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Balboa Naval Medical Center – San Diego Armed Services YMCA
The San Diego Armed Services YMCA serves our wounded, injured and ill military at Balboa Hospital and provides many of the wounded participants in our Holes for Heroes events. They distribute 'Back Packs' provided by Operation Caregiver to newly injured Heroes med-evaced from Iraq and Afghanistan and as well as caring for the "most serious" of the wounded on floor'C-5'. In the words of a wounded military player, "We know the community supports us, but we don't often get the opportunity to participate…. (Holes for Heroes) it's awesome!" www.militaryymca.org
Operation CareGiver
Started in 2004 by "Doc" LaMar, MD (a former USN Corpsman) is a grass roots 'all volunteer, no overhead' charity whose missions are to supply 'creature comfort' and basic hygiene relief items to our troops at the "tip-of-the-spear" deployed in harms way to the remotest locations in the Global War on Terror with Caregiver Kits™ (15 items of basic hygiene and comfort). These warriors live in the most primitive conditions - foxholes, tents, Humvees or some unoccupied local structures without heating or air conditioning with temperatures ranging from sub-0° in the winter to 128° Fahrenheit in the summer. There are no fixed base facilities (no PX, no chow halls, no running water (no showers or sinks or flush toilets), no electricity). They may go months without a shower, a hot meal and they may run out of the simple basics of hygiene before re-supply is possible. OC provides to U.S. troops. Kits are mailed to a command level Sergeants Major who distributes the supplies to the troops who need them most.
In addition to their 'Caregiver Kits', 'OC' provides 'Back Packs' to newly injured Heroes med-evaced from Iraq and Afghanistan filled with 'heart medicine' of needed and much appreciated personal necessities and entertainment items to help increase their comfort and reduce their pain during their recovery. Each pack is custom built to the needs, clothing sizes and limitations of the injuries. Those with use of both arms and hands receive among many other appreciated items a 'Nintendo DS' and books. Those without an arm or with missing hand(s) receive appropriate clothing, a special electric shaver, CD player and music. The words of the wife of a Hero wounded by an IED in Iraq who received a 'back pack' provided by Holes for Heroes: "I just wanted to let you know how much it means to him to receive support such as this from all over the US. He arrived at Walter Reed, as he says, in his birthday suit. He literally had a hospital gown on, a bag with his ACU pants that had been cut from him, his boots, and one sock. Everything else was gone…receiving your 'back pack' helped him feel as if he actually had something he could call his own…. some items to clean up with and something to wear. The Game Boy and games were definitely a big hit, as well as the phone…we count our blessings daily. Thanks for all you are doing to help our wounded warriors through their recovery. It is a long road, and acts of generosity such as yours, make it much more bearable. My husband… and the rest of my family extend a big thanks to you all." OC is run through the San Diego Nice Guys' Victory Fund. www.sdniceguys.org (an IRS tax exempt 501-(c)-3 public charity). 100% of the funds donated go to these two projects. www.operationcaregiver.org
Service for Humanity Foundation – AKA "Chappy's Service for Humanity"
Founder, Chaplain Ron Ringo, Jr., PhD, LCDR, CHC, USN, has witnessed PTSD 'up close and personal' through his Marine son. The Foundation is dedicated to serving Military Members, their Families and Veterans of Wars past and present, by funding Supplemental Education and Non-Medical Treatment Options not offered by traditional providers for "Life Trauma" and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ('PTSD') concerns. Research shows about 1/3 of the 1.8 million returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered or suffer from PTSD. Numbers will only increase. The Foundation's goal is to energize those who have given so much of themselves with hope and healing. www.serviceforhumanityfoundation.org a Non-Profit 501(c) (3).
