OPM Launches Special Combined Federal Campaign for Texas Storm Victims

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced in a March 11, 2021 memo that it is launching a thirty day Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity giving drive to assist Texans who were impacted by the winter storm in February.

The storm brought inches of snow to Texas and left countless people without power. Dozens of Texans passed away as a result of the winter storm and over 15 million Texans were left without water. By some estimates, the damage caused by the storm could exceed $125 billion, which is more than Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Acting OPM Director Kathleen McGettigan said that this campaign will run through April 9th and federal employees will be able to donate to over 6,000 charities that are helping rebuild Texas after the power grid collapsed.

Acting Director McGettigan stated in the memo, “In response to the appeals to OPM from the Federal Executive Boards in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, I have asked the Combined Federal Campaign to open a special solicitation to help victims affected by the severe winter weather, power outages and water shortages in Texas and other affected states.”

Employees who did not pay via payroll allotments during the 2020 Combined Federal Campaign can make a payroll-funded gift during the special solicitation. Those who did payroll allotments can make donations through credit or debit cards.

McGettigan furthered, “A nationwide special solicitation will allow federal employees to voluntarily support not only the local nonprofit efforts in the state of Texas but also to support nonprofits nationwide who are responding to the devastation caused by the severe winter storm.”

Those wishing to donate to the new campaign may do so at the CFC website.