FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Feb. 5, 1996

State employees pledge more than $3.4 million to charity during 1995 fund drive

OLYMPIA The 24,000 state employees who participated in the 1995 Washington State Employee Combined Fund Drive campaign pledged more than $3,430,000 to charities in Washington state and throughout the world. This amount represents a 4 percent increase over the previous year's campaign.

The fund drive is an annual opportunity for state employees to contribute to the charities of their choice through a payroll deduction or by direct payment. More than 90 percent of the pledged funds are collected through monthly payroll deductions. The funds are distributed quarterly to the drive's 1,324 participating charities.

The state's Combined Fund Drive campaign began in 1985. Since then, state workers have contributed nearly $29 million to various charities. During last year's campaign, more than 3,000 state employees volunteered their time to coordinate their offices' campaign efforts.

For more information, contact Randy Ryan, Department of Personnel at 360-586-9113.