Nothing “Sexy”

Entering our seventh year of assisting military families has given me the opportunity to see a lot of other organizations, many of which we work with, all focused on the same goal of helping them through the challenges of serving our nation.

What USA Cares doesn’t do is have the opportunities to cut the ribbon in front of a house we just bought for a veteran or family, we can’t show anyone pictures of families that we sent to Disneyland or on Vacation because we don’t do that. We just put food on the table and keep the lights on.

Not very sexy.

Last week, Mark Wills was in town and came over to the Fort Knox PX where a steady stream of fans stopped by to meet him. He was as always, charming and personable. He left this week for a USO Tour overseas. (that is all I can say at the moment).

This is Mark with me, Anne and John Flanagan, one of our very first volunteers with USA Cares. It was a great way to spend three or four hours with Mark and those who think he is a good guy.

This week, I had the privilege of briefing a senior army leader in the medical community who had just arrived at Fort Knox. As we entered the office the officer immediately started with, “I know who you guys are, and what USA Cares does for military families. What you did for our soldier who was terminally ill and his family was nothing short of amazing, and I know it made his passing easier. I am so thankful that you guys are here for them.” Now I would like to shout that from the rooftops, put the officer on YouTube and push it out to all our supporters and friends, but I can’t.

The Army, and all the services, are very nervous when it comes to “implied endorsement” of any non-profit organization and those who still wear the uniform can get in trouble for doing so as an official member of the military, so we never ask, and we go out of our way to protect their voluntary thanks and offers of help.

So we do it the hard way, one meeting at a time, looking for new friends who might know “the guy” and on and on. Grant research and building relationships, earning the trust of our donors and maintaining that trust. This has been a week like that.

This week has been very full and very eventful. Our Executive Director was in Houston at a Car Race with the owner of Tax Master, and they raised a nice sum of money for USA Cares, then on Tuesday, he was in DC with Fannie Mae, a CFC exhibition for Government Engineers and then with the makers of the video game Call of Duty who also wants to assist USA Cares.

That was a pretty good week all by itself, but then Dennis Miller and Bill O’Reilly really made things happen, when they got to talking about USA Cares on Wednesday and Bill announced that he was personally sending USA Cares $25,000! That night we received an additional $17,000 in donations on our website, a tribute to the trust that his viewers have in his judgment.

As we move forward, we now have programs for Veterans who are suffering from PTSD and its awful effects, we have a growing employment training and placement program and we are looking for our first disabled veteran to assist with a new home grant, if he or she wants to live here in the central Kentucky area.

Still nothing sexy, but we are happy with keeping the lights on, and food on the table. The fact that we have kept over 1,800 military kids from being evicted from their homes counts too, but not something you will see on the front page of newspaper.

One family at a time, and with their privacy and dignity protected. That is USA Cares. I hope it never changes.

Merry Christmas to all, and special thoughts to those in harm’s way,

Roger

Traveling Through the Atlanta Airport

Coming through the Atlanta airport on Tuesday with an associate we noticed a new business adjacent to Delta Gate B15.

It is called MinuteSuites – The Traveler’s Retreat. (http://minutesuites.com) MinuteSuites as you can see by viewing the presentation on its website provides a soundproof, comfortable, hi tech equipped space, that you can rent for an hour at a time. It has the ability to fold out a very comfortable bed to sleep or take a nap, and has individual light, heat and air-conditioning controls so you can create your own private space apart from the hustle and bustle of the Atlanta airport.

I was really impressed with the idea, and the conduct of the staff (Terrica and Russ) and decided to write an e-mail to the corporate address.

To my amazement I received a prompt reply from the managing member (Mr Daniel Solomon)of the corporation and in following exchange of e-mails learned of his family’s military service and his offering specials to military in uniform through the month of December.

Since I am an original member of the virtual committee for USA Cares I mentioned that if he knew anyone looking for a way to help the military I personally recommend USA Cares and gave him the web site.

In a matter of minutes I received an e-mail advising that he had just donated $100 to USA Cares.

Folks, this is a great company who knows how to do the right things and I recommend you use their business when in Atlanta. By the way, the space is big enough to hold a meeting with about four people so it is very versatile. Tell them "John sent you".

John Flanagan

About the Author

John Flanagan is a decorated Vietnam Veteran where he served two tours as an aviator. His book, "Born In Brooklyn, Raised In The Cav" is a great story about the lives of helicopter pilots in combat.
He is one of the four original volunteers for USA Cares, starting in 2003.

Quite A Week In November

I’m often asked how this all happened, this thing called USA Cares, but last week was one of those weeks where I almost have to pinch myself and I still don't have a good answer.

Sunday, I saw somewhere over 22 square miles of beautiful homes, shops and golf courses, in a little place in central Florida called The Villages. I’ve see the commercials a hundred times, we flew into Leesburg and met some wonderful people were so encouraging about wanting to do something for USA Cares and listening to their story of running a small business and raising a handful of kids and now grandkids and want to thank those other “kids” who are standing tall in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The next evening, in Amway Coliseum, prior to a basketball game with the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats, I was nearly 40 young Americans standing tall in formation in center court. Both Marine and Army recruits stood in the full light and admirations of a growing crowd and watched them take the oath of enlistment from an Army Captain.

These young men and women joined the military of a nation at war. They volunteered to serve for anywhere from four to six years and undoubtedly will spend part of their tours in harm’s way. Words here cannot convey the emotions that Jim and I felt at that moment, and why for the past nearly seven years, USA Cares has been at the center of our lives. These “kids”, these young men and women deserve the very best that our nation can provide, both from the government and from citizens.

