Marin County employees hand out more than $83000 to charities

Marin County employees have contributed $83,890 to charities during the annual October and November Marin County Combined Charities Campaign, known internally as the “Heart of Marin” fundraiser.

The Combined Charities Campaign allows 2,100 county employees and nearly 750 “extra hire” part-time employees to make bi-weekly paycheck deductions and one-time donations that benefit Bay Area nonprofits.

Since 2007, employees have contributed more than $680,000 through the annual fundraiser to nonprofit federations that assist a variety of charities or hand-picked charities of their choice.

The year’s federations include the United Way of the Bay Area, Bay Area Black United Fund, Community Health Charities of California, EarthShare California, Global Impact and Local Independent Charities of America.

The County Counsel’s Office had a 96 percent participation rate and the County Administrator’s Office had a 76 percent participation rate when combining payroll deductions and one-time donations.

Jill Francis, Director of the county’s Department of Child Support Services and this year’s program chair, said:

“The Combined Charities Campaign is such a great opportunity for our County staff to give back to the community. The generosity and enthusiasm for the program is inspiring.”