October 20 marked the official launch of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) at USDA for the Washington, D.C. metro area. Administered by the government’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM), CFC is the world’s largest workplace giving program. Since its inception in 1961, federal employees have contributed more than $6 billion to the non-profit community.

This year, USDA has set a goal of raising just under $2 million from its approximately 10,000 employees in the national capital area. The official kickoff on Tuesday morning was an exciting event in the Whitten Building patio featuring top USDA leadership and more than 20 CFC registered non-profit organizations. Secretary Tom Vilsack and Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Dr. Raj Shah, led off the event by speaking movingly about the ways that non-profit organizations touch all of our lives in critical and transformative ways.

Dr. Shah spoke about incredible array of non-profits that participate in CFC, from groups doing lifesaving work fighting malaria in Africa to charities feeding hungry people right here in Washington, D.C. Secretary Vilsack spoke about his own birth in a Catholic orphanage, saying that he probably would not be here today if not for the nuns who took care of him and his birth mother.

Secretary Vilsack and Under Secretary Shah submit their CFC pledge forms

Both stressed the importance of giving generously this year more than ever, as the worldwide economic crisis has dramatically increased the needs of the non-profit community even as donations to the sector have fallen off. Secretary Vilsack emphasized that as federal workers, we have all been blessed with good jobs, and that CFC is a wonderful opportunity to share that blessing with people in need.

After Secretary Vilsack’s remarks, he officially opened the campaign by handing in his own completed pledge form. Dr. Shah and much of USDA’s senior leadership followed suit, as the assembled USDA employees watched a video message from President Obama. The President encouraged all federal employees to give generously to CFC this year, as part of the same spirit of service and community that he has worked to strengthen across the country through United We Serve.

As the first phase of the kickoff drew to a close, Bernadine Prince of FARMFRESH Markets spoke about her organization’s work to promote locally grown food throughout the DC Metro area. When Ms. Prince finished her remarks, it was time for the attendees to sample some of the fresh, locally grown food from USDA’s very own Farmers Market, such as apple cider and banana bread.

Before attendees enjoyed the delicious and healthy refreshments, Dr. Susan McCarthy from the Agricultural Research Service, USDA’s 2009 CFC Campaign Manager, launched the charity fair. This fair was an excellent opportunity for USDA employees to talk to representatives of a few of the thousands of non-profits represented in the CFC catalog. Employees who attended reported having a wonderful time and learning a great deal about non-profits doing great work in a wide variety of ways.

The Secretary is hoping that all employees will join him in giving to the non-profit organizations of their choice. The size of the gift matters much less than the fact that each employee participates on some level. DC Metro area federal employees can find out everything they need to know to get involved in CFC by visiting www.cfcnca.org. Federal employees outside of Washington can locate their local campaign’s website by following this link. Together, federal employees can provide a huge boost to the critical work of the non-profit sector.

On Monday, September 14, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack had the opportunity to meet with 25 leaders of the Jewish community in America including representatives from the Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform traditions, as well as national service organizations. The meeting was a wonderful occasion for the Secretary to further President Obama’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Equally importantly, the meeting marked a continuation of USDA’s efforts to involve broad constituencies of individuals and organizations to meet the President’s goal of ending child hunger in America by 2015.

Secretary VIlsack speaks with Jewish community leaders

Secretary Vilsack spoke to the gathering about USDA’s commitment to feed hungry people at home and abroad. The Secretary told the assembled leaders that he and President Obama believe that collaborating with faith-based groups, among others, makes sense in pursuing this goal, as all faiths are instructed to care for the poor and the hungry. In the Jewish tradition, the laws of Moses demand compassion and justice for those who are in need, including not harvesting part of one’s fields to allow those who need to glean the crops in order to eat. Secretary Vilsack also stated that he and President Obama are both committed to ending childhood hunger in our country by 2015, but that the government alone cannot make that happen. As the President put it, “we all have to work together – Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and non-believer alike – to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

Following the Secretary’s remarks, the assembled leaders engaged in discussion with Secretary Vilsack on how the Jewish community can work with USDA to address the challenge of domestic and worldwide hunger. The conversation was both thoughtful and substantive, and attendees afterwards expressed deep appreciation for the Secretary’s interfaith outreach efforts.

As the meeting came to a close, the Secretary presented each attendee with an apple and a jar of honey (both provided by our own Agricultural Research Service), in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Traditionally Jews eat these foods during this holy time as a symbol of a sweet new year.

At USDA, we’re proud of our history engaging broad constituencies in our work, and we look forward to continuing to reach out to Americans from all faiths and walks of life as we work to end hunger in our country and around the world.