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| Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com Showcased on Yahoo! |
SANTA ANA, CA - Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that assists military families, and CinCHouse.com, a web-based community of nearly 900,000 military families, became part of Internet history yesterday while being featured as part of Yahoo!'s Netrospective: 10 years, 100 moments of the Web.
 The interactive display located online at http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/birthdayd.html, was designed by Jonathan Harris as part of Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday celebration.
"We're deeply honored by this recognition," said Meredith Leyva, chairman and co-founder of Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com. "Our military and their families need our support now more than ever, and it is our job to be there for them."
Founded by military spouses and retirees in San Diego shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Operation Homefront has grown to be one of the largest nonprofits in the country dedicated to assisting military families, especially families left behind by deployed service members.
In 2004, the organization has assisted more than twelve thousand military families (and about 10% of the military population in Southern California) with emergencies ranging from home and auto repair to providing news and information.
Operation Homefront also connects families with loved ones overseas through an extensive communications program that provides free phone cards, computers and, most recently, digital cameras through a national drive called Operation Photo -www.operationphoto.us.
To address the demand for assistance, Operation Homefront opened more than 30 chapters nationwide that link military families with 2,000 volunteers and countless businesses and civilian individuals who want to show their support for the troops.
CinCHouse.com was founded in 1998 as a web-based community of military wives, girlfriends and women in uniform. The site now attracts up to 900,000 unique visitors per month and features more than 1,000 news articles to help families learn about military life.
"With all the news and information that Yahoo! provides, being featured as part of the company's 10th anniversary means a lot to us," said Ernie Leidiger, Operation Homefront's executive director.
For more information, please contact any of the individuals listed below:
Meredith Leyva, Chairman, 850-233-8887, cinc@cinchouse.com
Amy Palmer, East Ops, 800-779-5921, amy@operationhomefront.net
Meri Rettinger, Editor, 800-779-5924, meri@cinchouse.com
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| Local America Supports You Member Meets with President Bush at the White House |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jorge Martinez
March 10, 2006
Tel: (202) 414-0780
jmartinez@susandavis.com
LOCAL AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU MEMBER MEETS
WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AT THE WHITE HOUSE
President Expresses Support and Thanks for Group’s Work
on Behalf of Men and Women in Uniform
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WASHINGTON, DC – “Operation Homefront/CinCHouse” was one of fifteen America Supports You grassroots organizations invited by President George W. Bush to a private meeting at the White House today to discuss the importance of their work, and to thank them for their support of the military at home and abroad.
CinCHouse is a Santa Ana, California-based nonprofit organization made up of military wives that helps other military wives and women in the military manage their daily lives. The CinCHouse website is a valuable resource that provides important information, a community of women to talk to and learn from and e-commerce partners that help military wives. CinCHouse also has a philanthropic component, Operation Homefront, which provides assistance to military families with loved ones deployed overseas. Operation Homefront was founded in 2001 and has 26 chapters in 20 states.
“It was an honor for me to be invited to the White House for this important meeting with President Bush,” said Amy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Operations for the organization. “He recognized how important our work on behalf of our men and women in uniform is, and that this nationwide support is critical to their morale.”
America Supports You is a worldwide outreach program, launched by the Department of Defense, to recognize citizens’ support for our military men and women and to communicate that support to members of our Armed Forces and their families at home and abroad. By communicating these local and national initiatives to our military members and their families, America Supports You helps boost the morale of men and women in uniform. This effort also provides Americans with a venue in which to show their support and appreciation to our Armed Forces and their families.
Messages of support are posted to the website, www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil, and shared with members of the military wherever they are stationed. Americans can register their activities of support on the site and learn ways they can join the team.
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| Operation Homefront Receives Coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator |
September 14, 2007
SANTA ANA, CA – Operation Homefront, a national non-profit designed shortly after September 11, 2001 has been acclaimed by Charity Navigator, America’s leading non-profit evaluator, as being among the elite and most highly regarded of charities in the Nation by receiving Charity Navigators coveted 4-star rating.
As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars. In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator highlights the fine work of efficient charities and provides donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.
Among the many charities evaluated, Operation Homefront has received this 4-Star rating for its ability to efficiently and openly manage its finances. Less than a quarter of the charities Charity Navigator evaluates received their highest rating, indicating that Operation Homefront outperforms the majority of nonprofits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility.
“This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Operation Homefront from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” said Trent Stamp, President of Charity Navigator, in a letter to Operation Homefront.
“The designation of such an honorable rating from Charity Navigator is positive proof of our strong fiscal responsibility as well as our financial strategy to ensure Operation Homefront is always there to help our troops and military families.” said Amy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Operations and Business development.