Monday was also another first for me personally, besides seeing my first NBA game (The Magic won the game) Jim and I also found ourselves at 2:28 p.m. looking to the east and seeing the streak of flame and white plumes as the space shuttle Atlantis hurtled toward the heavens. We both experienced the sense of pride that those Americans around us did and my only wish was that more of our citizens would have an opportunity to see the enormous power that our nation had on display.

Back to that evening at the game, we were fortunate to talk to hundreds of military members and their families, introducing USA Cares and hopefully setting the stage to provide assistance if they need it.

We flew back to Louisville the next morning and Wednesday evening I had the privilege for attending the monthly Fort Knox Chapter of MOAA. I learned that one of their long time chapter members, LTC (Retired) Bob Harman had passed away and that the family had designated USA Cares as one of two charities to be considered in lieu of flowers. This is perhaps the 15^th family over the past seven years to designate USA Cares in this fashion, and it is both humbling and moving to be honored in this fashion. On Friday, I attended his service at the Central Kentucky Veterans Cemetery and learned that LTC Harman was a Veteran of both World War II and Korea. I watched a young Major and a Staff Sergeant fold the flag and present it to his widow. What nobody in the audience missed was that both Soldiers had the combat service bars and accompanying personal medals that told us that they had both already served multiple tours.

While I was standing there after the services another retired Veteran who has been a wonderful supporter of USA Cares handed me an envelope and told me that I would save him 44 cents. I later learned that he had handed me an envelope with a $500 donation.

Along the way this week, a volunteer came in and catalogued over 50 new handmade Lapwraps that will be sent out the coming week. Some of them are going to Fort Hood and perhaps some of those wounded by the attack last week. Meanwhile the special fund set up for the Fort Hood Families continued to provide support to families within hours of receiving requests, one within an hour.

These Lapwraps keep coming in, almost daily from all over America, and there are always cards from the donor thanking our servicemen for their service and their sacrifice.

Very humbling, to say the least.

Thank you to the some 4,000 Lapwrap contributors, you are both amazing and inspiring.

We also received over 150 new requests for assistance and issued over $12,000 in support for the week.

Quite a week.

Roger

A Marine's Perspective About Support from home

I don't often send things on to the blog that someone else has written, but after reading what the Marine Major wrote, I felt obligated to do what I was asked and "pass it on". After almost seven years of working with USA Cares, I think he has it exactly right.

Thanks, Vietnam Vets

Roger
USA Cares

***********************

A Thank You to Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq

A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home.

Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?"

In my opinion, it came down to one thing: Vietnam. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then.

When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us.

After Vietnam, it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake.

Somewhere during the late 1970's and into the 80's, we realized that we can’t treat our warriors that way. So, starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treated our troops like the heroes they were, acknowledged and celebrated their sacrifice, and rejoiced at their homecoming instead of spitting on them.

And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq. Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are better because of it.

Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq.

They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom.

But when I get back, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for their sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now treat our warriors as heroes, as we should.

I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,

Major Brian P. Bresnahan
United States Marine Corps

A Million Dollar Friend

When we began USA Cares in March of 2003, it was intended to be, “regional” and “temporary”.

Nearly seven years later, it has turned into anything but. Our advocacy team just went over the $100,000 mark in support to those in our Warrior Treatment Today program with clients in 21 different states. We began that program in earnest in the first quarter of this year and continue to receive over 120 new clients every week—many of them sent to us by military related organizations, including the chain of command. We are poised to tell the world that we are now an official part of the Department of Defense “Real Warrior” program, assisting those who are involved with the care of our invisibly wounded.

So why is all this happening: Because of dedicated people like Karri, she joined USA Cares in 2007, as a Resource Coordinator in our family assistance center. The spouse of a soldier, she has watched him deploy to combat several times, and has moved her family in support of his career. She will be the first to say that she isn’t the “perfect” person, but there are only so many adjectives that describe what this one person did, one family at a time—2,669 times to be exact.

We work hard not to keep score with our resource coordinators because our clients, the military families we serve, are too unique and special to try to put them in a category of one size fits all. Rather, we track how we are doing to determine if we can do better. Karri didn’t keep score either. What Karri did was speak with each family she was assigned and treat them with the dignity they deserve—whether or not the reason they found themselves in a financial jam was due to poor decision-making or just bad luck. Right up until the week she left USA Cares to move her family yet again, she was working to make sure the process we all utilize was clear and properly implemented.

Along the way, as she worked with clients, Karri orchestrated grants from USA Cares in the amount of $620,926.50. And if that weren't enough, she coordinated with other charitable organizations to secure an additional $328,728.99. That translates into almost one million dollars worth of saving homes, keeping the lights on with food on the table, or working with a client to assist them in seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and/or traumatic brain injury. I have no doubt that by the time we close out the remainder of cases Karri was working, she will reach the one million dollar mark.

Most will never know all the lives she touched—the lives she changed. Karri appeared last year on a special holiday episode of the Steve Wilkos Show, representing USA Cares and having the privilege to actually meet one of her clients (segment follows). And just recently on the 2^nd of October, Dennis Miller gave Karri a well-deserved “shout out” on his nationally-syndicated radio program, The Dennis Miller Show. It was a fitting salute to an amazing person who, while spending most of her time at USA Cares in a small cubical, worked with military families spanning thousands of miles.

