Houston - Motivation can move mountains and one U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employee learned that motivation can also move his mane.
"I challenged my staff to support our annual Combined Federal Campaign," said CBP Port Director Terry Estell. "I promised that if their contributions proved to be an increase from last year's totals, I would shave my head bald."
CBP's Houston Field Office raised more than $98,700 during the campaign with Estell's staff donating more than $52,800. A barber will be cutting Estell's hair at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Terminal E.
The Combined Federal Campaign provides federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life through a charity of their choosing by making pledges or donations during the campaign season. The season began Sept. 15 and ended Dec. 15.
"Our federal employees never cease to amaze me," said Jeffrey O. Baldwin Sr., CBP director of Houston Field Operations. "Not only did the number of employees who pledged this year go up, but they also donated and pledged $26,000 more than we did last year. Their generosity will reach people not only in our local communities but also across the country and across the world. Our federal employees demonstrated that the FED's Care."
Baldwin chaired the Texas Gulf Coast Region Combined Federal Campaign efforts. The region's contributions totaled more than $3 million.
"I am happy to play a small role in supporting the annual federal campaign," Estell said. "I just didn't expect to go bald during the coldest week of our winter."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.