The New York Times, NPR and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, among others, have profiled and celebrated Charity Navigator’s unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector. Charity Navigator evaluates ten times more charities than its nearest competitor and currently attracts more visitors to their website than all the other charity rating groups combined, thus making them the leading charity evaluator in America. Charity Navigators irrefutable data shows that users of their site gave more than they planned before viewing their findings, and in fact, last year Charity Navigator visitors gave over $3 billion in charitable gifts.
For more information on Operation Homefront and its programs please visit www.operationhomefront.net.
For more information on Charity Navigator please visit www.charitynavigator.org.
About Operation Homefront & CinCHouse.com
What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military spouse-generated idea. In support for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit charity serving 31 military communities in 34 states. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program as part of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea, to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net |
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| CinCHouse.com Launches Web Sites for Military Families |
IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2007
CONTACT: Meredith Leyva cinc@cinchouse.com or (757) 410-4926
Generous support from Lockheed Martin ensures cutting-edge technology is free of charge to military families
SANTA ANA, CA – Following the success of the popular Spouse Club Hub, a program providing free Web sites and tools to spouse and family support groups, CinCHouse.com is expanding its technology services to offer Web sites for military families. Like the Spouse Club Hubs, the new ‘Family Hubs’ will be password protected and operationally secure, allowing military families to share news, photos, and videos with both deployed service members and far-away family and friends. Thanks to the generosity of Lockheed Martin, the Family Hub Web sites will be free of charge for any military family.
The Family Hubs allow military families to register for a Web site at http://family.cinchouse.com and select a domain name. After quick verification by e-mail, the family can immediately beginning building their Web site by selecting from pre-designed professional graphics, adding photos and text, creating photo and video galleries, and choosing which parts of the site to password-protect. Families can even use the Family Hub for domain names they previously registered (such as www.yourame.com). This allows military families to maintain constant contact with family and friends no matter where or how many times they relocate or deploy – the family will always be reachable via the Web.
“For every spouse group that signed up for a Web site, we had five spouses begging to let them use the Spouse Club Hub for their own family Web site,” said Meredith Leyva, founder and Chief Creative Officer of CinCHouse.com and Operation Homefront. “The spouses saw for themselves how it takes ten minutes for even the worst technophobes to set up a beautiful site, and the operational security makes families feel better about protecting sensitive information from the public. Thanks to Lockheed-Martin, the service is totally free and relocation-friendly for military families.”
Jim Knotts, Lockheed Martin’s Director of Corporate & Community Affairs, added “Lockheed Martin and its employees are united in gratitude to our service members and their families, because we understand the challenges our troops and their families face. Many of our employees are former military, many are reservists who have been activated for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and others who serve in harm’s way alongside our military customers. We know how much it means for service members to stay connected with their families. From care package programs, to recovery programs for injured troops, to employment transition programs, to educational programs for military kids, Lockheed Martin never forgets who we’re working for.”
For more information about CinCHouse.com and the Family Hubs, please visit http://family.cinchouse.com or contact Meredith Leyva at (757) 410-4926 or cinc@cinchouse.com. For information about Lockheed Martin’s support to service members, contact Jim Knotts at (301) 897-6949.
About Operation Homefront & CinCHouse.com
What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military spouse-generated idea. In support for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit charity serving 31 military communities in 34 states. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program as part of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea, to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Lockheed Martin’s United in Gratitude initiative focuses the corporation’s resources for supporting the troops. The corporation is a supporter of the America Supports You program.
For more information, please visit www.lockheedmartin.com.
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| Army Times and CinCHouse.com Sign Expansive Partnership Deal |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2008
SANTA ANA, CA. – Operation Homefront’s CinCHouse.com and Army Times Publishing Company (ATPCo) announced they have signed an exclusive agreement to share editorial content on each other’s Web sites and in ATPCo’s print publications, including its flagship, “Army Times.”
In this new partnership, ATPCo will feature CinCHouse.com articles in its online “Community” sections as well as in the “Lifelines” section of its print publications. CinCHouse.com will feature RSS feeds of news headlines from ATPCo’s Web sites as well as feature stories relevant to its online community of military wives and women in uniform. The partnership also opens the door for new collaboration on articles and promotions targeted toward young military families.
“This represents a natural partnership -- the leader in military news and information and the leading independent Web site for the modern military spouse,” said Elaine Howard, president and CEO of Army Times Publishing Company. “This will make our readers more aware of important spouse issues, and provide CinCHouse readers with more content that will be useful to the military family.”
“’Army Times’ and its sister publications are the premier sources for hard news about the military because of the professionalism and caliber of their journalism,” said Regina Galvin, editor-in-chief of CinCHouse.com. “Because military spouses make critical decisions with their husbands about their future in the military, we feel strongly about keeping them informed with news from Army Times.”
