August 14, 2014

In This Issue:

Gold Star Luminary Initiative

Wounded Warrior Regiment Change of Command

July 19 Pack Day

Get to Know the Team

Vote for Lisa Anderson

Volunteers Needed!

Philadelphia PVA 2014 Wheelchair Games

Overview of MarineParents.com

Our Outreach Programs

Stay Connected with our Experts

Greetings!

Thank you for joining us for this issue of Marine Parents News. If this is your first time receiving the newsletter, welcome aboard, we're excited for you to be here!

One of the focuses of our newest outreach program, Wounded, Ill, and Injured Warrior Support Team™, is raising awareness of and providing resources to veterans who are battling Post-traumatic Stress (PTS). Learn more in our first article. Also, check out the table of contents to the left for additional topics of interest covered in this issue.

Thank you for joining us and especially for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi, Marine Families!

Tracy Della Vecchia

Founder and Executive Director
MarineParents.com, Inc.

WII Warrior Support Team™ Focus: Learn About PTS

For active duty troops and veterans living with combat operational stress and/or post-traumatic stress, we can connect you with professional experts in the field, provide free reading materials, and facilitate the ability of veterans to connect with and help their fellow veterans.

Post-traumatic stress (PTS) is a NORMAL reaction to an abnormal situation.

Click here to learn more...

Gold Star Luminary Initiative

Learn How to Show Your Support

Sunday, September 28, 2014 is Gold Star Family Day, a day to honor the memory of our fallen heroes and the sacrifices they and their family members have made in service to our country.

Click here to learn more...

Photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia/Released

Wounded Warrior Regiment Change of Command

Lt. Col. Tomko Takes Charge

Hundreds gathered as Col. Willard A. Buhl relinquished his command of the Wounded Warrior Regiment to Lt. Col. T. Shane Tomko during a change of command ceremony Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.

Click here to learn more...

July 19 Pack Day

A New Journey Begins

Summer was halfway over, and that meant it was time for MarineParents.com's third Care Package Project™ pack day of 2014! On Saturday, July 19, volunteers from across the country showed their support for our troops by coming to our corporate office in Columbia, MO, to pack and ship care packages to Marines deployed to Afghanistan.

Click here to read more...

Get to Know the Team

TMP Featured Participants: Jack Morgan and Jeffrey Ferraro

This month's TMP featured participants are two friends running in the Marine Corps Marathon for the second year in a row- Jeffrey Ferraro and Jack Morgan.

Jeffrey is running in support of his son, a Marine Corporal. Jack doesn't have personal ties to the Marines but he wanted to run for TMP in support of his friend and as a way to thank the men and women protecting our freedom around the world for the sacrifices they make daily on our behalf.

To read more about Jeffrey Ferraro, or to contribute to his campaign, please click here...

To read more about Jack Morgan, or to contribute to his campaign, please click here...

Photo courtesy of Lisa Anderson

Vote for Lisa Anderson

Gold Star Mother Aims for Cover of Runner's World Magazine

ALisa Anderson is a Gold Star Mother and longtime Marine Parents supporter. Her son Nicholas, a LCpl., was KIA in Iraq in 2004, and Lisa took up running to help with the grieving process. In the decade since, Lisa has participated in many races, including marathons and triathlons, in memory of her son. Now, Lisa has been entered in a contest to be featured on the cover of Runner's World magazine.

Click here to read more...

Volunteers Needed!

Help Promote the CFC Campaign For Marine Parents!

This fall, regional Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) offices around the country will be holding drives asking and encouraging federal employees to donate to a CFC charity. Marine Parents needs volunteers to staff exhibit booths, provide information to, and encourage federal employees to donate to MarineParents.com, Inc. as their CFC charity of choice.

Click here to learn how you can help in your state.

Photo courtesy of www.va.gov

Philadelphia PVA 2014 Wheelchair Games

Get Involved Today

If there are any members of the Marine Parents family in the Philadelphia area who would be interested in volunteering, click here for event information.

Photo courtesy of Sgt. James Bane

Mourning Robin Williams

Marine Parents would like to join Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the Department of Defense in mourning the loss of actor, comedian, and longtime military supporter Robin Williams. Over the years, Williams not only performed for thousands of service members in war zones, he was also an advocate for all of those who served our country, taking a particular philanthropic interest in helping veterans struggling with the invisible wounds of war. His loyal support of our men and women in uniform will never be forgotten.

Overview of MarineParents.com

MarineParents.com, Inc. is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity founded on January 21, 2003 to provide support, information, and services to Marines and their family members, and to create opportunities for individuals to support our troops. In over 11 years of service, Marine Parents has made a huge impact in support of Marines, military personnel, and their family members.

Marine family members are encouraged to support one another through activities and networking provided by the organization and guided by trained volunteers. Outreach to injured troops is volunteer-centered with in-person contact. Additional troop-support centered programs are designed to actively engage individuals and communities across the United States while maintaining the privacy of military personnel. All services are offered free to family members, Marines and military personnel.

In 11 years of service, MarineParents.com has:

Invested over $2 million delivering direct support to Marines, their families and other military personnel.
Provided information and a Place to Connect & Share� to more than 250,000 family members through a network of communities and educational websites.
Processed over 1200 support requests each week from recruit and Marine family members.
Collected materials and shipped over 38,000 care packages to Marines and military personnel in combat zones.
Involved thousands of Americans in sending over 87,000 cards and letters to injured troops.
Served over 35,000 meals to injured troops and their families at military medical facilities on the east and west coasts.
Planned and carried out recreational events for hundreds of injured troops and their families.
Delivered materials and resources to aid in the recovery process to hundreds of family members of injured troops.
Provided support and networking to hundreds of Gold Star families.

Tracy Della Vecchia, Founder and Executive Director, leads the operations from the corporate office in Columbia, Missouri with staff, volunteers, and a volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to the moderated, OPSEC-compliant Marine Family Network (MFN), chat rooms and informative websites, several outreach programs to support Marines and families before, during and after the Marine Corps are provided by the organization. Funding for the programs is through donations, grants, fundraising and store sales. In 2009, the 15-item online store began expansion, eventually becoming the EGA Shop. In 2010, the production facility was established on-site to design and develop custom product, dramatically boosting sales and providing additional funding for the outreach programs. The organization is an official Marine Corps Trademark licensee.

Statistics updated August, 2014.