Federal employees more generous in 2000

Federal employees dug deeper into their pockets in 2000 than in years past, pledging more than $223 million to charities during the Combined Federal Campaign, according to figures released by the Office of Personnel Management. Formed in 1961, the CFC is the only authorized solicitation for charities in the federal workplace. Each campaign is run by a volunteer group of employees who work with experienced nonprofit executives in their communities to generate contributions and distribute them to eligible charities. During the 2000 donation cycle, retired federal employees were able to designate contributions to be withheld from their pension annuities for the first time. Last year, more than 1.4 million federal employees donated money to nonprofit organizations, topping 1999's total by $6 million. Of campaigns that resulted in gifts of more than $2 million, those in the Washington, D.C., area raised the most money--a total $46 million last year, an increase of $2 million over 1999 donations.

The northeast Florida/southeast United States area improved its total the most in the $2 million and above category. The area contributed a little more than $1.7 million in 1999 and $2 million in 2000, an 11 percent increase. The Texas Gulf Coast area, which raised $2.6 million, had the highest participation rate with nearly 75 percent of federal employees in the area contributing. For campaigns that raised less than $250,000, the north central West Virginia area had the largest increase in contributions. In 2000, this area raised $171,629, up 127.2 percent over 1999's $75,528 total. The southeastern Ohio area had the most participation of all the campaigns, with 85.6 percent of its employees contributing.