Operated by Operation Homefront, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving military families, CinCHouse.com is the Internet’s largest online community for military wives and women in uniform. Content includes features on a range of topics geared toward military families, from parenting to politics. In its 10th-anniversary Netrospective, Yahoo named CinCHouse.com one of the 100 most important things to happen to the Internet in the last 10 years.
“Army Times,” “Navy Times,” “Air Force Times” and “Marine Corps Times” are the leading independent source of news and information for the military community. Each paper and its associated Web site are edited specifically for its branch of service and, together, they reach 72 percent — almost three-quarters of the entire active duty military every week.
For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net and www.cinchouse.com.
# # #
What is today Operation Homefront began in 2001 as a military spouse-generated idea. In response to the need for support for the families of deployed service members, CinCHouse.com members (military wives and women in uniform) created the project that has evolved into a major nonprofit charity serving 34 military communities. Today CinCHouse.com operates as a program of the nonprofit Operation Homefront family. From a good idea to a great organization, Operation Homefront understands and takes care of the needs of the military community.
Army Times Publishing Company publishes “Army Times,” “Navy Times,” “Air Force Times” and “Marine Corps Times” and is a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. Gannett is an international news and information company that publishes 99 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns in excess of 300 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. In the United Kingdom, Gannett subsidiary Newsquest plc publishes nearly 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers. Gannett also operates 21 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by most of its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the web.
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For more information, contact:
Meredith Leyva, (757) 410-4926
meredith@operationhomefront.net
cinc@cinchouse.com
Maurice Grant, (703) 750-8021
mgrant@atpco.com
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| Charity's Homefront Operations |
Grass-roots Groups Raise Millions to Help Members of the Military
By Nicole Lewis
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
September 1, 2005
Soon after Sgt. Christopher M. Tomlinson left the springtime chill of his Army base in Kansas last year for
the blistering heat of Iraq, he called his mother with an unusual request: Could she send his unit some air conditioners to keep cool?
The answer was yes -- 9,000 times over. His mother, Frankie Mayo, decided to start Operation AC, a charity in Bear, Del., that has helped scores of service members stay comfortable by sending more than 9,000 air conditioners to Iraq. The charity also sends plenty of other items that help troops cope with the hardships of war, from sorely needed combat boots to luxuries like inflatable pools, beef jerky, books, and Hot Tamales candy.
Even small items, like the flip-flops the charity sent in May, can make a big difference. When several male marines got hold of the brightly colored shoes intended for female troops, the men paraded around in them as if they were participating in a fashion show.
"You think, 'Gosh, we made them laugh,'" says Ms. Mayo. "If you raise morale and you do something good for someone, that's what it's all about."
Motivated by worries about a deployed family member or simply a desire to support the military, more than two dozen grass-roots charities, such as Operation AC, have formed in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the ensuing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The new groups have raised millions so far, largely through word of mouth and other informal fund-raising approaches.
In addition, several established charities, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the USO, have started new programs to assist with military families' emergencies, and help them stay in touch. So many charities are now trying to help the troops that the Defense Department in November started a Web site (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil) to help donors find the groups; more than 150 established and new groups are included on the list.
Filling a Void
Some charities say their efforts resemble the swell of support Americans gave the troops during World War II. They view their role as filling gaps that the government and other support groups affiliated with the military, such as the relief societies that offer service members emergency financial aid, don't cover.
"We have tried to make our program broad enough so we can be there when they have exhausted every other opportunity and they have a legitimate need," says Rufus L. Forrest Jr., an Air Force brigadier general who helps oversee the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation's Unmet Needs Program, in Kansas City, Mo.
Other charity founders say the hostile way many Americans treated Vietnam War veterans plays a role in their desire to help this generation of soldiers feel appreciated.
However, officials at established charities question some of the newer groups' ability to provide solid services without much experience, and some nonprofit leaders wonder if it is wise for numerous groups to be offering similar services. "When there are so many organizations that appear to be serving the same kinds of people and appear not to be coordinating, there does seem to be a missed opportunity," says Diana Aviv, president of Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofit groups and foundations in Washington.
'Thrown Into Chaos'
The need for help now may be greater than in other recent conflicts because of the large number of Reserve troops deployed, repeated and lengthy deployments, and the scope of the war, say leaders of the new military charities. About 35 percent of the 150,000 American troops in Iraq are members of the National Guard and reserves -- the largest deployment of Reserve troops since World War II -- and U.S. Department of Defense studies have shown that about a third of Reserve troops take a pay cut when called to active duty.
As more and more Americans are sent to Iraq and elsewhere, the emotional and financial stress on families of military troops who might need additional child care or help with emergencies, such as car or home repairs, has grown, say some leaders of new charities. When a service member is wounded, family members face additional challenges, especially when they need to take time away from jobs to be with loved ones.