Karri, I hope that one day our paths will cross again—you left many friends here in Radcliff, Kentucky along with very large set of shoes to fill.

On behalf of the two thousand, six hundred and sixty-nine families (which could be as many as seven thousand fellow Americans) I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and wish you God’s Speed.

Sincerely,

Roger Stradley
Founder
USA Cares

Medal Of Honor & Dennis Miller

Last Thursday, under a brilliant blue Chicago sky, I had the great fortune to sit behind home plate and up about ten rows at historic Wrigley Field. I was really there to see Dennis Miller throw out the first pitch. What I didn't know is that it was going to be even better than that.

On the field lining both the first and third base line were a number of men, most of them wearing a red short sleeve shirt with a logo that you couldn't read but clearly this was more than a senior gathering of older gentlemen. Dennis intermingled with them and then went out and sent in the first pitch, but along the way, the announcer introduced the men in red. All of them were Medal of Honor Awardees from seven different wars that our nation fought and were attending an association gathering in Chicago (http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-04-2009/0005088656&EDATE=) The announcer helped frame the requirements of being awarded this medal for courage, but the bottom line is that they had to risk their lives in combat, and clearly demonstrate beyond any measure of belief that this was a courageous act. My personal appreciation to both Boeing and TriWest for sponsoring the event.

So why do I mention that? Dennis commented later that evening to a gathering of supporters of USA Cares and prior to a show he did on our behalf, that while he was thinking about asking for a "do-over" for his first pitch, he realized that he was among genuine American heroes and that anything that would take away from that, and that would be wrong. He went on at the Park West Theater and gave a rendition of vintage Dennis Miller that left everybody happy and wanting more. His sense of humor might not be appreciated by everyone in our nation, but there is no one that has more compassion for those who server and protect our nation.

As for the benefit show, with wonderful support from AM Radio WIND, 650 on the dial and other sponsors, USA Cares will be the recipient of what we believe to be over $110,000 for the night. This support is a reflection of the dedication and trust of a group of men and women in the Chicago area who we have worked with over the past five years and who have become true friends.

So, for the windy city, on the 17^th of September, you shined bright, and when I looked down from the John Hancock Building, I realized just how wonderful our nation, this city and these people truly are. For those men and women who are out there today and tonight serving thanks, to my friend Nick, flying off the carrier into Afghanistan, stay safe and thanks.

The Champ & The Hero

Setting on the small commuter jet leaving Louisville and headed toward a connection in Atlanta, I was fortunate to sit next to an active duty Command Sergeant Major. Setting two rows ahead of me was another gentleman and his wife, who the world knew as Mrs. Mohammed Ali. The Champ looked good for all his challenges and while I was not a big fan of his politics I did appreciate that he was a Louisville icon and was doing good things for those less fortunate through his charity work.

Sitting two rolls behind me was somebody else I knew, the husband of a co-worker who was on his way back to Afghanistan where he was in the middle of a fourth tour in combat. Three tours in Iraq, where I knew he had survived several near-misses with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and had been treated for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and seemed to be fine. His posture and composure was that of a solid performer, a soldier and a leader. I hope my son has a staff sergeant like that in the Marines.

The sergeant major and I quickly figured out that we had a number of common friends still serving, and we shared experiences and friendships that spanned the nearly forty year time span and lifetimes. He had been to Iraq twice and as an infantry soldier and leader and told me that he had some of his best times and his worst times that looking back were only seconds or minutes long, but were framed in his mind. So here I was, with two soldiers, who between them had six years of combat, both in the business of being directly involved in the business of war, and both clearly proud of what they were doing.

But what I remember most was a story that the sergeant major told me, and one that I wanted to share with you.

One of his units was tracking down a high value individual and knew he was in a particular three-story house. Because there was a real danger he was going to get away, the on the ground commander, a 1LT, sent teams into the building to secure the individual. Sgt Martinez led a four or five man squad into the dark building and following the rules of engagement, shouted out that they were Americans. The ten or so insurgents were not to be persuaded to surrender peacefully, but reacted with a hail of gunfire.

Advancing up the stairs, twenty-three year old Martinez leading, began a running gun battle. Firing up the stairway, the return fire was deafening, and the young men pressed themselves into the outside wall, and continued to fire back up the darkened stairwell. Somewhere between the first and second floor, a grenade bounced off of Martinez chest and rolled on the floor. “Grenade” he shouted and the squad instinctively curled away from the impending blast. The grenade went off, and Martinez received shrapnel wounds too as did some of the squad, but the whole team continued pressing up the stairs returning fire.

A bullet hit Martinez and bounced into his neck. American engineering saved his life again, the neck protector worked, deflecting the round. Martinez and his team continued to move up and ultimately all eight insurgents were killed rather than give up.

So why tell a “war story” that I didn’t see? Because we need to be constantly reminded that the young man or woman we see in the airport in uniform may very well be on their way back to Afghanistan, for a fourth time. Their courage is beyond remarkable, and their dedication to what is being attempted in these lands lost in time have to be remembered.

The war may be off the front pages of America’s newspapers, but it is not off the front page of the families who wait, who still proudly display the flag on their house and who wear a blue star on their lapel. We owe them our respect, and our continued admiration and support.

The other point is that these teams of soldiers were all volunteers, and every one of them joined the military knowing that America was at war, and that they would undoubtedly be asked to serve in harm’s way.

So in the front was an American icon in a former heavyweight champ of the world, my thoughts were with a young man named Martinez, who earned the Silver Star that day, and to the young engineer Staff Sergeant on his way to Afghanistan sitting two rows behind me.

