Charity Fund Report:
To: Chris Farwell, Paul Fleming, Tom Seeley, Jim
Hodgeboom, Board Members, all interested VHPA members
Subject: Accumulated VHPA funds
From: Dick Latimer, Fund Committee
As I began to get a job description picture of the
duties of this committee, I understood our mission to be three pronged:
1)
To find appropriate places that our funds could be disbursed to
assure any monies spent would be in keeping with VHPA members desires to
assist veterans; either through Veteran’s Organizations, Hospitals, or
personal involvement of VHPA on a local or National level.
2)
How much to disperse and how often; with a prioritized list of
recommended places and organizations worthy of VHPA’s consideration as a
fund recipient.
3) Possible
ways to raise money in the future to sustain a forecasted donation amount.
As you can see, this was a pretty broad sweep
picture of the committee’s assignment, so if there is a feeling of
“Brainstorming” that is not in the scope envisioned by VHPA, please forgive
the misunderstanding of our job description
Recommendation number one is the Department of
Veteran’s Affairs, Puget Sound Health Care System, where monetary donations
(checks) can be made payable to Dept. of Veterans Affairs. These general
post funds are used strictly for patient benefits under a) b) or c) below:
a)
General Purpose Fund-Funding used for the general welfare/ population
of veterans served by VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle and
American Lake Divisions. These funds provide for on-station and off-station
recreational activities, special events, picnics and refreshments, and
patient general activities or needs. (Committee thought---VHPA members could
get personally involved by scheduling one of our quarterly meetings at this
time in order to meet and assist fellow vets at one of these special events
or picnics)
b)
Emergency Cash/Patient Welfare Fund- This fund assists patients with
food; gas for vehicles; bus or airfare assistance in the event of a death in
family; clothing; one-time rent vouchers; or inexpensive short-term lodging.
(NOTE: Patients who receive assistance from this fund are on a limited
income, homeless, or indigent). Specific use of funds donated to the
“Patient Welfare Fund” would include lodging, clothing, telephone cards,
comfort items, bus passes, food vouchers (Safeway) and the like.
c)
Equipment Fund: Used to purchase televisions and radios for patients
rooms. (VA does not provide a budget for these items)
The Spinal Cord Injury
Clinic recently requested a 40-50 “LCD Digital large-screen TV” for their
patients’ dayroom at the Seattle Division. It needs to come with a
wall-mount unit. There is also a need for Heart Pillows that are used by
patients, following cardiac bypass or other thoracic surgery.
Monetary and material
donations are also accepted for the comfort and well being of veteran
patients. Material donations such as DVD players, men’s clothing, comfort
items, books, magazines, and other items are accepted—All coordinated
through Voluntary Services. (Committee thought—collection of items could be
price of admission to quarterly VHPA luncheon)
Barbara Hatred, the
Director of Voluntary Services (who spoke to us at our March VHPA meeting)
stated that donations for this past year have been much less than at any
time in its history, which has limited their ability to make life more
enjoyable for the patients they serve.
Why Priority One-We
could get involved locally and donations would benefit local Vets.
Recommendation Number
Two—Fisher House Foundation
The Fisher House
provides accommodations for wounded or ill service members’ families, so
families can face medical crises together. Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher
House Program began in 1990. Presently, 33 Fisher Houses operate on 17
Military bases and 7 Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout
the nation. Over 70,000 families have been helped so far with 8000 families
served per year. The average length of stay is 12 days, but combat
casualties stay from 60 to 90 days. There are some 4000 volunteers serving
in the program per year, with over $70 million saved in lodging costs
alone. The Foundation provides more than a comfortable “home away from
home.” It provides Scholarships for Military Children, grants for Volunteer
Programs, support to families of wounded and injured service men and women.
There is one locally at:
Madigan Army Medical Center
9999
Wilson Ave (Ph-253-964-9283)
Ft.
Lewis, WA 98433
There is also movement
to fund a Fisher House in Seattle which will be a 21 suite building located
on the VA Puget Sound Health Center System grounds. Five Million dollars has
been committed to the ground breaking in 2007 with 2 Million more needed for
final construction and an endowment for ongoing operation. That VA serves
us “locally,” as well, and its address is:
VA Puget Sound Fisher House
C/O Fisher House General Post Fund
1660 So. Columbian Way (206-277-3950)
Seattle, WA 98108-1597
Recommendation number
three would be the Army Emergency Relief (AER) Fundraising Campaign if
VHPA wanted to get actively involved in helping “Today’s” Army and Veterans
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Their theme is “Soldiers Helping
Soldiers” and the fund is mostly for Emergency Needs, children and spouse
scholarships, grants to widows and wounded warriors in need. Since there
have been two Stryker Brigades and several National Guard Units deployed
from Ft. Lewis, the AER may fall into the suggested parameters of
consideration by VHPA. This fund has raised 50 Million Dollars given in
financial assistance to over 51,000 soldiers and their families. The
following is the address for AER:
CDR, I Corps MS20
ATTN: IMNW-LEW-MWA-AER
PO Box 339500
Ft. Lewis, WA 98433
Tom Seeley and Jim
Hodgeboom may have further recommendations to follow, but the above three
only, have been prioritized. Included next will be organizations assisting
veterans on a National and Local level.
