Annual
CFC Day of Caring Marks First
Unity in the Spirit of America Initiative in Chattanooga
August 21, 2002
More than 375 federal employees are expected to volunteer on Friday, August 23, in the Greater Chattanooga Area Combined Federal Campaign’s annual Day of Caring, marking the first Unity in the Spirit of America (USA) initiative in the city.
Signed into law by President Bush earlier this year, the USA initiative is a volunteer program created to help Americans remember those lost on September 11. The USA initiative is overseen by the Points of Light Foundation and its national network of nearly 500 volunteer centers.
“Federal employees have a great tradition of volunteering their time and being generous givers to help those who are less fortunate,” said TVA Director Bill Baxter, who is the 2002 chairman of the Smoky Mountain Region Combined Federal Campaign. “This past year has reminded us all of the importance of remembering and helping others. I commend the Chattanooga area employees for contributing their time, talent and resources.”
Employees from TVA, the U.S. Air National Guard, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will participate in the eighth annual Greater Chattanooga Area CFC Day of Caring. Employees will provide hands-on assistance – such as painting, cleaning, and landscaping – to approximately 30 local agencies that receive contributions from the CFC.
“This year, our Day of Caring, as part of the USA initiative, will be dedicated to the memory of those lost on September 11,” said Diane Bunch, senior vice president of TVA Information Services and the chairperson of the 2002 Greater Chattanooga Area CFC. “With our campaign theme—Be a Hero—the Day of Caring will serve as a reminder of the spirit and the compassion shown on that tragic day and as a way for us to honor those who gave so much.”
The CFC is held annually to give federal employees an opportunity to contribute to United Way charitable, health, and human services organizations in 20 counties in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Chattanooga area federal employees were honored earlier this year in a ceremony at the White House for having the highest average CFC gift of $309 per person among 2001 campaigns that raised $1 million to $2 million worldwide. The 2001 Greater Chattanooga Area CFC resulted in gifts of more than $1,488,796 to charitable and service organizations, a 10.3-percent increase over the campaign goal.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer, and its power system is self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers.
Media Contact:
Kay Whittenburg, Chattanooga (423-751-7152) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
