NAVAIR Depot Jax Scores Big with Jags and United Way
By Shelly Sikes Diaz, NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville Public Affairs Specialist

Naval Air (NAVAIR) Depot Jacksonville was honored at a United Way leadership breakfast on Tuesday October 19, 2004. Wayne Weaver, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team, presented a commemorative game ball to commanding officer Captain David Beck. The depot was commended for extraordinary success in the early stages of this year’s campaign.

City and local industry leaders gathered in Wayne and Delores Weaver’s private box suite for a breakfast meeting and mid-campaign rally. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are honorary co-chairs of this year’s local United Way Campaign. Mr. Weaver honored several United Way participants for their successes with the current campaign. Naval Air Depot Jacksonville was the only Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) participant to receive the honor. The Combined Federal Campaign is the federal government portion of the United Way effort. The depot has increased the average gift per donor by over $22, and is more than halfway to the 2004 fundraising goal.

Captain David Beck attributed the success to the outstanding leadership of the loaned executives, generous employees, and creative fundraising ideas. The depot has raffled football tickets, grilled burgers and had a high school drum corps march through the plant to raise awareness of the CFC. As a result, the campaign has already raised $172, 915. “We want to make sure every employee knows about the importance of the CFC,” he said, “If they know, maybe they will find it in their heart to give.”