Subscribe
Marine, sailors, and family members participated in
the Navy and Marine Corps Active Duty Fund Drive
5K Run aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island,
Feb. 25.
The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society sponsored
and coordinated the event to raise money to provide
financial aid to service members and their families.
The run was the first event held by NMCRS to kickoff
their fund raising efforts during the month of March.
The fund drive is a Navy and Marine Corps wide effort
and every Marine and sailor is encourage to participate.
Each installation has a monetary goal to reach
during the drive. The goal for MCRD Parris Island is
$120,000 and for MCAS Beaufort is $40,000.
“The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society is a non-profit
organization aimed to help active duty and retired
sailors, Marines, and dependents,” said Amanda Grill
the director of NMCRS Parris Island. “We help out
Marines and sailors by giving interest free loans or
provide financial counselors to help them. We can help
them acquire airline tickets if they need to see a relative
in an emergency situation.”
The NMCRS was founded in January 1904. The initial
funding for the organization came from the proceeds
from the Army-Navy Football Game. In its first
year of existence the NMCRS gave $9,500 to widows
and families of enlisted men. During World War I the
organization branched out and started an interest-free
loan program for Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
The organization expanded its financial assistance programs several times. In 1964 the organization
began an education assistance program. In the early
1980’s the financial assistance and counseling program
was established to help service members manage their
money.
The 3.1-mile run was conducted to inform the public
about the commencement of the fund drive. The run
began at the All-Weather Facility aboard the depot and
ended at the same location.
“The registration to run was free and the first 200
racers who registered got free t-shirts,” said Grill. “The
run was just a good way to get notoriety for the fund
drive. There were prizes for overall males, overall females,
19 and under, 40 and over, stroller runners, and
formations runners.”
The runners were mainly active duty and retired
Marines, sailors, and family members. Also participating
was, Sgt. Maj. Rafael Rodriguez, the sergeant
major of MCRD Parris Island, and Navy Capt. Jeffrey
N. Korsnes, the commanding officer of Naval Hospital
Beaufort.
“It is my pleasure to participate in the Active Duty
Fund Drive and today’s run,” said Rodriguez. “This organization
is approved by the Commandant of the Marine
Corps and the Secretary of the Navy all the way
up the chain of command. This organization gives out
more funds than it takes in. Last year NMCRS gave out
90 times what it took in just to help sailors and Marines
everywhere. This drive is run by Marines and sailors to
help Marines and sailors, which is what being a Marine
is all about. We help out one another.”
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2017 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 225634 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NMCRS kicks off fund drive with fun run, by SSgt Benjamin McDonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT