Baby Wipes & Cotton Socks!
Record setting shipment sent to Marines in Afghanistan.
Congratulations to the Desert Cities 1st Marine Division Association for their record setting shipment of 2480 pairs of cotton socks and over 100,000 baby wipes to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines currently deployed to Afghanistan.
AFAF provided financial support for the effort and was proud to join in this partnership with KPSP Channel 2 News Anchor Brook Beare, Denise Goolsby of the Desert Sun, The Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary Clubs.
The 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines made headlines in the Irag War when they pulled down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Bagdad.
Many thanks to Desert Cities 1st Marine Division Association for being there for our troops.
Camp Pendleton YMCA AFAF Grant
Operation Hero Program Helps at Risk Military Children
Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA has received a $10,000 AFAF grant to fund Operation Hero, a program that helps military children cope with the rigors of a military lifestyle that includes continuous relocations and separation from deployed parents.
Operation Hero provides assistance to elementary age children who are exhibiting academic, emotional, or social problems in the classroom or at home. The program provides mentoring, tutoring, and skills in developing interpersonal relationships. Students are encouraged to learn the core values of respect, responsibility, caring and honesty.
George Brown, Executive Director of Armed Services YMCA, announced the grant would be used to pay for teacher wages, class room materials, and snacks for the 10 week course.
SMP Helps at Home & Combat Zones
Key Partnership with AFAF Vital to Programs
The Single Marine Program (SMP) contributes to the improvement of total force readiness, job performance, and the quality of life of all single Marines and geographical bachelors. They coordinate events on and off the base to provide safe and healthy recreational activity.
At the core of activities is The Zone, a non alcoholic social club that provides a variety of arcade and video games, pool, and a 40 person movie center for Marines and Sailors stationed at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms. The Zone also provides free shuttle service around the base.
Laura Cowan, Manager of SMP, commented that the financial support of AFAF enables her group to mail care packages each month to service members deployed overseas and provide numerous social events for those Marines stationed at the base.
Marine Gym Rats Commit
Gym Rats Commit to 100 Day Workout Program
The Twentynine Palms Marine Air Ground Combat Center has launched a Marine Gym Rat Program designed to assist Marines in achieving superior physical fitness. The 100 day workout stresses diet and exercise, and those Marines who successfully complete the program will be recognized at the end of their participation.
Program Director Laura Cowan commented the program has already resulted in a dramatic increase in the use of gym facilities.
AFAF is proud to be a sponsor of this outstanding program.
Youth Sports a Winning Program
Over 2000 children & youth currently participate in the MAGCC Program
Over 2000 children and youth currently participate in the Marine Air Ground Combat Center Youth Sports Program, nearly double the number since AFAF began sponsoring the program in 2005.
More than 20 diverse sports programs are offered to children ages 3 to18, including soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and dance cheerleading. The AFAF grant enables children to register at one half the normal cost, providing an average savings of $200 to each military family. AFAF sponsorships are also used to purchase authentic professional team uniforms and trophies for all participants.
A big part of the program is recognition of Deployed Coaches who receive an “Honorary Youth Sports Coach” coffee mug, picture of the team and team t-shirt. In addition, AFAF provides financial support for “The Remembrance Run” with the first 200 participants receiving an event t-shirt.
AFAF applauds Marne Corps Community Services and Youth & Community Recreation Manager Joe Rosselli for making the MAGCC Youth Sports the #1 program of its kind at Marine bases throughout the country.
Military Youth Autism Care Challenges
AFAF has dedicated a $5,000 grant to ACT Today
AFAF has dedicated a $5,000 a grant to ACT Today to assist with the challenges military families face when a child is diagnosed with autism.
Recent studies show that 1 in 88 children of military parents are diagnosed on the autism spectrum. With proper treatment, children can make significant improvement. However, only 7 % of military children with autism are receiving Applied Behavior Analysis, the preferred and most effective form of treatment. The treatments are many times prohibitive to military families due to a low level of cost reimbursement under military health care plans.
Progress is being made to modify military health care plans as it relates to providing ABA. In the meantime, many military families need financial assistance to afford the desired treatments for their children.
AFAF is proud to be a partner of ACT Today in its quest to help military families provide the best care available for autism treatment.
$10,000 Scholarship Grant from AFAF
Scholarship Grant for Marine Family Members
American Friends of our Armed Forces is continuing its commitment to provide scholarships to Marine family members with a $10,000 grant to the Officers Spouses Club (OSC) at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. AFAF made a similar grant for scholarships to Marine families located at Camp Pendleton.
OSC supports social, education, community and welfare projects at the base and in the surrounding community. AFAF scholarships range from $500 to $2500 and are used exclusively to provide educational support for families of active duty military.
During the past year, OSC awarded 7 AFAF scholarships with an average value of $2250. Recipients are currently attending University of San Diego, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Phoenix, Ashford University and Copper Mountain Community College.
Congratulations to all the scholarship winners and to OSC for the outstanding programs they provide to military families.
AFAF Gets Behind Baby Care Program
Military Outreach Ministry, a Camp Pendleton organization, has a mission to improve the quality of life for military families.
MOM, which served over 50,000 Marine families in 2010, is a major vehicle for military family support at the large marine base.
American Friends of our Armed Forces has teamed up with MOM to provide Baby Care Packages having a value of $150 each to first-time expectant moms. Packages are shipped all over the country since some expectant moms stay at home with family while their spouse is deployed. On average, 30,000 active duty Marines and their dependents will receive a baby care package.
AFAF’s donation of $5,000 was used to provide the shipping containers for the second half of 2011. Military Outreach Ministry does many great things for Camp Pendleton Marines and AFAF is proud to support the efforts of such a fine organization.