We have more soldiers in combat right now than we had two years ago during the “surge” and recently several fellow non-profit organizations ended their run and sent their clients to USA Cares. Times are changing, but one thing is not, just like those who go up darkened stairways without knowing, USA Cares will continue to be here for those who serve and for those who wait, it isn’t about “how long” we will be here, it is “how long are we needed?”.

Roger Stradley
San Dimas, CA
10 Sep 09

AUSA News Article

Making a Difference on a AUSA Foundation

The Fort Knox Chapter of AUSA in 2003 undertook a project in response to an offer from the Louisville based NBC Affiliate, WAVE 3 TV that if they provide money, could the chapter “help” local military families. I was serving as the President then, and as a retired CSM, wasn’t very quick with “no”. We said “yes”. They along with regional grocery chain, Kroger, gave us $123,000.

Fast forward to six years later and a national organization “USA Cares” who receives over 115 new cases every week from military families looking for a little assistance. Our focus remains now, as it did when we started, on our Post 9-11 Veterans and their families. We have provided through our Program assistance over $6 million in support, all in the form of advice, coordination and our grant program.

As we matured as a 501 (c) (3) organization, and we learned more and more about the needs of our military families we developed programs tailored to three distinct groups of needs. Quality of life, which is nothing fancy except keeping the utilities on, food on the table and other basic necessities of life. In our Housing program, we have kept over 500 families in their homes, both by stopping foreclosures or evictions, and along the way working with free credit counseling programs across America all to help maintain the dignity of service.

Our last focus is on our Combat Injured Program, where we extend out the eligibility timeline and we increase the amount of support we can provide, given the demonstrated need of those who call us. Most special among this group are those involved with our Warrior Treatment Today program. This program is designed primarily for those who are no longer on active duty, and have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD) and are recommended for residential treatment. We began to realize that many would not consider going to treatment centers for a one to four month in-patient treatment simply because they had to keep working to provide for their families.

Under the Warrior Treatment Today, VA evaluation clinics can refer Veterans to USA Cares for entrance into the program and when they go into treatment, USA Cares covers their families living expenses based on demonstrated need.

USA Cares has been fortunate to have received grants from the McCormick Foundation in Chicago and the Meadows Foundation in Texas, along with the support of Country Artist Mark Wills. Wills traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times, the last time being with SMA Preston in December of 2008 and after being told about USA Cares, offered his voice and support. He recently released an album entitled “2^nd Time Around” of which some of the proceeds go to help our Warrior Treatment Today program. Wills has also inserted a call to action.

The CD is available at www.markwills.com. Wills know for his number one hit single “Don’t Laugh At Me” is included on the new cut, with the song being recorded in Balad Iraq with the troops cheering in the background.

What USA Cares has done would not have been possible without the support of thousands of donors, and organizations and public personalities like Mark, and of course, AUSA should be very proud of what they provided and that was the foundation and the spirit of continued service.

CSM (R) Roger Stradley
Radcliff Kentucky

A Voice for Those Who Care

Mark Wills continually pushes for Veterans and those serving. I received this video and wanted pass it along.

Roger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_q997HjREQ

after you watch it, please pass it on and please post a comment that would be great!

thanks..

Warrior Treatment Today

I've been asked to explain our Warrior Treatment Today program with USA Cares. Our new website, due to be launched 1 August will have it there, but I can also put it here along with more information and our 1st Quarterly Report so you can see the extraordinary things we are doing for these Veterans.

*********************************************

WARRIOR TREATMENT TODAY

Bridging Gaps to PTSD/TBI Treatment for Veterans

Warrior Treatment Today is a USA Cares program designed to bridge the gap between personal financial demands and the need to receive treatment. Specifically, our program seeks to remove the financial barrier that exists for many service members who suffer from PTSD and/or TBI, but cannot afford to leave their employment for treatment. National Guard and Reserve personnel are particularly vulnerable to this barrier as they resume their civilian lives upon return from deployment. Should they be referred for treatment of a significant duration, they have to not only keep their jobs, but also acquire the dollars necessary to continue to meet their financial obligations.

USA Cares will take on the responsibility for paying essential household bills (rent/mortgage/utilities/car payment) while the service member is attending residential type PTSD/TBI treatment. In so doing, USA Cares will facilitate attendance to mandated/recommended treatment programs by removing the financial obstacles many face today. The recent Rand study suggests over 300,000 suffer from PTSD/TBI, with fewer than half of these cases actually identified. Thus, the magnitude of the problem is significant. We believe any program that will help diagnosed service members attend necessary treatment is of great value and deserves our full support.

Due to the potential size of the PTSD/TBI treatment problem, no one sector can be expected to adequately cope with the problem. A public – private sector partnership is essential if this problem is to be resolved. Military treatment facilities, the VA hospitals and clinics, and respected civilian hospitals must all work together to even begin to make a dent in the caseload. USA Cares has teamed up with a Houston hospital, TIRR Memorial Herman, a leading rehabilitation facility, to provide care to TBI-type sufferers. A fellow member of the Coalition for Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans, TIRR Foundation collaborated with TIRR Memorial Hermann to create the Project Victory program. Project Victory provides treatment for military personnel, and veterans of recent military service, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, and who have screened positively for, or have been diagnosed with, post concussive symptoms or traumatic brain injury while in combat or stateside. As good as the Project Victory program is, a financial barrier to an 8 to 10 week treatment program remains for many would-be attendees. University Behavioral Health of El Paso, Texas has also joined with USA Cares as a provider of PTSD/TBI treatment to the military. The basic structure of the Warrior Treatment Today Program is outlined below:

Stage 1: Identification and Verification

Scenario ONE: Service members seeking support will come to USA Cares in our traditional manner via the World Wide Web and complete a simple application that details how we can contact them, and the nature of the problem or issue. The client will be contacted by our Staff, who will discuss the requirements and needs of the family. Should the issue of PTSD/TBI be revealed by the client, the case will be passed to our Advocacy Center who will suggest screening (if it has not been done) and provide references to locate screening facilities. The goal is to not let the family plunge into financial crisis.

