Washington state employees raise more than $5.5 million for charities in 2007

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2008

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire announced today that Washington state public employees and retirees pledged more than $5.5 million to some 2,600 charities during the 2007 Washington state workplace giving campaign known as the Combined Fund Drive (CFD). This marks the third year in a row the state�s public employees and retirees have contributed in excess of $5.5 million to charities.

�Each year public employees in Washington show their commitment to strengthening communities and helping others through hard work and their support of charities,� Gregoire said. �Their generosity and compassion should be applauded.�

Randy Ryan, who manages the CFD, praised the volunteers and campaign leaders. �The Combined Fund Drive is successful because of the incredible volunteer leaders who run the campaign in every corner of the state,� Ryan said. �Over 3,000 strong, our volunteers are the backbone of the drive.�

Donations pledged in the 2007 campaign will be distributed quarterly in 2008. Since the launch of the CFD 23 years ago, employees and retirees have pledged more than $84 million to charities in Washington state and around the world.

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