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    NMCSD Supporting NMCRS Fund Drive Campaign

    SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

    03.01.2011

    Courtesy Story

    Naval Medical Center San Diego

    By Seaman Joseph A. Boomhower

    SAN DIEGO -- Funds will be used to support services that provide interest free loans, quick assist loans, direct grants, education loans, budget for baby classes and budget counseling. This year’s goal is to exceed 2010’s $1.64 million total.

    “In 2010, one in six active duty Sailors and Marines were provided financial assistance by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society,” said Rear Adm. C. Forrest Faison III, commander, NMCSD and chairman for 2011’s NMCRS fund drive. “The need continues to grow in this challenging economy.”

    Founded in 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is a private non-profit charitable organization. NMCRS operates more than 250 offices ashore and afloat with 3,500 volunteers who assist active duty members and their families during times of need.

    This non-profit organization exists to help pay for food, rent, utilities, vehicle repairs, emergency transportation, disaster relief and other family emergencies.

    According to NMCRS, in 2010, a total of $49.9 million in financial assistance was provided to 99,854 cases Navy and Marine Corps-wide. San Diego NMCRS provided $7.4 million in assistance of 14,148 cases. This was a 9.2 percent increase in cases and a 5.3 percent increase in financial assistance compared to 2009, which was the highest number of cases and greatest amount of financial assistance since 1993.

    “When you look at the numbers they have been increasing for the last five years,” said Cmdr. Ronald Burbank, NMCSD campaign executive coordinator for the fundraiser. “I expect that trend to continue.”

    As the campaign’s executive coordinator, Burbank oversees the San Diego region fund drive and coordinates meetings and fundraising events with the San Diego region coordinators.

    “We’d like to raise in the region $1.7 million,” said Burbank. “Right now we are facing challenging times with the war and the recession.”

    In 2010, $220,000 in financial assistance helped more than 585 service members in combat casualty assistance; 51,309 service members received $15.1 million in quick assist loans; 771 widows received $1.3 million in financial assistance and 252 education scholarships and loans totaling $500,000 were awarded to Sailors, Marines and their family members.

    Additional services provided by the NMCRS are the Visiting Nurse Program which provides free hospital and home visits by Registered Nurses. As well as the Combat Casualty Assistance Visiting Nurses who provide families with resource information and emotional support to combat wounded service members and their families.

    Success of the Fund Drive Campaign is directly related to face-to-face contact with Marines and sailors to raise awareness of the fund drive. Every sailor and Marine can benefit from the programs and assistance the NMCRS provides.

    “Frequently communicating the importance of the support provided by the NMCRS to our personnel is imperative to the success of the 2011 drive,” said Faison. “It is my privilege to serve as the Chairman for the 2011 San Diego [NMCRS] Active Duty Fund Drive Campaign and to lead the fundraising efforts to support our sailors, Marines and their families.”

    NMCRS’s programs are totally funded by charitable contributions. The work of the NMCRS is supported by the Secretary of the Navy's annual fund drive conducted by the Navy and Marine Corps, and by a direct mail campaign of the Navy and Marine Corps retired community.

    All contributions are on a volunteer basis and are tax deductible. Contributions may be made by cash, check or allotment for active duty personnel.

    “Generosity to this program translates to direct financial assistance to your shipmates, Marines and Families without any of your money going to overhead costs,” said Burbank.

    For more information visit: www.nmcrs.org

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.01.2011
    Date Posted: 03.21.2011 15:51
    Story ID: 67490
    Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US

    Web Views: 42
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN