USS Blue Ridge Opens 2014 Combined Federal Campaign

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff opened the 2014 Combined Federal Campaign Overseas (CFC-O) with a cake-cutting ceremony Aug. 30.

The Combined Federal Campaign was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to promote awareness for various nonprofit organizations and federations and provide federal employees with a simple and efficient method to donate to their favorite organizations.

More than 2,600 organizations are included in this year’s charity listing, including disease research programs and scholarship funds. Prospective donors can pay with cash, checks or online with donations as low as one dollar. For Sailors on Blue Ridge, just giving back is enough.

The 2014 campaign will officially run Sept. 8- Nov. 7.

Blue Ridge has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, for 34 years. As the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, Blue Ridge is vital in maintaining partnerships in the 7th Fleet area of operations.