CFC gets underway for Maxwell-Gunter Published Sept. 17, 2010 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- With more than 30 charities on board, the 2010 Heart of Alabama Combined Federal Campaign held its opening ceremony Tuesday at the Maxwell Officer's Club. This year's goal is $860,000, and campaign management has set a $1.2 million "stretch-goal" for the fundraiser that ends Nov. 12. Capt. Ian Coleman, Maxwell-Gunter CFC installation project officer, said the kickoff went "quite well." He said taking the initiative to help those in need is what it means to be an American. "We should remember just how fortunate all of us who are in the military or work for the government are economically," Captain Coleman said. "We should also remember to share our good fortune with those who are not so lucky." The captain said the need for assistance is universal, and almost everyone knows someone who has benefited from the charities involved in the Heart of Alabama CFC. He asked that contributors let that guide them when making their donations. "I guess the message is 'please give generously,'" Captain Coleman said. "Among the CFC participants, it's hard not to find a charity you are passionate about. Anything helps, and everyone makes a difference." Xavier "Lew" Lewis, Director of the Heart of Alabama CFC, said he too felt the ceremony went well. He said there was an excellent turnout, and the agencies he talked with were pleased with the number of people who came by. "Our attitude this year is the same as last year, and that is, we know there is a recession, but we refuse to participate in it," Mr. Lewis said. He said he is more than comfortable with this year's stretch-goal and feels it is "doable." Last year, the CFC raised $1,156,000, and this year many individual organizations are setting their own stretch-goals. Mr. Lewis said the list of Heart of Alabama CFC organizations goes on and on, and every contributor can find an agency they would like to support. The agencies, to name just a few, include the American Red Cross, the Montgomery Children's Center, Mercy Flight, the Montgomery Area Food Bank and a number of disaster relief organization. "We are blessed to have jobs, and while our jobs are not economic-proof, we are in a more secure economic position than many people," Mr. Lewis said. "That means our job is also to step up and give from the heart." Mr. Lewis said the project officers from various organizations are busy people, and their responsibility to the campaign is an additional duty for them. But often they make it look as though their involvement in CFC is their primary job. Maxwell-Gunter's west campaign kickoff is one of three campaign-wide kickoffs for the Heart of Alabama CFC. A similar, but smaller, kickoff was Thursday for the east campaign in Tuskegee. Another is Wednesday for the northwest campaign in Tuscaloosa. For more information about the Heart of Alabama CFC, call Captain Coleman at 953-3531, or e-mail him at ian.coleman@maxwell.af.mil.