CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (Jan. 20, 2017) -- Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen of the 171st Air Refueling Wing participated in the 2016 Combined Federal Campaign fundraiser held November through December in western Pennsylvania.
Airman of the 171st ARW and their 46 pledges raised a combined amount of $15,777 for local charities through donation collection cans, events and direct contributions through members’ pay.
The mission of the CFC is to partner federal and civilian workplaces with charities to improve quality of life for everyone. Three rivers/ PA western CFC is comprised of 18 military agencies, 82 civilian agencies, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, IRS, the U.S. Postal Service, and the VA. Working together the region raised a total $753,058.
To further raise donations and awareness for the CFC, the 171st hosted a chili cook-off, which has been a longstanding tradition developed to support the campaign for several years. To enter the event, unit members had to serve their own special chili and present it to others for tasting. Award categories for the event including Airman’s choice, most unique recipe and judges’ choice. Local charities were in attendance to participate in tastings and share information about their own organizations. Chefs’ of Eat’n Park and Chick Fil-A also acted as judges and brought gifts for participants.
Winner of the Airman’s choice award went to Tech. Sgt. Scott Nagel and Tech. Sgt. Justin Blinkey with their “boomin’ chili”. Most unique recipe was awarded to Tech. Sgt. Joseph Braner and his “shellfish chili”. And judges’ choice award went to Tech. Sgt. Renee Smith with her “make chili great again”.
“It was the people of our wing that made a difference,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Curley, the 2016 CFC Campaign Manager.
Every year brings new challenges and changes to our campaign but we are continually motivated and excited to see what’s to come, said Curley.