Scenario TWO: A service member is referred for residential PTSD/TBI treatment by competent medical authority (VA in the case of veterans, Title 32 Guard, and inactive Reserve). He may have gone for screening as a result of Scenario ONE, or any other number of ways. At the time of referral to residential treatment, the service member must be made aware of USA Cares and our program to help with finances while at treatment. (Lacking the ability to support the family due to absence from work for an extended period, the referral will likely not be accepted/executed). The service member applies to USA Cares under our Warrior Treatment Today program which includes the below general guidelines:

Qualifying Elements:

· Injury is connected to service in Iraq or Afghanistan

· Service member has been diagnosed by competent medical authorities, either military or civilian

· Employment and income loss is not covered by medical or unemployment insurance

· Family will be in danger of losing their home if they don’t receive assistance

· Service member has been accepted into qualifying treatment center for recovery and rehabilitation

Stage II: Determining Requirements & Gaining Approval

· USA Cares will assist in housing, food, utilities and transportation related costs as required

· USA Cares will require documentation that supports the need

· Food costs will be developed along the required amounts from the USDA, which an example says that a family of four requires about $518 a month

· Case will be reviewed and approved by a USA Cares Virtual Committee

Stage III: Implementation and Assistance

· Approved cases are moved to accounting where each month the approved amounts are paid directly to the provider

· Incremental assistance can be extended out over the period of treatment not to exceed 180 days.

· The Family Resource Coordinator will maintain contact with the client throughout the case length

In the future, USA Cares is working to involve other top flight civilian hospitals in the program. Working with our partner, Mercy Flights, we can transport an invisibly wounded warrior anywhere in the US at no cost to the service member. We envision a network of such hospitals all working to treat the enormous caseload that PTSD and TBI represent from today’s war. Bound together by information technology that can quickly handle referrals and locate treatment centers, this program is exportable to any state. We believe that a number of states will consider this opportunity to give their state’s military the treatment they deserve while not endangering their financial future. This program is being initiated in Texas using facilities in Houston, El Paso, and, hopefully, Dallas. The Texas program will serve as a model for other states. No American service member and their family should have to choose between paying the bills and getting treatment. USA Cares plans to see that they don’t.

Roger

1st Sgt. John Blair of Calhoun.

This past Wednesday, I was traveling north on Interstate 75 outside of Calhoun Georgia when we noticed that there was no traffic going south. A highway patrol car came over the hill lights flashing but still no other traffic.

Then the first Georgia State Patrol came over the hill, followed by another and another. I don't know how many law enforcement cars there were, perhaps a fifty or more, then there was a large contingent of motorcycle patrolmen, and then the Patriot Guard. I knew then, it was a soldier's funeral we were watching traveling south.

1st Sgt. John Blair was by all accounts a soldier's soldier. He was killed in Afghanistan last week by an RPG.

Traffic on our side of the road were pulling over, some just slowing not knowing what to do. I was proud of my nation, or at least the men and women that day that took the time to honor this man. I found this from the web, but it says a lot about this man.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey issued a statement in in honor of Blair on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Text of Gingrey's remarks:

Madame Speaker, I rise to honor an American hero and patriot who gave his life in defense of our nation while serving with the Georgia National Guard in Afghanistan. First Sergeant John Blair from Calhoun, Georgia and my 11th Congressional District was killed in action on June 20, 2009, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle during an hour and a half long firefight with enemy forces after the convoy which he was leading was ambushed.

Eye-witness accounts from soldiers serving alongside Sergeant Blair credit his actions with saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers during the ambush, and as a credit to his leadership, his men kept their cool and did their jobs, even after their commanding officer fell. Blair has been described as a true leader – both for the American troops who served with him, as well as for the 1st Brigade of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps who he was in charge of mentoring. I want to quote a couple of lines that were written about Sergeant Blair in the military publication, Stars and Stripes: “Blair was their leader. He was tough, unrelenting. He cursed and reprimanded and gained not just their respect, but their fondness during the months of training for their deployment in Afghanistan. He could be harsh, but was fair and imparted to his men a sense of their potential.”

So, why do I rewrite this? USA Cares has been here for six years now, helping military families, and it is easy sometimes get caught up in the day to day work we do, but then when you see first hand the courage and the sacrifice, well I just thought it should be observed for what it is, a tribute to another fallen soldier.

Roger

If you would like to know more about the 1SG, visit this site: http://www.calhountimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Long+processional+follows+body+of+fallen+Calhoun+soldier+from+airport%20&id=2852958

Kevin Dupont

I don’t know Kevin, I never met him. I never met his wife Lisa either. I wish I had.

Kevin was a Marine, got out and ended up in the Massachusetts National Guard. I am not going to try to tell his life story, but I am going to share what I read about this man.