"When you are talking about yearlong deployments or unpredictable deployments, when you have no idea when your spouse is coming home, suddenly the family gets thrown into chaos," says Meredith Leyva, founder of Operation Homefront, a charity in Santa Ana, Calif., that helps families of low-paid troops overseas with emergency expenses. "Finances get troublesome, the kids start to rebel, and it can get very lonely."
The best help that groups like hers can provide, she says, is taking care of families of service members so that they are not distracted by domestic worries while on duty abroad.
Officials at charities such as the American Red Cross, in Washington, which has long helped military families connect in emergencies, seek financial assistance, and secure veterans' benefits, are quick to voice support for the emerging charities.
However, the glut of new groups could be a hindrance to donors, says Eric K. Schuller, a senior policy adviser to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, of Illinois.
"We applaud everyone who wants to do this, but sometimes it can be overwhelming for someone who wants to write a check," he says. "We are getting to a saturation point."
Mr. Schuller helps get the word out about the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, which was established in 2003 and raises money mainly through donations of income-tax refunds to help needy National Guard and Reserve families. Twenty-two states have started similar programs for military families, he says.
In addition, some older charities that work with the military point to their longevity as proof of their credibility with donors and question if some of the new groups will be around in 5 or 10 years to tell donors what their contributions accomplished. However, officials at many of the new charities say they don't plan to close their organizations when the Iraq war ends, as the needs of families with a wounded soldier might continue indefinitely.
"There is a long-term role for our group," says John A. Melia, who started the Wounded Warrior Project, in Roanoke, Va., which helps injured veterans with benefits and the readjustment to civilian life. "We are hoping these guys we helped today will come back and help the next generation of warriors."
Carving Out a Role
Even though many established charities serve military families, officials at newer groups say they have a distinctive role to play.
New charities say they are helping a wider circle of clients, while established organizations often have more restrictions about who is eligible for aid. Also, new charities tend to provide outright gifts of cash, while relief societies, which are affiliated with every military branch, mostly offer interest-free loans.
In addition, new groups, because they often have volunteers available around the clock, can react to a crisis more quickly than an established group, which might be more wedded to bureaucracy and bankers' hours, says Ms. Leyva, of Operation Homefront.
"We are more like the ambulance to the scene," says Ms. Leyva, whose group has 32 chapters around the country. "The family-support offices, as well as the other nonprofits, are like the hospital itself -- but you've got to deal with the immediate bleeding first."
Some officials at established charities, however, say they also do all they can to speed help to those who need it.
"If someone walks into our office they can walk out with a check," says John W. Alexander, a spokesman for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, in Arlington, Va. What's more, he says, the group makes it easy for people to find a staff member or a local Red Cross to help out if an emergency occurs after the organization's offices have closed for the day. Leaders of new charities that help military families say that when they began their efforts a year or two ago, they did so because they saw no one else filling needs. But the creation of such groups has posed some challenges.
Several founders of the new charities have received e-mail messages from opponents of the war lambasting them or their charities. However, most charities try to make clear that their work is about helping troops and military families, not about supporting the Bush administration or the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I do not make policy on Iraq, I just support the troops," says Ms. Mayo of Operation AC. "If our soldiers were deployed to Mars, I would be sending them things to Mars."
Beyond the emotional attacks and the hours they devote to charity work, the founders of the nonprofit groups often spend thousands of their own dollars getting their organizations started.
Susan Brewer, a former interior designer, sold her house in Texas and moved to Washington to start America's Heroes of Freedom in April 2002 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11.
She says she has spent $75,000 of her own money so far to start her group, which first organized an event for surviving family members of those killed in the attack on the Pentagon.
The charity now solicits donated goods and organizes events such as holiday parties for wounded soldiers and occasions when military personnel and their families receive free haircuts, manicures, and other beauty treatments -- extras that the military does not cover.
"I'm a big gap-filler where the military cannot fund it," says Ms. Brewer.
Officials at the U.S. Department of Defense say they appreciate the help charities provide.
"We want to do everything we can for the military, but we can't do it all," says Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of public affairs at the Pentagon. "We are counting on these organizations to come alongside our military members and help them out."
(In late August, after the Chronicle went to press with this article, Ms. Brewer's charity was barred from Walter Reed Army Medical Center after allegations that the group had exploited wounded service members for publicity purposes, charges Ms. Brewer denied. For more information, see this NBC4.com article.)
Joining Forces
Now that multiple charities have sprouted around the country, several have merged forces, and some are beginning to collaborate with one another, sharing information on the people they have helped.
