In 1996, Brevard County federal employees donated more than $400,000 to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). More than half of that came from KSC pledges.
"We are the number one per capita givers in Brevard County," Center Director Roy Bridges Jr. told employees gathered for the CFC Kickoff in the Training Auditorium Oct. 1.
"I love this program -- it is efficient and effective ...," he added. "It gives individuals the chance to focus their attentions on charities that are dear to them and, as a group, affords us the opportunity to support a wide variety of worthwhile organizations."
This year's theme for the KSC fund drive is Combined for Caring and the dollar goal is $200,000. Harry Silipo, associate director of Shuttle Processing, is the chairperson, and also is serving as co-chair for Brevard County.
CFC was formally established in 1961. Prior to that, on-the-job fundraising in the federal workplace was not well regulated. Quotas for agencies and individuals were set up, and supervisors pressured employees to donate money, according to a history of CFC on the Office of Personnel Management's Web site (http://www.opm.gov/cfc).
The first real combined campaign was held in 1964. Contributions have grown dramatically since then, from $12.9 million in 1964 to $82.9 million just 15 years later.
Payroll deduction is an easy way to donate to CFC. Last year, more than 92 percent of all CFC funds raised were given through payroll deduction. All civil service employees should have received their pledge card and booklet and can contact their key solicitor for more information.
Photo Caption: Center Director Roy Bridges (seated) gets his 1997 CFC pledge card from United Way Director Rob Rains (left). Also ready to complete their cards are Deputy Director for Business Operations James Jennings; Associate Director for Advanced Development and Shuttle Upgrades JoAnn Morgan; Deputy Director for Launch and Payload Processing Loren Shriver; and KSC CFC Chair Harry Silipo, associate director of Shuttle Processing.
Photo Caption: Florida Marlins baseball player Chris Clapinski, the featured speaker, told kickoff attendees, "I am very impressed with all of the amazing things that KSC does," he said, "and that as a group you still have time to be so supportive of our youth and other people in need."
The Disability Awareness and Action Working Group (DAAWG) has planned an Assistive/Accommodative Fair in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The technology-oriented Fair will be held on Oct. 21 in the lobby of Headquarters Building and Oct. 22 in the Operations Support Building lobby from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day.
Some of the vendors participating this year include Space Coast Center for Independent Living, Stuart Eye Institute of Jupiter, Fla., and Valencia Community College’s Center for High-Tech Training for Individuals with Disabilities.
The theme for this year’s Disability Employment Awareness Month is Ability Bridge to the Future. All KSC employees are encouraged to visit one of the locations and learn about the types of technology and services available to assist persons with vision, hearing, and mobility impairments.
KSC employees’ spouses or family members who are 16 or older with disabilities may attend this year also by contacting Wanda Petty on or before Oct. 17 at 867-2307.
DAAWG advises the center director on matters relating to employees with disabilities and serves as a resource for the Equal Opportunity Program Office, the Administration Office and others.
Sterling Walker, Director of Engineering Development, is the chairman of DAAWG and Leon Wichmann of the Procurement Office is co-chair.
Center Director Roy Bridges, Jr. stated, "I am so proud of what our Disability Awareness and Action Working Group has accomplished over the years to make KSC accessible for our disabled employees. I invite everyone to join with me in recognizing that people with disabilities have boundless talent, vastly diversified skills, and abundant abilities for building the bridge to KSC’s future."
In addition to inviting employees to visit one of the Fair locations, DAAWG also welcomes visitors to their home page on the Internet for all the latest information. The address is http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/groups/daawg.
Dynacs Engineering Co. Inc., Clearwater, has been awarded a contract to provide engineering support to KSC’s Engineering Development organization.
The contractor will provide high technology and research services as well as engineering design and technician support.
"This year NASA named Dynacs Small Disadvantaged Business Contractor of the year and we look forward to a very positive relationship here at Kennedy Space Center," said Director Roy Bridges.
The cost plus award fee contract began Oct. 1, 1997 and, including the four one-year options to extend, potentially continues through Sept. 30, 2002.
The incumbent contractor I-NET, Inc., Bethesda, Md., is now classified as a large business and was ineligible for the competition. Thirteen companies total submitted bids for the contract.