He died today. He was injured in an IED attack on March 8^th in Afghanistan.

I learned about him from a friend and began following Lisa and Kevin on CaringBridge (a web site that allows families to share the status of those who are ill or injured) and when you see that there were over 32,000 posts in the guestbook you starting sensing the love and concern that not only family members had, but strangers as well.

There were men and women who wrote from Afghanistan not only wishing him well, but keeping him posted on how the fight was going, and if you read through the guest book, you see every state in the union represented, every branch of service and every kind of friend of Kevin who stopped what they were doing and spent some time with Lisa and her story. You see a post from a Marine stationed on the USS Eisenhower, somewhere at sea, somewhere at war.

A former commander shared that as a platoon leader he set the example for his soldiers every day, and always led the way, never side stepping a mission, no matter how tough. “He was eager to do right” says more than any other words can say about a soldier.

Lisa, herself a National Guardsman, has shown us the face of courage, compassion and commitment. We are all honored by her sharing each day, and sometimes the posts she left were well after midnight, revealing the true nature of not only Kevin but of his “Hero” Lisa.

Hundreds of posts are now coming in as the word spreads of his passing, and while he will be listed as one more casualty of a war far away from our minds and far away from the front pages of today’s news, I know that I am a privileged member of a fan club of this remarkable and unforgettable family.

Lisa, you are amazing. God Bless you and your entire family. Kevin, God Speed, and as one post said, “End of Mission”, but we know that you are already starting the next.

We have all heard the phrase, "We will never forget you" and with the story and life of Kevin Dupont, how could you?

Respectfully,

Roger

3 JUN 09 5050

Good morning from rainy Radcliff Kentucky! We are all excited about lots of things, but at the same time, I am sad that tomorrow is the last day of 5050. 

We have much to  be thankful for when you consider others. I am corresponding or at least part of a Caringbridge for a wounded soldier who is fighting for his life. He has been in the hospital for months, and his wife keeps us posted on his progress which took a turn for the worst two days ago, to the point where the doctors asked her if she thought they should continue to keep up the fight. What a quesiton to be asked. My heart goes out to her and the family and my prayers are for "Kevin". 

To all of you, thanks again, and we will be in touch. I promise. 

Regards and see you tomorrow,

Roger 

2 JUN 09 5050

Two days to go, and then we are off on new adventures. As I said earlier, while frustrating, it is not dissappointing. We are learning about the potential of mobile giving and expanding our understanding of what happens. 

I would ask that each of you take a few seconds and send Jen Fox a note about things that worked and didn't work, and we can learn from that.

But it goes without saying that all your hard work and efforts are appreciated, and for the families that we are helping the payoff is knowing that we are leaving them better off than when they found us. With your help, we can keep doing the good work.

Thanks,

Roger 

1 JUN 09 5050

June 1st already, as you can see Illinois is really doing well. As I know we all did, we hoped that there would be a much better result at this point, but I think as "we" educate our fellow American's about mobile giving, and certainly raising $500,000 by Alicia Keys on American Idol showed us what was possible, I am still strenghtened by the fact that we do have four or five states where folks made an effort.

We have three more days and the campaign will be closed, and I would like to schedule a conference call with all of you and discuss lessons learned and what you found to work or not work. We will be sending out a scheduling email soon.

Thank you so much for your hard work,

Roger 

Mark Wills Cares!

Nashville, TN             Mark Wills announced today that a portion of every sale of his next album “2^nd Time Around” in stores June 16^th will benefit military families through USA Cares and has created a free USA Cares music sampler at www.markwills.com. Just log on to the website, view the pop up window which will allow you to receive three music downloads and an interview with Mark and Dennis Miller talking about their role with USA Cares.  The talented musician has received many acclamations since his debut on the country music scene, including being named as the top new male vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 1999. Wills followed that up with the hit single, “19 Somethin’” and his new single “Entertaining Angels” is climbing the charts. 

Mark has seen the faces of our military men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan, at home and in the Walter Reed Army Hospital. He knows that military service is more than just a job, it’s a lifetime commitment. Mark also knows that sometimes, the price of service is doubly paid by those who are invisibly wounded with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD). Having seen firsthand the good work that Radcliff, Kentucky based USA Cares is doing for these families as they go through rehabilitative care, he knew he had to do more than just add a celebrity voice. 

In their Warrior Treatment Today program, USA Cares provides financial resources to veterans who are reluctant to seek PTSD treatment due to their obligation to provide for their families. The program is already underway in several states, most notably in Texas, where over 6,000 Veterans have been screened and diagnosed with PTSD.  A recent news article noted that the VA has identified as many as 338,000 Veterans who could be suffering with PTSD nationwide. 

During a recent interview by Dennis Miller on his national radio show on Westwood One, Mark revealed his personal experience with the disorder. “When my dad came home from Vietnam, he was different and there is no doubt in my mind that he was suffering from PTSD, we just didn’t know what it was back then.” He went on to say, “Today, that National Guardsman who works at Home Depot on Monday, can find himself in combat the next week, and you just can’t expect that when he comes home that everything will be just  fine and he can go back to working at Home Depot.” 

USA Cares Board of Director, Ron Steptoe, himself a West Point Graduate, is currently devoting time and effort on a national scale to help establish a basic foundation for understanding PTSD and to help limit the enormous emotional and physical toll that accompanies those who suffer from it and their families when it’s symptoms are misunderstood and untreated. From his offices in Washington DC, Steptoe added, “Having a person of Mark’s stature, considering his repeated visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, seeing firsthand what these men and women are facing and then wanting to share his time and talent with those of us who are working to make sure they don’t have to suffer twice is a credit to Mark, his family and his industry.”