For example, last fall the former commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, arranged a lunch for officials of the nonprofit groups that help service members there. After the event, volunteers for Comfort for America's Uniformed Services Elite, or Cause, began baking cookies for the USO of Metropolitan Washington's events at Walter Reed, and the same USO donated 300 DVD's to a digital library that Cause had created at the hospital, says Barbara Lau, one of the founders of Cause, in Herndon, Va.
The lunch "took the relationship from conversations to organizing events," she says.
And Pat Kerr, the ombudsman for the Missouri Veterans Commission, in Jefferson City, organized a breakfast meeting in February for a handful of new charities, so officials could discuss how to help one another. She is planning a second meeting in Chicago in November.
Sharing information is critical to reducing fraud and getting needy people the maximum amount of help, says Dan Kurtenbach, who helped coordinate donors and aid as chairman of a committee that formed after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Collaboration "reduces time to respond and get the issue addressed," says Mr. Kurtenbach, now the president of Goodwill of Monocacy Valley, in Frederick, Md. "It eliminates the duplication of services, and it makes sure that whatever your clients' needs are, they are going to be in front of as many resources as possible."
The potential for fraud rises when charities are raising money for a cause that tugs strongly on emotions, such as helping the family of a wounded soldier, says Trent Stamp, executive director of Charity Navigator, a watchdog group in Mahwah, N.J. Such groups "get extra latitude in the public perception and get less scrutiny because they are brand-new and don't have a track record to analyze."
Leaders of many of the new charities say they are taking steps to demonstrate that they are using donations wisely.
Many of the groups provide help to clients just once and pay bills directly to the provider. USA Cares set up an internal database that lists grants to ensure recipients are only applying for the same needs once; its two caseworkers confirm that the families who seek aid are in the military, ask detailed questions about their needs, and follow up with clients after six months to keep track of their progress. But sometimes it is hard to verify every would-be client's story, says Roger Stradley, the group's founder: "You gotta believe."
Still, some leaders of established charities question whether some new groups have the skills to help service members.
"Some of these other folks are well-intentioned and their hearts are in the right place, but they in many cases are not as well-equipped and as well-trained as we are," says David E. Autry, a spokesman for Disabled American Veterans, in Cold Spring, Ky. "We are not trying to discourage them from doing it, as there are more vets out there than we can handle, so long as what they do does not wind up hurting the overall efforts of other vet services."
Ms. Aviv, president of Independent Sector, applauds the generosity that drives the creation of the new charities, but questions their long-term viability.
"I suspect if the war in Iraq goes away, getting help for these groups is going to be very difficult," she says. "Ask how many organizations lately have raised money for the tsunami. We tend to be very fickle in our compassion. We go from issue to issue."
Planning for Peacetime
Despite potential management and fund-raising challenges, many groups have no plans to disband when the war ends, and some would even like to expand their reach.
For example, officials at Cause, which has raised about $100,000 to start the digital library at Walter Reed and provide other services, want to raise an additional $120,000 to install digital libraries at two more military medical hospitals. America's Heroes of Freedom hopes to make the transition from an all-volunteer organization to paying several staff members next year.
And Operation Homefront is seeking a new executive director with fund-raising experience, to tap corporate giving and wealthy individuals for support.
Mike Cash, who started Operation Family Fund, in Ridgecrest, Calif., a charity that provides financial assistance to families of service members who were seriously wounded or killed in the Iraq war, predicts the war will last at least 10 years.
He hopes to raise $250-million, the amount of money that he estimates will be needed to help families who have lost income because of a service member's injuries. So far the charity has raised $200,000. "Obviously we are way short of our goal," says Mr. Cash. "The need is far greater than we can provide."
Operation AC also plans to help at least as long as the Iraq war continues. After serving five years in the Army, Ms. Mayo's son, Mr. Tomlinson, returned home to Delaware in July and now helps his mother with Operation AC. He says working with the charity takes the edge off the difficult decision to leave his platoon, which is now back in Iraq.
"This is my way of being there for them, so I can make sure they are going to be OK and get the best of what they need," says Mr. Tomlinson, now 23.
While he and his fellow soldiers always appreciated getting goods from the charity, he says, the message of caring behind the shipments from his mother and other volunteers matters most.
"You feel like you have an undying faith back home that is making sure you are prayed and cared for," he says. "You feel like you are part of someone else's family you have never met."
Ms. Mayo says the charity's role has changed a bit -- demand for air conditioners has slowed, she says, as the military has expanded the amount of permanent housing in Iraq. But the group still sends the troops plenty of other extras to make their time overseas more bearable, she says.
Says Ms. Mayo: "Until the last pair of American boots are out of Iraq, we'll be here."
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| MOAA and Operation Homefront/CinCHouse.com Sign MOU Sealing National Partnership |
WASHINGTON, DC – October 9, 2006 The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and Operation Homefront/CinCHouse.com signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, marking their new national partnership.
