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WELCOME to Operation Connect
The Armed Forces Interest Group (AFIG) e-newsletter
Our goal is to connect your philanthropic passion to nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in the lives of our local military families and veterans. Join us by leveraging your donation with others from the region to help our nation's heroes.
"Our junior military families in financial crisis will benefit greatly from this generosity. Sincere thanks to AFIG and the RSF Foundation."
--Operation Homefront
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2011 Spring Grants Announced | |
$35,000 awarded
in support of local military programs
American Red Cross San Diego-- an around-the-clock, around-the-world emergency communication network is available to the men and women of all branches of our armed forces, including guards and reservists, veterans, and their families during times of personal emergencies. Service to Armed Forces (SAF) provides services and programs that offer resources for deployed service members and their families, conducts emergency communications and requests emergency leave on behalf of military families facing personal crises, and supports families coping witht the stress of deployment. www.sdarc.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego--Operation Bigs- Military children are some of those most in need of an adult friend/role model in their life who will spend one-to-one time each week, helping them through the difficult challenges/fears they face daily. Operation Bigs is a solution that works to help these kids grow/mature, become happier and more stable. www.sdbigs.org
Operation Homefront-- Provides critical emergency financial and other assistance to an increasing number of military families in genuine need. www.operationhomefront.net
National Veterans Transition Services-- REBOOT serves veterans making the significant transition from military-to-civilian life. They advocate, inform, and provide comprehensive transition services for veterans, with a focus on recently separated service members, veterans and service members within 12 months of anticipated separation. www.nvtsi.org
San Diego ASYMCA-- At the 5th Annual Christmas You Missed, on July 18, 2011, every sight, sound, scent, and feel of Christmas morning will be restaged for local military families who were apart due to a deployment or who were otherwise separated during the 2010 holiday.
www.militaryymca.org
Veterans Village of San Diego-- Stand Down provides a 3-day, all inclusive program of services for homeless veterans. Medical, dental, legal, substance abuse services, housing employment, and mental health services are provided to more than 1,000 homeless vets and their families. www.vvsd.net
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Hold At All Costs |
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HOLD AT ALL COSTS, a documentary made possible through the Bob Baker Family Foundation, combines actual footage of the Korean War Battle of Outpost Harry with on screen interviews by men who were there, an Army nurse, and interviews with Koreans, Chinese and Greeks, and creates a profound and vibrant re-enactment of one of the last battles of the war.
PBS will air the film nationally on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011. Check your local listings for time.
After seeing the film, one veteran wrote, "I had never told my wife or family about my Korean War experience. After viewing the film, I was up all night re-living the war with my wife for the first time. Thank you for showing this film which has now lifted a burden from my mind."
Hold At All Costs |
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Proud To Serve | |
Proud To Serve Winery was founded in March 2010 and released their first wines on November 15, 2010. Headquartered in Healdsburg, California, the company began virtual operations with an online store and a first-of-its-kind fundraising network - Proud To Serve Veterans. Wine enthusiast and local grower, Cheri Kratka, leads the company. "I have been involved in the wine industry over 15 years. When I retired, I wanted to use my IBM experience and love of wines to create a company that could give-back. I could share it with family and friends as well as those that are as enthusiastic as me about supporting Veterans. This is an incredible opportunity to say thank you to our Veterans by doing what I love".
All bottles have a collectible label with a military theme, including limited edition labels and wines. The original art is designed specifically for Proud To Serve Winery. A donation of $2 per bottle and $1 per merchandise item sold is donated to support Veterans.
AFIG recently received a check in the amount of $232 from Proud to Serve Winery.
Thank you for your support of our veterans!
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AFIG Honors
Neil Ash
The license plate says it all!
Neil Ash has committed his life to the service of his country, beginning in 1942. After enlisting, he went on to attend USNR Midshipman's School at Cornell University where at the age of 19 he was commissioned as an Ensign and assigned to USS APC-27, a 103 foot wooden cargo ship operating in the Solomon Islands and the Philippine Islands. At the end of WWII, Neil enrolled at the University of Southern California where he obtained his law degree. He was recalled to active duty, including tours to the Arctic and the Caribbean. He ended his military career as the Assistant Legal Officer at U.S. Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and moved on to corporate America.
Neil's license plate is testament to his devotion to the USO it says
USO4USA
As the President of the USO San Diego, he founded the San Diego USO Airport Center, which now bears his name. The Center currently serves more than 160,000 military personnel and their dependents every year.
On April 9, 2011, Neil was honored by the USO San Diego at their Stars and Stripes Ball in recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the USO.
AFIG salutes Neil as one of our heroes!
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Honor Our Heroes | |
When you become a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation's Armed Forces Interest Group (AFIG), your gift is pooled with other members' gifts to make impactful grants that directly support our local military families and veterans.
100%
of your donation goes to programs providing services to the junior enlisted, wounded and fallen warriors, and their families.
Joining is easy...
Click here for more information | |
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