 In addition to a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the album, Mark has also put a USA Cares insert inside the case that tells the buyer about USA Cares and asks them to do one more thing; use their cell phone to text the word “TROOPS” to 90999 which will cause a onetime charge to their cell phone bill of $5, which will go directly to USA Cares. Wills said, “The idea of allowing my fans to help make a difference in a Veteran’s life by simply picking up their cell phone is not only cutting edge technology, it is a way that we as Americans can make our voices heard too, and that we take care of our own. So I am going to remind my fans, in audiences and one at a time, to pull out their cell phone and let’s make a difference together!” adding, “And don’t forget to reply with “YES” when prompted!”.

29 MAY 2009 5050

Good afternoon! And what a great Friday it is! We are preparing to announce another great program helping Veterans with homes and yesterday we gave a briefing that opened a door to $150,000 worth of grant support for Veteran homeowners! 

We now have 19 Veterans in our Warrior Treatment Today program, so your help is very much needed!

Thanks to all, Illinois is kicking the door down, almost to $200!

Great job! 

Roger 

26 MAY 2009 50/50

Good morning and upfront, my apologies. I found myself not only very sick, but also out of contact with the world for a week.

I am much better now, and came back to some great news! We received word that one of our 5050 folks has pledged $500 in support of our effort, so we are approaching $3,000 so far, with just a few days left. 

I also learned today at our start of the week meeting that we are now working with PTSD guys in six different states and are now hearing from the families that we are making a tremendous difference in the well-being of the family as they go through the rehabilitative effort. It is our goal to add a full circle of support to the family and the Veteran, beyond just paying bills, but also developing a frame work of care that extends to beyond coming home.

Thanks for all you do, and God Bless all our Veterans and their families.

Roger 

13 MAY 2009 5050

Good morning from rainy and warm Kentucky! Lots of really cool stuff getting ready to be released, and I am so fired up, knowing the impact that we are having with the folks we are helping. That includes a note from one of our clients that said we saved his life. Of course only he really knows that, but just the idea that he would think that is enough for me.

What does $5 do for USA Cares? More than you know. $5 is how much the yard sign cost that started us back in 2003. WAVE 3 TV and Kroger sold them, and ended up giving us $121,000 that was the prime that started the pump that to date has almost reached a total of $9 million! So $5 counts. It all counts.

Thanks to all of you that are trying to make a difference.

Roger 

12 MAY 2009 5050

Today should be a happy day, we received notification yesterday that the top salesman of the year for a nationally known insurance company had asked that his award be given to USA Cares. The President of that company sent us a letter telling us about it and saying that a check for $15,000 would be headed our way. That should have made our day, but instead we learn of the tragic story out of Baghdad where allegedly a soldier has killed five of his fellow service members. 

The news is reporting that this all happened in a stress relief center. As you know, we are working on expanding our Warrior Treatment Today program and help eliminate barriers to treatment, like who will provide for the family while I am in the hospital? The answer is, USA Cares will. We now have 11 service members in the new program and are expanding to three more states this week. But consider that there are reportedly over 338,000 who are possibly suffering from PTSD we are not even making a dent yet, but our hope is that the 11 we are touching will have a better life.

Thanks for helping. if you want to read more here is a link:  IRAQ TRAGEDY

I hope you will all pray for those who were lost, and those who suffer.

Roger 

11 MAY 2009 5050

Good morning from sunny and rainy at the same time Radcliff. We seem to have sit a ceiling here, hope this  week we can break through it and demonstrate the value of mobile giving. On American Idol this week, Alicia Keys is scheduled to appear and talk about helping the children of Africa and they are going to push "ALIVE" and 90999 to 30 million viewers. That will be a very good way to prove the value given the right audience at a large scale. I have my fingers crossed.

On Friday, I had a soldier I met in Radcliff way back in November last year who was on his way to Iraq. After we got done talking, I gave him one of my cards and told me that if he ever had a soldier who needed a little help to give him our web address. That same soldier called me from his hospital bed where he was recovering from wounds recieved by a homicide bomber, and needed a little help for him and his parents. I am very happy to report that our Family Resource Center was talking to him and his dad within an hour and that we are working our process. 

It has always been one of our goals to be the "first calls" when someone needs a little help, and this was certainly one of those moments. As for the soldier, he told me he had not lost any limbs, or sight, had taken some shrapnel but was going to be okay. He was just dissappointed he couldn't be there with his guys. 

Have a great day, and see you tomorrow.

Roger 

7 MAY 2009 5050

Hey there! Illinois is moving forward, please post and tell us how you are doing it! I have some exicting news about our Red Shirt Friday effort, but have to wait on that too, don't you just love the suspense?

Have a great day, and let's get NV and WA to 20 texters!!!

Roger 

6 May 2009 5050

It is pouring down rain here in Kentucky, hope the weather is better there! We kind of stalled here, what can I do to help you guys and gals? Remember we have a pledge (valid one too) that will match the first $1,500 that comes in. We are almost to $600, and for that I do appreciate your efforts.

Roger 

5 MAY 09 5050

We are kind of slowing down here, I am hoping that this first year out we will have some states that make the full 100 texters to prove the point that the program works and we can build on it, so what we are doing now, is not just about this time, but more importantly that we can tap into the enormous opportunity of those who would like to give, but don't know to who, or even how easy it is. As you all saw, we have one matching donation, and I think I have another one lined up today, will report tomorrow. So. please hang in there, each journey takes a step. 

