Talk about an impressive streak. For the 14th straight year, state and higher education employees and retirees have given more than $5 million annually through the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. In 2016, nearly 16,400 Combined Fund Drive donors pledged $5.3 million to local, national and global charities. The CFD disbursed funds to more than 1,700 charities last year, including 71 that received at least $10,000. The Combined Fund Drive is Washington’s workplace giving program for active and retired public employees. Since the CFD was established in 1984, its donors have given more than $135 million to local, national and global charities through payroll contributions and fundraising events. Employees and retirees can give through monthly contributions, one-time contributions or limited-time contributions. The Combined Fund Drive joined the Office of Secretary of State in 2010. “I continue to be amazed by the amount of money pledged by the thousands of donors in the Combined Fund Drive,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “It shows a strong, ongoing willingness by many state and higher education employees in Washington to give and help others. This makes a difference locally and throughout the world. “Nonprofit organizations around the state are working every day for those in need, and it gives me great pride to be part of a program that helps bring them much-needed financial relief,” Wyman added. Once again, the University of Washington topped all higher education institutions, bringing in nearly $2.3 million in pledges last year. Washington State University employees pledged more than $91,000, followed by Western Washington University (over $62,000). The top community or technical college in pledges was Seattle Community College – District 6 (nearly $34,000), followed by Bellingham Technical College (more than $21,000). The Department of Social and Health Services again topped the list of state agencies, offering more than $545,000 in total pledged dollars. The Department of Transportation ranked second with more than $275,000 pledged, followed by the Department of Corrections (more than $193,000). Making financial donations isn’t the only way the CFD enables state and high education employees to contribute. The CFD is the only public giving program that tracks volunteer hours. The estimated average dollar value for volunteer time in Washington state is more than $28 per hour. This means that state and higher ed employees saved charities in their communities more than $300,000 in paid staff time during 2016. Go here to view CFD’s 2016 Annual Report.