Guide On
Founded by James Clark, a former USA Blackhawk helicopter pilot, to help 'be a father and mentor' to the two small sons of his best friend, fellow pilot and neighbor who was killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq. Guide On is a 100% all-volunteer organization that supports the families and children of Fallen American Military Heroes killed in Afghanistan and Iraq by providing support, leadership training and fun outdoor experiences: fishing, hiking, camping, river rafting, repelling, zip-lining etc to some of the 2,000 children who have been affected by the loss of a parent and adult role model. Funds help "Heal Little Heroes' Hearts" by providing professional leadership, skills training, nurturing and emotional support through outdoor fun experiences at Camp Guide On in Missoula Montana to these children and their peers who have shared similar losses just as their dads would have done. Programs are also in place to help counsel these kids and family members who experience their own PTSD trauma. Guide On was designated as San Diego's Military Support Charity of the Year for 2009 by the San Diego Military Advisory Council. Mr. Clark's words of thanks say it all, "You guys help more than you will ever know! The time and effort you put in is realized everyday by Military families across the US. Thanks for helping our little heroes!"
Holes for Heroes is also helping Guide On to establish a continuing funding source with the '100/100' Brigade (monthly donations of $100 / month from 100 – 500 businesses or individuals. Guide On is a Non-Profit 501(c)3. www.guideon.org
Operation 'BIGS'
Operation 'BIGS' was
launched in 2004 by the Big Brothers and Sisters Organization of San Diego and is the first program of its kind in the nation. Operation Bigs, is specifically designed around the unique needs of military dependant children including those whose parent is deployed, been killed or who are having trouble just dealing with the stress of military life by providing "Bigs" who are in the military, retired or civilian as mentors to these children of military families. Volunteers meet with children at their schools or a neighborhood community center and provide quality one-to-one friendship time that is so important to a military child. Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.www.sdbigs.org
Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA
The Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA is a civilian non-profit organization located on USMC base. Their mission is to enhance the lives of military personnel and their family members in Spirit, Mind, and Body. In cooperation with the Base Commands, the Armed Services YMCA offers programs and services which strengthen families and encourage individuals to achieve their fullest potential. The ASYMCA here particularly focuses on meeting the needs of families of enlisted ranks many of whom have spouses who are deployed and live close to the poverty line. These families live under serve stress with constant in-country rotations, deployments and separations. Combat Units at Camp Pendleton have suffered and will continue to suffer some of the highest combat losses adding additional fear and stress to their families. www.camppendletonasymca.org a Non-Profit 501 (c) (3).
Homefront San Diego
Partnered with the San Diego Navy League, Homefront San Diego's main goal is to assist military families of deployed servicemen and service women in their time of need. More than 8,500 families have been assisted in just the last 3 years with food, car repairs, computers, phone cards, gas, baby food, clothing and supplies and other emergency needs. HFSD is a Non-Profit, 100% all-volunteer organization with no overhead or payroll. 100% of every dollar goes directly to benefiting our military families here in our region. www.homefrontsandiego.org
Veterans Village of San Diego
VVSD, founded in 1981 by 5 Vietnam Veterans dealing with their own addictions from the Vietnam War, is based on the military code: "Leave No One In The Field" and dedicated to assisting needy and homeless veterans of all wars (and their families) by providing housing, substance abuse recovery, mental health counseling, food, clothing, job training and placement. There are 2,000 homeless veterans on San Diego streets each night representing 40% of all of San Diego's homeless; 67% are substance abusers with treatable mental illness. VVSD is nationally recognized for its programs and unparalleled successes Through "Veterans Village" residential treatment facility at 4141 PCH and "Stand Down" held annually at Balboa Stadium downtown served some 700 homeless Veterans in 2006. More than 80% of VVSD residential treatment graduates are still clean and sober with life sustaining incomes. VVSD is a Non-Profit, 501 (c) (3) Organization. www.vvsd.net
San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Foundation
The San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club and Foundation was chartered in 1990 and is an 'ALL-Volunteer' service organization of business and professional leaders united to conduct and fund humanitarian projects on a local, regional, national and international basis based on Rotary's commitment of "Service Above Self". We elected to assist the above organizations this year because of the long historical impact the military has in the region and for the current need to support our Wounded Heroes of the Iraq / Afghanistan wars, the families and children of deployed troops and KIA's and Veterans from all wars who are in pain. It provides a special opportunity for the community at large to 'say Thank You'! to our military Heroes 'up close and personal'. Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds will help fund our Rotary Club Foundation's humanitarian projects locally, regionally and internationally. The San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization, EIN 33-0596091. www.sdrotary.org
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