Annual Report 2010-2011 Serving Our Heroes One Family at a Time Sarah Keller-Likins Executive Director Military Friends Foundation May 24, 2011
Our Mission Serving Our Heroes One Family at a Time The Military Friends Foundation is a non-profit proudly serving Massachusetts National Guard, Reserve and Gold Star Families. We assist eligible Guard, Reserve and Gold Star Families in times of need. We offer various financial assistance programs to eligible families who have faced hardships related to activation under Title 10 since September 11, 2001. *Active service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the armed forces of the United States.
Our History The Military Friends Foundation (f/k/a Friends of the National Guard and Reserve Families, Inc.) was established in 2003 with the financial support of generous private donors who wished to recognize the unique service of Citizen Soldiers and Airmen. Created as an independent non-profit organization, the Military Friends Foundation was designed to assist eligible Massachusetts National Guard members. In 2004, all grant programs were extended to assist Reservists who reside in Massachusetts.
Chapter 130 of the Acts of 2005 Annual Report 2010-2011 Massachusetts Legislature Supports National Guard and Reserve Families In the 2005, the Legislature created the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund and designated the Military Friends Foundation to administer the Fund.
Military Family Relief Fund Annual Report 2010-2011 As part of this legislation, a voluntary tax check-off box on the Mass. State Tax Form (Question 32E) was created to allow taxpayers to directly support our military families. The Military Friends Foundation is proud to administer this Fund. Today, nearly 40 states offer Military Family Relief Fund programs to support National Guard and Reserve families and are continuing the pledge by the National Governor s Association to preserve this resource for Citizen Service Members.
Revenues from Question 32e Annual Report 2010-2011 $300,000.00 $250,000.00 $200,000.00 $150,000.00 $100,000.00 FY 2010 FY 2011 $50,000.00 $0.00
Where We Serve
Needs Based Grant (Pay differential-$1000yr) Based on a 15% decrease or greater between the service members civilian earnings (including monthly drill pay) and military pay (including BAH). This program is modeled after the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. Massachusetts National Guard members or Massachusetts residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components, who have been activated under Title 10 (or Title 32 for force protection missions only) for at least 45 consecutive days, may be eligible to apply for this needs-based grant. Active duty does not include ADT. Must be currently activated or activated within the past 12 months and in good standing or honorably discharged. $500 grants are available every six-months during an activation and for the year following an activation for those who have a financial need in the eligible categories.
Patriot Scholar The Foundation s Patriot Scholar program is for graduating Massachusetts high-school seniors and college freshmen with a parent/step-parent/ guardian who is a Massachusetts resident and was activated since 2001 under Title 10 in the Massachusetts National Guard or Reserve components. A $1,000 scholarship may be awarded in each of Massachusetts ten Congressional Districts. Eligible students must have a financial need and provide proof of a FAFSA application when applying. Learn more at /patriotscholar
Adopt-A-Unit Each year, the Military Friends Foundation adopts a National Guard or Reserve Unit based in Massachusetts. The unit selected receives $10,000 to support unit morale. MANG 182 nd Infantry Battalion Named 2011 Adopt-a-Unit Recipient The 182nd Infantry Battalion, made up of more than 800 Soldiers including Companies from Melrose, Middleboro, and Braintree, recently deployed for a year-long tour in Afghanistan.
Operation Santa-Massachusetts In 2010, the Ahern Family Charitable Foundation and the Military Friends Foundation created a partnership to establish Operation Santa- Massachusetts, a new program that supports children of Fallen Heroes and the children of deployed National Guard Members and Reservists. Annual Report 2010-2011 OSM An Ahern Family Charitable Foundation & Military Friends Partnership Launched in 2010, OSM provided special holiday gift cards to children of deployed Guard, Reserves and Fallen Heroes.
A Hero s Salute ($1000 and flag display) Offers an immediate $1000 of direct financial support up to Massachusetts Gold Star Families in the days immediately following a combat-related death. Grant applications can be initiated by the official family representative, a CAO, veterans service agent, or legislator. This is the first Military Friends Foundation program which is open to families of all Massachusetts Active, National Guard and Reserve components. As part of A Hero s Salute, the Military Friends Foundation will offer every family, upon request, a display of handheld United States flags during a funeral procession route or memorial service.
Mass Cares Grant Program In June 2010, the Military Friends launched the Massachusetts Cares! Grant Program, a new pilot program designed to recognize families of deployed Mass. National Guard Members and Reservists. The program provides $200 grants to deployed E-7s and below who, like so many, face financial challenges during a deployment. The $200 Mass. Cares! Grant can be another week of day camp for a military family, it can be a week of groceries, more time to talk with loved one on the phone or a just provide some peace mind knowing that people care that communities care that Massachusetts Cares! Major General Joseph C. Carter Since launching the program, MFF has dedicated an additional $50,000 to the Mass. Cares! Grant Program.
How to Get Involved Join Military Friends Foundation on Support our Take 5, Give $5 Campaign. Join thousands of others across the Commonwealth by pledging to take five minutes to consider what giving $5 ($10 or $25) on your state tax from (Question 32E) could mean to a military family in need. Become a Friend. Show your support by joining our network of military personnel, families and supporters. By sharing your contact information, we can stay connected and work together to assist local military families. Please join us at /friend. Make a Donation. Our programs exist because of generous donations. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today online with PayPal or by sending in a check. Military Friends also accepts in-kind donations. For more information, please visit /donate.
Your Support Makes a Difference Annual Report 2010-2011 Right now Jack and I are waiting at Logan airport for Mark. MAJ Dinoto told Mark last night to have me contact Red Cross to get Mark [emergency] leave to come home for baby Jack's surgery tomorrow. Military Friends provided a grant to cover Mark's entire flights home. He's able to come home until Friday night. Sarah from Military Friends also told Mark to have me call her about parking at Logan and she put me in touch with one of the operations managers here. He had me park my car up on the departures level at the limo pickup, then got me a security pass and right now Jack and I are waiting at the gate! I could be a walking commercial for how great Military Friends are right now!!! -Michelle, 182 nd Infantry Battalion wife
Thank You for Your Support Annual Report 2010-2011 Military Friends Foundation 14 Beacon Street, Suite 706 Boston, MA 02108 Ph: (617) 733-7994 Executive Board SGM James Kelly (Ret.), President Rep. Anthony Tony Verga (Ret.) Richard Girard Raymond Guillette, Ph.D. LTC Lee Fife (Ret.) Meghan Slack, Esq. Executive Director Sarah Keller-Likins