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Release: 01-367

Marshall employees pledge $559,000 to Combined Federal Campaign; top goal by $100,000

Employees at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. — topping their goal for contributions to the 2001 Combined Federal Campaign by more than $100,000 — have pledged $559,700 to benefit area charities.

Marshall Center civil servants, retirees and on-site contractors exceeded their $450,000 goal and topped last year’s $505,000 pledge to the Combined Federal Campaign.

The Combined Federal Campaign brings all federal fund-raising efforts under one umbrella through a single campaign conducted once a year on behalf of all authorized charitable organizations. The campaign benefits United Way agencies of Madison and Marshall counties and the Shoals, the National Voluntary Health Agencies of Alabama Inc. and local unaffiliated agencies.

"Once again, Marshall employees have given generously,” said Deborah Gonzalez, chairwoman of Marshall's Combined Federal Campaign. “Their gifts will be used to fulfill many community needs."

During the six-week campaign, 76 percent of Marshall's civil service employees signed up to participate in the program.

 "The average gift per participant was more than $273," said Gonzalez. "Marshall employees really do care about their community."

Marshall employees also donated their time and skills by volunteering at many local organizations, including the Downtown Rescue Mission, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, CASA of Madison County, Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Union Hill Personal Growth Center, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Alabama.

"We held Community Service Days in October to allow Marshall employees to work at some of the recipient organizations," Gonzalez said. More than 230 Center employees volunteered at area charities, including Center Director Art Stephenson and Deputy Director Jim Kennedy.

"It gave us an opportunity to learn more about the organizations and families we are helping,” Gonzalez said., "It was both fun and rewarding."

Organized bus tours to some of the recipient charitable agencies — including Boys and Girls Club of Greater Huntsville, Blount Hospitality House, United Cerebral Palsy, Madison County Land Trust, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Hospital, Huntsville Botanical Gardens and Pathfinder, Inc. — gave Marshall employees a first-hand look at area charities.

"This was a great year for the campaign," said Gonzalez. "The Marshall Center always stands out in the Tennessee Valley campaign in the openhanded way we give and show our support."