First Micronesian NGO eligible for Combined Federal Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C.-A recent announcement by the US Office of Personnel Management allows the Micronesia Conservation Trust admittance to participate in the fiscal year 2012 Combined Federal Campaign, or CFC. The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace and raises millions of dollars annually through national and international campaigns. The Micronesian Conversation Trust is the first Micronesian non-governmental organization to be included in the Combined Federal Campaign Charity List.

“OPM’s announcement is great news and I commend MCT’s leadership for their mission and for their work to be included in the CFC. For the past two years, my office has worked on an initiative to strengthen the non-governmental organizations in Micronesia and the Caribbean. NGO’s are part of an important and growing sector that are providing necessary environmental, health, youth, and social services with very limited resources,” said Tony Babauta, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas.

The MCT supports biodiversity conservation and related sustainable development for the people of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It is a major partner in the Micronesia Challenge, which has the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of the near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.

Babauta wrote to the Joint Region Mariana’s Command informing Rear Adm. Paul J. Bushong of the great news that on June 14, 2012, the first local Micronesian NGO was included in the CFC’s Charity List by the Office of Personnel Management.

“With its inclusion in the CFC, MCT is now eligible to receive pledges from the many federal employees and military personnel who are from the region, currently stationed there, or have an interest in the insular areas. I highly encourage other NGO’s in the insular areas to explore their eligibility for the CFC as well,” added Babauta.

For those interested in making donations, MCT will be listed in the CFC Charity List under the national/international independent agencies under the number 79910. The CFC season runs from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15. (DOI)