Under the MOU’s terms, Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to military families while service members are deployed, will promote MOAA’s mission, activities and achievements to military families on their popular CinCHouse.com web site. MOAA will promote Operation Homefront and its mission to the organization’s 360,000 members.
Under the agreement, MOAA, the nation’s largest association for military officers, also provides CinCHouse.com with a weekly “Pay & Benefits Advice Column” and “Legislative Update” tailored for military families.
“MOAA is deeply impressed at how Operation Homefront truly reaches military families, whether helping them personally through a crisis or communicating information and creating new social networks that will help families succeed during these difficult times,” said VAdm. Norb Ryan, president of MOAA.
“Operation Homefront presents the fresh perspective of a new generation of military families, and we look forward to working with them in this capacity,” he added.
“Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com are proud that MOAA has chosen to partner with us,” said Meredith Leyva, founder and chairman emeritus of Operation Homefront. “MOAA shares our vision for helping military families and represents us well before policymakers in Washington.”
For more information on the “Ask MOAA” Pay & Benefits Advice Column and the Legislative Update, please visit http://cinchouse.com/askmoaa.htm and http://www.cinchouse.com/leg_update.htm, respectively. For more information on the partnership, please contact Meredith Leyva at Operation Homefront at (850) 438-5710 or cinc@cinchouse.com or Marv Harris at MOAA at (800) 234-6622 or MarvH@moaa.org.
About MOAA
MOAA is the nation's largest association of military officers and the 4th-largest veterans’ association. MOAA represents active duty, Guard, Reserve, former and retired military officers and their families and surviving spouses, but is also dedicated to serving the needs of the entire military community.” For more information, please visit www.moaa.org.
About Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit that provides emergency support and morale to our military troops, the families they leave behind during deployment and wounded warriors when they return home. With 26 chapters nationwide, we support our nation's troops by allowing military personnel to focus on the demands of their duties abroad. Operation Homefront also operates CinCHouse.com, the largest online community of military wives and women in uniform. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net and www.cinchouse.com. |
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| America Supports You: England Praises Operation Homefront |
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2006 - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England this morning praised a group that's working to make life easier for military members and their families.
"You all are doing terrific work," England told representatives of "Operation Homefront." "I appreciate everything you've been doing for our great men and women in uniform."
Operation Homefront and its subsidiary, CinCHouse.com, provide critical assistance to more than 35,000 military families in need, according to the organization's Web site. That assistance includes providing emergency items and financial assistance as well as the means for families of deployed servicemembers to stay connected.
Members of the group are in Washington to sign a memorandum of understanding this evening with the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights corporate and grassroots support for servicemembers and their families.
Operation Homefront, headed by military spouses, is the first America Supports You member to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Defense through its America Supports You partnership, a Defense Department official said.
"It's made a world of difference," Meredith Leyva, Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com founder, said.
Leyva said she believes signing an agreement with the DoD program will open doors for her organization.
The document states: "The Department of Defense recognizes that the goals of Operation Homefront are consistent with DoD's America Supports You program in its efforts to support military members and their families."
Through the memorandum, DoD also agrees to inform servicemembers and the military community about the group's efforts as appropriate to DoD's mission and ethical standards.
Operation Homefront agrees through the memorandum to continue to provide support and assistance to military families.
The memorandum will become official when Leyva and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communication and Public Liaison Allison Barber, architect of the America Supports You program, both sign the document during a reception for Operation Homefront this evening. |
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| America Supports You: DoD, Operation Homefront Sign Agreement |
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2006 - Operation Homefront and the Department of Defense formally agreed to cooperate on their joint mission to support military members and their families during a reception here yesterday evening.
Operation Homefront, a grassroots group headed by military spouses, is a member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights efforts to support America's servicemembers. Operation Homefront is the first such group to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Defense through its America Supports You partnership.
"We're thrilled to be here tonight to sign the very first memorandum of understanding with an America Supports You member," Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, said during the signing ceremony, at the Navy League building here.
"We are deeply honored that the DoD recognizes the incredible work we do deep in the trenches with military families," Meredith Leyva, founder of Operation Homefront, said. "(DoD) recognizes our work so much that they're willing to sing a (memorandum of understanding), which signifies, essentially, a national partnership with Operation Homefront."
The memorandum eliminates obstacles that sometimes occur between a private organization and the DoD, Leyva said. Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson was not scheduled to participate in the ceremony, attended the reception out of respect for what Operation Homefront is doing, he said. "I welcome this opportunity to say thanks to them and to the leadership and all you're doing in so many different places," he told the Operation Homefront representatives.
Barber said the agreement is just one more way to meet the mission of the American Supports You program: to highlight support to servicemembers.
