I Care Too!

What is the purpose I Care Too?

Get a representative T-shirt for every servicemember in Iraq and Afghanistan (that is 165,000 Americans and T-shirts!) to show our troops just how much we do care and support them.


Benefits:
Outreach

USA Cares wants to be a well-known name in every community. This program will help us seek out military families who are unaware of USA Cares’ existence and don’t know of our ability to provide assistance. We want to be their first and only call!

Promote Awareness
Help USA Cares become well-known to non-military families too, by spreading the word about I Care Too!. What a perfect way for Americans to show their support for our troops!

Strengthen USA Cares
It is USA Cares' hope that the I Care Too! campaign will raise enough money for our non-profit to strengthen all operational expenses. That means 100% of all donated funds will go straight to military families for years to come.

All You Have To Do:
1. Purchase the I Care Too! T-shirt or Polo shirt.
2. Put the shirt on, go to the nearest city sign or well-known landmark in your local community and take a picture with the sign or landmark in the background.
3. Email the photo to icaretoo@usacares.us. Be sure to identify the landmark, your city and state. We will not publish your email address or name.
4. USA Cares will post your photo on the I Care Too! website along with all other participants.
5. Tell your friends and family about I Care Too! and encourage them to participate. Encourage your company or organization to participate as a corporate member!

Our website: www.icaretoo.us

Pioneer Services and USA Cares Join Forces to Help Military Families in Need

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneer Services has recently teamed up with USA Cares, a non-profit organization that helps military families with emergency expenses, to provide referrals to those military families that qualify for their assistance. The relationship began last year with a $20,000 donation from Pioneer Services to USA Cares to assist military families affected by Hurricane Katrina. This donation sparked discussions and ultimately an understanding of how the two organizations could work together.

"By teaming up with USA Cares, we can make an enormous impact in the military community," said Karen Von Der Bruegge, chief marketing officer for Pioneer Services. "If we're not able to help them with one of our products or services, we can refer them to USA Cares so they can get the help they need."

"USA Cares does not have offices, chapters or posts across America, and so when Pioneer Services stepped forward with not only financial support, but organizational support, it clearly sets the stage to move to the next level of effort and opportunity to assist military families from our organization," said Roger Stradley, a founder and currently the Operations Officer of USA Cares.

The mission of USA Cares is to help service members and their families around the globe by helping with emergency expenses. Since its founding in 2003, the organization has assisted more than 2,010 families and resourced more than $1.2 million in grants for emergency needs like clothing, travel, food, auto repair, and other expenses. Service members and their families can make a request for funds through the organization's Web site, http://www.usacares.us . USA Cares is also a member of the Department of Defense "America Supports You" program.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to improve the quality of life for military families," said Von Der Bruegge. "We're proud to be associated with a group like USA Cares, and are looking forward to helping them in their efforts."

Working with USA Cares is another way Pioneer Services Representatives enhance their quality-of-life and financial independence for military families. With more than 70 years in the financial industry, they provide the responsible alternative for financial services and education that our service members deserve. Through a network of offices and on the Internet, Pioneer Services Representatives offer financial education programs, loans, and insurance products, and support military families and communities through a variety of partnerships, programs, and sponsorships.

For more information visit http://www.pioneerservices.com .

U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (KY-02) Introduces Military Pay Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (KY-02) recently introduced HR 4730, legislation to provide relief for soldiers who find themselves in a 'no pay due' situation as a result of overpayment. Current law requires the phased recovery of overpayments of pay and allowances made to members of the U.S. military, causing some soldiers to receive zero-sum paychecks, with little or no notice, as a result of inadvertent pay system errors.

"I understand that larger, systemic problems exist within the military's personnel and payment systems and that these problems are the root of many such situations," said Lewis. "But we cannot stand by while soldiers endure this hardship, bearing the consequences of errors resulting from circumstances beyond their control. This is unacceptable considering their courageous service, especially in a time of war."

H.R. 4730 would amend current law to allow that no more than 20% of a service member's paycheck can be taken at one time to recover overpayment, and would add an additional 90 day grace period before paychecks for wounded soldiers would be affected.

Lewis first became aware of the 'no pay due' problem as a result of several cases in his district which includes Fort Knox. USA Cares, a non-profit organization that offers support to soldiers and their families, was providing assistance to several families who had experienced 'no pay due,' and brought their situations to the Congressman's attention. "The burden being placed on these families was in many cases overwhelming," said Lewis.

Lewis has engaged numerous government agencies, non profit organizations, military officials and soldiers themselves in an effort to understand the military debt problem. He discovered that zero-sum paychecks caused by no pay due are happening on a widespread scale, particularly where travel, assignment change, or geographical movement is involved. There is also a troubling prevalence of pay problems for wounded soldiers.

U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, which has jurisdiction over certain areas of military processing, has taken a particular interest in the 'no pay due' issue and is the first co-sponsor of Lewis' bill.

"My bill does not propose absolving debt," said Lewis. "A permanent solution is necessary, and I will continue to be involved in the broad efforts on these issues. In the meantime we can no longer ignore the damage this unfair practice is causing. This legislation will provide immediate relief for soldiers who do find themselves in a 'no pay due' and draw critical attention to this issue."