OLYMPIA, Wash. – Hundreds, if not thousands, of state employees are being invited to march on the State Capitol in Olympia on September 15, but it's not an angry event, and it's not a protest march. It's this year's way of boosting participation in the Combined Fund Drive, the special charitable fundraising effort inside state government.

The idea was generated by the Health and Recovery Services Administration inside DSHS, but it grew in August to include endorsements by several agencies, including DSHS, and the Thurston County Combined Fund Drive leadership. "The charities continuously pour their hearts into our communities," said HRSA Campaign Leader Beverly Smith. "We're excited that so many people want to join us and show charities that we support and appreciate what they do."

The plan is for state employees – who are being urged to wear red that day – to march to Capitol Campus during their lunch hour at mid-day on September 15. On the steps of the Legislative Building, the red-shirted crowd will be organized into a heart shape – symbolizing the "Share to Care" theme of the event. DSHS Chief of Staff Tracy Guerin and Washington State CFD representatives will welcome the employees to the steps.

A special charity fair, where people can talk one-on-one with participating charities, is also planned on campus that day.

"I think that state employees are very affected by the current economic crisis, and especially at DSHS – where our clients must sometimes bear the brunt of unavoidable service cuts or limitations," said Doug Porter, assistant DSHS secretary for the Health and Recovery Services Administration. "This was perhaps the most difficult budget year in the history of the state – and we're not through it yet, so the Combined Fund Drive is more important than ever before."

The administration is headquartered in Cherry Street Plaza in downtown Olympia. Among other activities, volunteers will help staff sign up for charitable payroll deductions and pledges. For more information about the march and related activities, please visit the Combined Fund Drive Web site.

DSHS does not discriminate, and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.