I just know that today, thousands of young men and women are taking steps in dusty far off lands because we asked them to. 

Roger 

4 MAY 09 5050

Good morning!!!! I am very happy to announce that we have a donor who has matched the first $1,500 that we raise with 5050!!! So your texters are now doubling up!!! How cool is that! I apologize for the weekend lack of maps, but we are tracking now, and I am working on more matches!!! So thanks for all you hard work and keep it up!!!

Roger 

1 MAY 09 5050

Good morning from rainy Radcliff! The 1st of May and we have Illinois breaking past $100 and two more states right behind. I have it from good sources that Kentucky is going to start moving as well. :)  Can't wait to tell you all the news but you will really be proud to be part of USA Cares!

Roger 

30 APR 09 5050

Yesterday was a very full day for all of us I suspect. We are preparing to travel to Washington DC and tell our story, especially the fact that USA Cares is becoming the glue that is putting together public, government and private institutions that all have the same desire to help our Veterans deal with PTSD. I will be posting the slide show we are going to show as soon as it is final. 

Thanks for all you do and today is a brand new day!

Roger 

ICARE and 90999

A new friend of ours at the blog Political Vel Craft posted a request to use another one of our key words, "ICARE" and I thought I would show his readers how it is doing too.

Great job California!

Roger 

28 APR 09 5050

Good morning from rainy Kentucky! We have our first state to reach $100 in texts, great job Illinois!

I was on Facebook this morning and met another very good friend from my past, who has already asked, "what can I do for USA Cares?", well the answer is....  . My point in bringing this up is that given the virtual world we now live in, sometimes the friend (or texter) you are looking for is just waiting to be asked.

So hang in there and again, as we make history, we will look back and reflect on the start way back in 2009, when.........

Have a great day, and good hunting!

Roger 

27 APR 09 5050

Dang, already afternoon! There is so much going on around here that it is just flat fun! Bill and I are getting ready to go to Washington DC to attend a conference with the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, (CIAV) and this will be a great opportunity for us to tell our story and especially the work we are doing with PTSD. You know I will mention what we are doing with 5050!

We are also getting ready to launch a book that is helping USA Cares along with a "Bark For America" (more on that next time).

You all have a great day, you are making a difference!

Roger 

26 APR 09 5050

Good morning on this great Sunday that finds Kentucky sunny and hot! I hope to be able to share some really great news here at USA Cares this week, but for now I have to be good! 

All of you have a great day, and if you notice, Beth Ann in Arizona is coming on strong!

Roger 

25 APR 09 5050

Good morning from sunny Radcliff! We are all watching with a grin with the efforts that you guys are making. The map is telling the story, people do care, when they know the story about what we are doing for our military families and especially the ones that are affected by PTSD, not just them, but the their families.

Have a great weekend, and I am betting that by this time next week, we will have three or four steps over $100 in texters!!!

Roger 

24 APR 09 5050

This morning at Fort Knox Kentucky, the 19th Engineers will conduct a departure ceremony as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan. For many of the young soldiers, one of whom I met yesterday, are traveling into harm's way for a second time. He was a Specialist. He was somebodies son and he stood there in front of me, tall, slim and confident. His smile was disarming and he was matter a fact about his second deployment to war. 

I often find myself asking where we find these young men and women, and the of course the answer is that they are the ones we don't see on TV, these are the graduates of high schools across America, who look over the options, sense a purpose, or even just a job and the choose to become a warrior.

What you have to know is that when you do that, you have to give up even more of your rights as an American to serve America. You have to be polite. You have to professionally recognize your fellow servicemembers and provide appropriate greetings, little things like a sharp salute. They have to tell the truth, all the time, and often as we know, the are asked to do things that are very hard, and sometimes very dangerous. And they do it.

Can we do any less than our best to make a difference for them and their families? Of course not.

Thanks for all you are doing for USA Cares.

Roger 

23 APR 09 5050

Have you ever had a secret that you wanted to shout from the rooftops, but can't? Well, I have one, and it will make all of you that care very, very happy! We were told we can't tell, so, well, we just won't tell! :) Illinois jumped out a little yesterday, so who will be to 20 texters first? 

Remember, we are making history, and just like when we started back in 2003, there were times when you wonder, "What the heck am I doing?" and you have three cases that are already approved and you need $1,800 but only have $468 and you look each other in the eye, just as a check for $5,000 shows up, not once, but twice. True story. 

What can I do to help you?

Roger

Mr. Nelson goes to Congress

USA Cares had the privilage of providing testimony to a Congressional hearing concerning the care and treatment of Veterans. 

We have much to do, and we should all be thankful for the opportunity we have to be a part of the solution, rather than stand on the sidelines and complain.

To all those who are making a difference, thanks..

Roger 

22 APR 09 5050

Don't look now, but we have two states that are over 10% of the goal of 100 texters! Both ladies working hard, and from what I gather, they are doing it the old fashion way, one friend, aquaintance or family member at a time. I going to challenge the rest of you to get a least one texter a day, and ask them to do the same. So to Donna and Linda, you are showing us the way, and for that we all applaud you!!!

Bill testified yesterday infront of a VA Congressional Committee about "our' work with PTSD and helping guys and gals with barrier removal so that they can get treatment. Will keep you posted and if his testimony is made public, I will link to it for you.

Have a great day!

Roger