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Wing commander's generosity kicks off 2014 CFC

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts
  • 162nd WIng Public Affairs
Tucson, ARIZ --  162nd Wing Combined Federal Campaign unit representatives challenge wing members to support organizations as the 2014 charity event kicks off here on Oct. 4.

Col. Phil Purcell, wing commander,  presented a check for $300 to this year's CFC unit coordinators, 1st Lt. Erika Palomino and 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts. His contribution will go to support the Jimmy Jet Foundation, a non-profit Arizona corporation serving wing members, their families and the Tucson community.

The foundation is named after an Arizona Air National Guard F-16 crew chief, Jimmy "Jet" Bracamonte, who suffered a paralyzing accident in 1993. As a result, his home needed several modifications and Jimmy's friends stepped up to the plate, holding a series of fundraisers to help defray the modification costs.

That wingman mentality had a domino effect as more people began to volunteer their time, money and other resources to help others, and eventually, JJF became a registered, non-profit organization and received CFC recognition.

Its mission - to assist unit and community members in need, and more specifically, those who suffer financial setbacks due to unforeseen events in their lives - remains intact.

Last year the wing raised $60,527.

The highest contributing section was the 214th Reconnaissance Group, with a total donation of $8,247 and a 40 percent participation rate.  An outstanding achievement!

Last year the average annual contribution was $245, which equates to a mere $9.50 a pay period according to unit CFC coordinators.

The overall CFC contributions were lower last year than in 2012, but this year's unit coordinators have set high, but attainable goals: 100 percent contact and an increase from 23 to 30 percent wing participation.

There will be posters, base-wide e-mails and work section visits from CFC coordinators to remind people of the opportunity to donate to charities of their choice via the CFC.  For more information, please contact 1st Lt. Erika Palomino at erika.palomino@ang.af.mil or 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts at 295-6192 for more information.