"The morale of our troops is based on the support they feel from home," she said. "We're proud of what we created: a connector campaign. ... When
(troops) say, 'Do the American people still support us?' ... We can say, 'Absolutely, they support you.'
"And when the American people say, 'How can we help?' Through the America Supports You program, we can say, 'Let us tell you about Operation Homefront.'" |
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| Housing center for soldiers gets early start |
03/05/2008 12:06 AM CST
Express-News
A national organization has opened a local transitional housing complex for wounded warriors that could be a model for the nation.
Operation Homefront hadn't planned on moving anyone into the complex until a scheduled March 18 grand opening. But the group already has taken in two struggling families.
"They had nowhere to go," said Amy Palmer, co-founder of Operation Homefront.
Families of the wounded often run into debt while waiting for combat pay to be replaced by veterans or Social Security disability benefits. The process can take more than a year, Palmer said. Some families declare bankruptcy after a military wife has to quit her job to move to Fort Sam Houston.
Most residents of the complex will likely be former patients of Brooke Army Medical Center and their families, Palmer said. The complex is about 4 miles northeast of BAMC, a major center for treatment and therapy for burns, amputations and other combat injuries.
Transitional sites also are planned for San Diego, Calif., Phoenix and Silver Spring, Md., but the one here will be a template for the others, Palmer said.
Operation Homefront, formed in 2002 to help deployed and wounded troops, has called on builders and lenders to help the wounded get mortgage financing, especially for homes in overdeveloped neighborhoods.
Any efforts to speed up the military medical board process and approval of disability claims would also help, Palmer said.
For now, the organization is asking businesses and individuals to sponsor transitional housing.
The Wal-Mart Foundation, PGA TOUR and two
anonymous individuals have agreed to sponsor two- and three-bedroom units at the complex, called Operation Homefront Village. But there already are 12 families on a waiting list.
Families will stay in the wheelchair-accessible units rent-free, typically for six months to a year, while saving for an apartment or mortgage down payment. Sponsorships are $35,000 for the first year, including furniture, and $25,000 for each additional year, for a three-bedroom unit; $30,000 and $20,000 for a two-bedroom unit.
Operation Homefront also is looking for churches, veterans organizations and civic groups to sponsor barbecues and special events, as well as donations of food, diapers, DVDs and other items.
"We'd like to do as much as we can to get these families engaged in the community," Palmer said. "It lets them know San Antonio supports them."
The two-building site is part of a new 15-building complex, The Republic of Woodlake, managed by The Lynd Co. Palmer said it was more feasible to lease part of the property, which has a fitness center, swimming pool and night manager, than build its own complex.
The site includes a community center with computers where vets and spouses can get tutoring and help with claims, college enrollment and scholarship applications. Each family will meet monthly with a counselor to "make sure they progress in their transition process," Palmer said.
Meredith Leyva, an Operation Homefront co-founder based in Norfolk, Va., said the complex fills the gap between post housing and a permanent home. San Antonio has the greatest need for transitional housing because many of the wounded come to BAMC, which is less cramped than other facilities, she said.
"It's telling that we haven't officially opened this complex, and there's already a waiting list," she said. "We have many families that deliberately try to get to BAMC because of the quality and pace of care there.
"We want this to be the model for what works and what doesn't work."
Palmer can be reached by e-mailing amy@operationhomefront.net or calling (210) 659-7756.
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| America Supports You: CinCHouse.com Wins Webby Award |
Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2008
A troop-support organization’s Web site earned top honors in the annual Webby Awards competition as the top lifestyle site of 2008.
The CinCHouse.com Web site -- which derives its name from military shorthand for “commander in chief of the house” -- beat out such corporate giants as Epicurious and Reebok to take top honors in the 12th annual awards.
CinCHouse.com is Operation Homefront’s online community for military wives and women in uniform.
“We are completely thrilled,” said Regina Galvin, the site’s editor in chief. “This really validates all the hard work we put in last year to create a better product for our readers. I can’t thank our staff enough for the excellent work they did and continue to do every day.”
Shortly after Galvin joined the organization, a creative overhaul of the previous site produced a sleeker, more innovative version. Chad Myers, director of Web development, said the prestigious award will bring much-needed attention to the plight of military families struggling as deployments continue.
“I'm excited to win, but the real benefit will be the exposure to the organization and the ability to help more people because of it,” Myers said.
In 1999, Navy wife and author Meredith Leyva created the site as a virtual gathering place for military families frequently on the move. Part of Operation Homefront, CinCHouse includes forums as well as an online magazine that covers such issues as post-traumatic stress disorder and parenting.
“We are extremely honored,” she said. “This award really speaks volumes about how important our services are to our members and how important our members are to the larger Internet community.”
