Giancarlo Deguia is a helper by nature.
When Legacy Management Director Carmelo Melendez needed someone to coordinate LM’s response to a federal philanthropy campaign, Deguia said he felt a personal obligation to contribute.
“When I initially asked to volunteer, I only wanted to assist whomever was seasoned in the role as coordinator,” Deguia said. “Obviously, Mr. Melendez had other plans. I hope I didn’t let him or LM down.”
He needn’t have worried. Melendez was so impressed with Deguia’s coordination of employee donations to the 2022 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), he awarded Deguia a Certificate of Superior Service.
“Your creativity and personal, compassionate approach for soliciting support from your co-workers resulted in LM raising over $9,500, representing a 153% increase in donations over the previous year’s campaign,” Melendez wrote to Deguia. “Your leadership and selfless service as the LM coordinator contributed to the Department of Energy’s overall donation increase of 18 percent from the last campaign. Thank you for a job so very well and professionally done!”
Deguia, a Records and Information Management specialist for LM, said he was humbled and honored to receive the tribute. He credits his associates for helping him succeed in his first year as CFC campaign coordinator.
“It certainly came as a surprise. I had no expectation of receiving anything in return for this service,” Deguia said. “My success as a coordinator could not have been achieved without the support of my key co-workers: Doc Parks, Quin Clyburn, Mary Young, and Shawn Montgomery.”
CFC is a workplace charity campaign that raises millions of dollars each year, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Pledges made by federal civilian employee, postal, and military donors during the campaign season support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.
Personnel Management oversees the CFC across all federal agencies. CFC’s mission is to promote and support philanthropy through an employee-focused, cost-efficient program that is effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
Deguia is grateful for his colleagues’ generosity, especially because they have so many other options for charitable giving.
“It doesn’t matter what organization a person gives to. What should be highlighted is that a person is giving time, money, or both,” he said. “The very nature of providing assistance in any form speaks volumes. I’m just happy to be a part of it. The real challenge is figuring out how I can give more.”
Deguia feels the world needs more kindness, and helping people should just be a fact of life. He said he’ll never be satisfied with what he’s already accomplished. He’ll keep looking for ways to improve people’s lives, and he encourages others to think the same way.
“Every dollar and hour donated is a reason why there’s still hope for humanity in this world,” Deguia said. “From a selfless service perspective, DOE is a force to be reckoned with and I’m proud to be part of such an impactful team!”
Original source can be found here.
