to the 47th Annual CFC drive, which allowed Sailors to choose from more than 1,800 international, national and local charities.

According to the “Gold Eagle’s” Assistant Command CFC Coordinator Chief Religious Program Specialist (SW/FMF) Brenda Hamilton, federal workers in the 1960s developed the unique charitable campaign to allow members of the uniformed services and federal workers the opportunity to donate to various charities.  Donations can be collected through either a monthly allotment lasting one or two years taken directly from participant’s wages, or a lump sum payable by cash or check. The purpose: positive change. 

“This year’s campaign theme is ‘The Secret of Living is Giving,’” said Hamilton.  “With over eighty organizations and twenty-five thousand Sailors and federal workers in Washington’s Kitsap and Mason counties, we can make a terrific difference.”

Sixteen departmental representatives hit the passageways to touch base with each and every member of the more than 3,000-strong “Gold Eagle” family. Obtaining their goal of 100-percent crew contact, vice simply trying to acquire large donations, was a key reason why the CFC program’s volunteers were able to beat last year’s numbers by more than $40,000.

“I am overjoyed,” said Ensign Robert Curran, command CFC coordinator. “This success is directly due to the deck-plate coordinators at the departmental level pushing the program and making it happen. I really appreciated the hard effort I saw from everyone involved.”

Although thousands of people across the globe are due to benefit from the CFC’s contributions, some of the rewards hit closer to home than many may have thought.

“I think donating is a great idea,” said ACAN Darren Johnson a Vinson Sailor who contributes to two national charities. “My grandpa has Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, so, for me, it’s my way of helping him, and those like him.  When I saw how many other people donated aboard the ship, it kind of gave me more hope that one day diseases like his won’t force people to suffer forever.