Operation Homefront is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Hailed as the “the Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, the Webby Awards are the leading international awards honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Web sites. They are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf, R/GA’s chief Bob Greenberg, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington and Harvey Weinstein.
"The Webby Awards honors the very best of the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards. "CinCHouse’s win is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of its creators."
Founded in 1996, the Webby Awards program is known worldwide for its famous five-word speech limit. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore (“Please don’t recount this vote.”), Beastie Boys (“Can anyone fix my computer?”) and Prince (“Everything you think is true.”)
This year, the Webby Awards received a record 10,000 entries from more than 60 countries and all 50 states. The winners will be honored at two star-studded ceremonies in New York City. The Webby Film and Video Awards ceremony takes place June 9, and the 12th Annual Webby Awards Gala will be held June 10.
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| Jim Beam® Salutes Operation Homefront and and "The Stuff Inside" with $175,000 Donation and Limited Edition Label |
| Jim Beam® Salutes Operation Homefront and
“The Stuff Inside” with $175,000 Donation and Limited Edition Label
America Invited to Post a Toast to “The Stuff Inside" to Honor
True Character and Integrity
(Indianapolis - May 17, 2008) – As Memorial Day weekend and the Indy 500 approach,
Jim Beam, in association with Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, are saluting U.S. troops and their families with a $175,000 donation to Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency services to troops and their families.
In supporting Operation Homefront, Jim Beam, the world’s No. 1-selling bourbon, honors the organization as part of the brand’s renewed, top-down commitment to its own original values – true character, integrity and doing the right thing.
"Jim Beam is doing the right thing by helping us keep military families and wounded warriors from homelessness and to keep these families safe and secure," said Amy Palmer, executive vice president of operations and development for Operation Homefront. "We’re so grateful for this donation, which will allow us to enhance our support of the brave men and women in uniform and their families who are experiencing hardships."
"This donation is aimed at helping the people who risk their lives to protect our freedom: our troops and their families,” said Fred Noe, seventh-generation Beam, distiller and Beam family ambassador. “We’re so proud of Operation Homefront and all that they do, so we’re putting it right on our bottle. A special limited-edition Operation Homefront label is going on more than 500,000 bottles of Jim Beam bourbon in time for Memorial Day.”
Team Penske Drivers Show Their Own “Stuff Inside”
As the Indy 500 approaches, Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe will rely on their own “stuff inside” to compete with 31 other accomplished drivers in “the greatest spectacle in racing.”
“Ryan and I, and all of Team Penske, are proud to join Jim Beam in saluting Operation Homefront and our nation’s military families,” said Castroneves. “It’s always exciting to drive the Indy 500 on Memorial Day weekend. It’s a weekend dedicated to what keeps America strong – the men and women who showed the ultimate “stuff inside” in serving our country.”
Briscoe echoed Castroneves’ statements, adding, “The Indianapolis 500 is considered by many to be the biggest event of Memorial Day weekend, but in joining Jim Beam in this salute to Operation Homefront, we want to remind fans that this weekend honors the commitments made to the U.S., by men and women in uniform and their families.”
Post a Toast to the Troops on TheStuffInside.com
As Memorial Day approaches, Jim Beam also is inviting consumers to raise a glass to America’s troops and their families for exhibiting “the stuff inside.” The brand is hosting a “Post a Toast” in the Operation Homefront section of TheStuffInside.com. Consumers of legal drinking age and older are invited to toast the troops, honoring the true character, integrity, perseverance and honesty that America’s armed forces – and their families – exhibit every day.
Toasts will appear on the site until July 4, and submitted toast(s) that best capture the spirit of “the stuff inside” may be considered for inclusion in Jim Beam advertising. For inspiration, check out Noe’s inaugural audio toast in the Operation Homefront section of TheStuffInside.com.
For more information, please visit TheStuffInside.com, or www.jimbeam.com. Jim Beam 750-ml and 1-liter bottles featuring the limited edition Operation Homefront label will be on store shelves at the end of May and are estimated to be available until July 4.
About Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront began in San Diego shortly after Sept.11, 2001 and now has 31 chapters across the country to respond to urgent requests from military families in need. The organization relies on charitable outreach of local volunteers and businesses like Jim Beam®. Jim Beam’s donation will provide much-needed services to solve crises which typically occur after a service member has deployed and the spouse and children are left behind. While Operation Homefront can flexibly address nearly any need, typical cases include auto repair or donation, home and appliance repair, distribution of refurbished computers so families can keep in touch, moving and transportation assistance, and baby items. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net.
About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher's® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob Creek® Bourbon and Starbucks™ Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company with annual sales exceeding $8 billion. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.
Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.
©2008 Beam Global Spirits and Wine, Inc. Deerfield, IL
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