Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 15, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Cindy Craig, Combined Fund Drive, 360-664-6811

Gov. Gary Locke Announces 20th Annual State Employee and Public Retiree Charitable Giving Campaign

Gov. Gary Locke today announced the kickoff of the state’s 20th annual Combined Fund Drive (CFD), a service aligned with the Washington State Department of Personnel. The campaign runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 31.
Any state agency employee, employee of a public institution of higher education, or public agency retiree is welcome to participate and channel their charitable contributions through this workplace program. Campaigns at institutions of higher education run later in the year.

“I thank our generous CFD volunteers and our state employee and retiree donors,” Locke said. “You generously serve our state and prioritize philanthropy. Washington is one of only four states to give more than $5 million, a truly impressive level of generosity.”

Based on the number of state employees in Washington, the state’s CFD program is the most successful state-run charitable giving program in the nation. In the 2003 campaign alone, state employees and public agency retirees donated just over $5 million to local, national and international charities. Locke is encouraging employees to help meet this year’s goal of $5.5 million.

“Many of us have personally benefited from the services and support provided by the many non-profit organizations involved in the Combined Fund Drive,” Locke said. “Whether it’s a loved one healing through innovative medical research, walking a serene trail that’s been protected and maintained, a child receiving a scholarship, or friends being helped during natural disasters like Hurricane Frances and our own state’s wildfires, we are all touched by the services these organizations provide.”

As part of the CFD program, employees and retirees can select from over 1,900 nonprofit organizations or write in a favorite charity. Charities are sorted by county and grouped in fourteen categories ranging from human services to the arts to the environment.

“It is the employees and retirees of the state of Washington that make this program a success. State employees working in the public sector truly identify with the needs in their own communities and around the world,” said program manager Randy Ryan. “Their generosity has made it possible for hundreds and hundreds of charities to benefit over the past 19 campaigns – with our state employees and retirees donating in excess of $67 million.”

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact Randy Ryan at 360-664- 1995 or visit http://hr.dop.wa.gov/cfd/default.htm.

# # #

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive