USA Cares has its own CFC number. 12359
Why is that important? For the past nearly five years, we have not solicited or allowed our clients to either pay us back, or send us donations specifically tied to a grant we provided them. So we have turned away 7,000 possible donors.
For a non-profit, that might not be smart, but that is how we are doing it. Now, through CFC, we are in the position to allow all federal employees who want to help those who serve assist each other.
Why select us for your CFC contribution? I think there are several reasons.
One. We don’t loan money. AER, Navy Relief and other similar protected agencies, loan money, true, it is without interest, but a loan is a loan, and in this case, the first one that gets repaid. A recent article in a national magazine stated that over 90% of all AER assistance was with loans. We don’t loan money. Nor do we submit our clients to detailing their entire life history.
Two. We are responsive. There are lots of organizations that say much of the same things that we say we do, but the truth of the matter is, their response time is measured in weeks and months. If we have all the requested information, and we can get a hold of the client, we can open and work the case in hours. We do that almost routinely with families who have no food.
Three. We are responsible. It is one thing to say that we have helped 7,000 families. But that is not what we say. We say that 7,000 have come to us for assistance, but many are outside our mission statement, or Veterans from an earlier time and we just can’t help 20 million families, or we are approached for assistance with almost bogus requests, that are easily uncovered as almost fraudulent.
We are receiving over 100 new clients a week. We have nine people who work these cases along with another ten volunteers. They are overwhelmed. I am at a loss to hear other organizations say that they are working thousands of cases with only three people. (Some hired out of a temp agency) How is that possible? Maybe it isn't.
Four. We are accountable. We have been audited twice; we share our reconciled bank statements as a fact. Not a secret. We have a board of directors who care about how we are doing, and take an active interest in the direction and efforts that the staff makes everyday. When asked how much of a donation really goes to the family, our answer is (from our audit) 93% does, we will match that with anyone. Our ultimate goal is 100% once we find that national organization that wants to underwrite our operations end so that all donations go toward the mission of caring for our families.
That is why 12359 is the right number to chose on your CFC contribution form. Why: Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBtuX1xtCZE
Or you could give it to an organization that provides entertainers a free ride to Iraq to entertain the troops and be paid for it. Yes, Martha, all expenses are paid, and the entertainer reserves all the video rights for later self-promotion.
Your call.
Roger
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Doing What is Right with Wounded Warriors
Recently National Public Radio ran a two part story about one of the families that we had found us and that we instantly became motivated to try to make a difference with. How this all turns out in the end, we still don't know, but I do know this. We can't allow those who are in positions of responsibility and authority to hand out entitlements like some kind of gift that is won.
These young men and women who are injured serving our country haven't "won" anything. They earned it, as sure as earning their paycheck. Why some bureaucrats feel like they should push back every opportunity to help a wounded warrior is beyond me.
Then there is the situation of the Veterans Administration. Several things have been chewing at me here recently, and one of them is the fact that they acknowledge (In a report to the President of all things) that if a Veteran appeals his or her rating, the wait time can be as long as 635 days. How can that be okay with anyone? How can we tolerate that, why should a Veteran tolerate that?
Then there is the method that the VA begins compensation payment to the newly wounded Veteran and his family. After the Veterans is medically retired, they receive half of their base pay at time of separation. Even if the VA knows the rating that they have “awarded” (there is that word again) they do not begin payment until they have in effect, skipped a month. Why do they get to skip a month?
The Veteran didn’t skip a month. Countrywide or Wells Fargo, don’t skip a month, eating didn’t skip a month, nor did the utility company. I don’t think they should get a free pass, unless some mandates that everybody else has to take a pass too.
It wasn’t comfortable taking on my friends in Colorado, but this was a fight that had to be done. We made every effort to make the system work. It didn’t.
If you are a recently retired wounded veteran, how long did it take from the date of your retirement to the time of your first VA check? They are telling us that it is 60-90 days. I don’t think that is right. Not according to the families we have asked.
Send any comments to me at rstradley@usacares.us
Roger
Links to NPR stories: NPR : < http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14350593> Wounded Soldier's Family Feels Forgotten by Army - BERKES: Thirty-seven year old Reece Hinkle quit her job as a corporate ... Ms. REECE HINKLE: If the right thing needed to be done, he wanted to be right in ... NPR < http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14360278&ft=1&f=1012> : Wounded Soldier's Care Tangled in Military System Reece Hinkle on Receiving Her Husband's Photo . Ron Hinkle's military awards and medals . Enlarge. Marisa Penaloza, NPR. Among the medals in the Hinkles' ...
These young men and women who are injured serving our country haven't "won" anything. They earned it, as sure as earning their paycheck. Why some bureaucrats feel like they should push back every opportunity to help a wounded warrior is beyond me.
Then there is the situation of the Veterans Administration. Several things have been chewing at me here recently, and one of them is the fact that they acknowledge (In a report to the President of all things) that if a Veteran appeals his or her rating, the wait time can be as long as 635 days. How can that be okay with anyone? How can we tolerate that, why should a Veteran tolerate that?
Then there is the method that the VA begins compensation payment to the newly wounded Veteran and his family. After the Veterans is medically retired, they receive half of their base pay at time of separation. Even if the VA knows the rating that they have “awarded” (there is that word again) they do not begin payment until they have in effect, skipped a month. Why do they get to skip a month?
The Veteran didn’t skip a month. Countrywide or Wells Fargo, don’t skip a month, eating didn’t skip a month, nor did the utility company. I don’t think they should get a free pass, unless some mandates that everybody else has to take a pass too.
