NEWS: Macy’s supports CAP through ‘Shopping for a Cause’

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing, a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, D.C., metro area, raised more than $1,500 through Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” event Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall.

“I would like to thank everyone who stopped by Macy’s to support us and do a little shopping,” said Col. Richard Cooper, NatCap Wing commander. “Your donations will go a long way in helping us support our youth program here in D.C.”

	Macy’s shoppers learn about Civil Air Patrol during “Shop for a Cause” Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall. Pictured in uniform from left to right: Capt. Howard Hall, Cadet Staff Sgt. Joe Frech and 2nd Lt. Joe Frech of the Mt. Vernon squadron.
	Mr. Seth Poole, Arlington squadron finance officer (left), and 1st Lt. Derrick Barnette, Andrews squadron commander (right), greet shoppers at the Macy’s entrance during “Shop for a Cause” Oct. 17 at Springfield Mall. Photos by Maj. Paul Cianciolo

Macy’s shoppers who made a $5 donation to CAP received a one-day shopping pass for extensive discounts throughout the store. NatCap Wing’s squadrons also received $470 in donations for shopping passes prior to the event.

In the store, CAP members from NatCap Wing staff and its local squadrons showcased the Civil Air Patrol and educated shoppers about its important missions in emergency services and civil support, aerospace education, and cadet programs.

“Shop for a Cause” raised a total of $1,561 in tax-deductable donations, which will help the wing continue to perform its missions in the national capital region.

Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing currently has 222 volunteer officers and senior members and 123 cadets in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Federal employees and military personnel can support CAP through the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area – CFC charity number 26757.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the Air Force with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years.

Click here for more photos from Macy’s.


By Maj. Paul Cianciolo
National Capital Wing director of public affairs