It wasn’t comfortable taking on my friends in Colorado, but this was a fight that had to be done. We made every effort to make the system work. It didn’t.
If you are a recently retired wounded veteran, how long did it take from the date of your retirement to the time of your first VA check? They are telling us that it is 60-90 days. I don’t think that is right. Not according to the families we have asked.
Send any comments to me at rstradley@usacares.us
Roger
Links to NPR stories: NPR : < http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14350593> Wounded Soldier's Family Feels Forgotten by Army - BERKES: Thirty-seven year old Reece Hinkle quit her job as a corporate ... Ms. REECE HINKLE: If the right thing needed to be done, he wanted to be right in ... NPR < http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14360278&ft=1&f=1012> : Wounded Soldier's Care Tangled in Military System Reece Hinkle on Receiving Her Husband's Photo . Ron Hinkle's military awards and medals . Enlarge. Marisa Penaloza, NPR. Among the medals in the Hinkles' ...
Friday, March 02, 2007
I Care Too!
USA CARES’ GOAL:
Get a representative T-shirt for every service member 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.
THE BENEFIT:
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!
PUBLIC AWARENESS –Help USA Cares and this campaign 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 underwrite all operational expenses. That means 100 percent of all donated funds will go straight to military families.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO:
●Purchase the “I Care Too!”T-shirt or polo shirt via the order form at www.icaretoo.us.
●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.
●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.
●USA Cares will post your photo on the “I Care Too!”website (www.icaretoo.us)
along with all the other participants.
●Tell a friend about “I Care Too!”and encourage them to participate!
Help USA Cares support our troops and their families by showing America that
“I CARE TOO!”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Numbers Update!
Over 4,910 military families helped
Porvided over $2.541,570 million in grant support
Over 148 military homes saved from foreclosure
Assisted families in 50 states and 7 overseas locations
Porvided over $2.541,570 million in grant support
Over 148 military homes saved from foreclosure
Assisted families in 50 states and 7 overseas locations
There's No Place Like Home
Army
Reservist
Divorced
1 child
Per a suggestion from his Unit Support Program, the Soldier contacted USA Cares to request
help. He was on the way home from AT Training and his primary vehicle broke down. As it
turns out, the vehicle is worth less than the repair. The Soldier just needed help to get home.
The USA Cares’ computers were down so finding resources had to come from phone logs
and cooperation with the American Legion and local agencies.
The Soldier was two hours from his home with no money in his pocket and walking in snow
and very bad weather. The Chaplain’s office on the nearest military post could not help him
because he is a Reservist. The Soldier had no idea who to contact and how to get home. He
did not know where the bus station was or how to get there, since no one at the Chaplains’
office would transport him.
The USA Cares Resource Coordinator had to get the USA Cares’ Executive Director to
intervene to get the Chaplains’ office to take him to the Mess Hall to use the meal card he
was still authorized to use. The Resource Coordinator working the case asked the
Chaplain’s assistant to provide a number for a cab company that could come on post.
The Resource Coordinator requested donated travel to get the stranded Soldier to the bus
station 30 minutes from the post. The dispatcher called the owner and called USA Cares
back in less than 10 minutes. Owner of the Cab company agreed to get the Soldier where he
needed to go. (Value of donated transportation $55.00)
The Resource Coordinator contacted the State American Legion Representative and they
offered 3 local post contacts to get someone to help get a bus ticket. The ticket cost $27.50.
The Resource Coordinator was able to get with the Legion contact and confirmed at 6pm that
same evening, that the cab driver picked up the Soldier at the Post and took him first to the
American Legion. The American Legion gave him $50.00 for ticket and food. The cab driver
was then going to take Soldier to the bus station to wait for his bus.
Total Support to this Soldier was $50.00 from the Legion and $75.00 total value of the
transportation (additional travel from Post to Legion).
Total Support $125.00 donated
Reservist
Divorced
1 child
Per a suggestion from his Unit Support Program, the Soldier contacted USA Cares to request
help. He was on the way home from AT Training and his primary vehicle broke down. As it
turns out, the vehicle is worth less than the repair. The Soldier just needed help to get home.
The USA Cares’ computers were down so finding resources had to come from phone logs
and cooperation with the American Legion and local agencies.
The Soldier was two hours from his home with no money in his pocket and walking in snow
and very bad weather. The Chaplain’s office on the nearest military post could not help him
because he is a Reservist. The Soldier had no idea who to contact and how to get home. He
did not know where the bus station was or how to get there, since no one at the Chaplains’
office would transport him.
The USA Cares Resource Coordinator had to get the USA Cares’ Executive Director to
intervene to get the Chaplains’ office to take him to the Mess Hall to use the meal card he
was still authorized to use. The Resource Coordinator working the case asked the
Chaplain’s assistant to provide a number for a cab company that could come on post.
The Resource Coordinator requested donated travel to get the stranded Soldier to the bus
station 30 minutes from the post. The dispatcher called the owner and called USA Cares
back in less than 10 minutes. Owner of the Cab company agreed to get the Soldier where he
needed to go. (Value of donated transportation $55.00)
The Resource Coordinator contacted the State American Legion Representative and they
offered 3 local post contacts to get someone to help get a bus ticket. The ticket cost $27.50.
The Resource Coordinator was able to get with the Legion contact and confirmed at 6pm that
same evening, that the cab driver picked up the Soldier at the Post and took him first to the
American Legion. The American Legion gave him $50.00 for ticket and food. The cab driver
was then going to take Soldier to the bus station to wait for his bus.
Total Support to this Soldier was $50.00 from the Legion and $75.00 total value of the
transportation (additional travel from Post to Legion).
Total Support $125.00 donated
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