The Veterans of
Foreign Wars or VFW supports efforts to find causes and treat illnesses
afflicting Veterans. They are a dominant “Voice on the Hill” advocating all
forms of legislation that support veterans in numerous ways. They have two
million members in 10,000 posts around the globe. In order to belong to VFW
you must have been a member of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Force or a
recipient of an Armed Forces Service Medal. VFW has many assistance
programs in effect presently. A local contact would be:
MAWild West VFW Post 91
2000 So.Union (253-759-6995)
Tacoma, WA 98405
AMVETS-American
Veterans are a National advocate for Veterans Rights and local National
Service Officers can act as an agent for individual veterans in their appeal
for individual claims benefits. It is an organization of “Veterans for
Veterans” and is open to all veterans that served after 15Sep40. They are
250,000 members strong in over 1400 posts worldwide. They are advocates for
veterans in issues of Health Care, retirement benefits, job training, and
legislative programs. Just as in VFW, there are many and varied assistance
programs such as; Special Olympics, Scouting, ROTC, drug and alcohol abuse.
There are also many member privileges such as reduced group insurance rates
and discounts on medical services. A local contact would be:
AMVETS
Mel Schleich
(253-471-0407)
5717 So. Tyler
Tacoma, WA 98409
Tom Seeley asked me to
include the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial even though it
doesn’t fit the VHPA parameter of a “local” donation. It will be a 2-acre
site adjacent to the National Mall and will be a reminder to all of the cost
of human conflict. Gary Sinise and other prominent people are hopeful this
memorial will become a reality. Donations may be made to:
American Veterans Disabled for
Life Memorial
Disabled Veterans Life Memorial
Foundation
2300 Clarendon Blvd. Suite 302
Arlington, VA 22201-3367
(888-525-2009)
As you can see, this is
an incomplete list of organizations to which VHPA could donate some of their
funds. We discovered there is an unending list of causes and organizations
that could benefit from donations sent their way, so it will remain a “list
in progress.” Several of the organizations not listed that would fall within
VHPA parameters would be American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, War
Memorials, Madigan Hospital, and other local Hospitals and Veterans
Retirement Homes.
LATIMER’S
NOTES
My apologies to Chris,
Paul, Board Members, Tom and Jim and anyone else who reads this second
portion because it will only reflect my disorderly random notes taken at one
of our committee meetings and in no way constitutes recorded, official
minutes of same.
Name Change?
VHPA will end with the last dead Vietnam pilot registered. What about
“Combat Helicopter Pilots?” We could be ChiPS –like on TV-man! Or do we
empower the last live Vietnam Pilot to bequeath our meager funds to
whomsoever he deems fit. What about a new mission statement and a new name
or a written Will of Intent?
What about
funding a Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Memorial at American Lake or Tahoma
Cemetery or Fort Lewis or downtown Seattle-- Some appropriate monolith to
perpetuate our infamous selves?
Question—HOW
INVOLVED DOES VHPA WISH TO BECOME PERSONALLY OR AS A GROUP? Are we just
going to send our “funds” or are we capable and willing to commit our time,
effort, and resources to actually help a veteran? How about an
active/willing group of VHPA’ers (Minute-Men) to support American Lake with
transportation, individual needs? That would require an organizer, a
scheduler, a telephone tree, a job book, and a sign–up sheet. Barb Hatred
(retired) and her replacement Chaun Shivers sent me a 3 page listing of job
titles for volunteers from telephoning to transportation to filing to
hospice care to just socializing visitations, etc.etc. (I would draw the
line somewhere above emptying bedpans, myself.)
Other ways to
spend our funds? Purchase our own Huey Shell and Trailer to haul it with.
Buy a food booth/trailer. Buy tickets to a ballgame for all ambulatory vets,
including a first-class bus ride.
Ways to Raise
Money?
Golf Tournament,
Marathon (Bike, Walk, Run), Car Show, Food Wagon/Trailer Concession,
Take-over tips at a Restaurant/café, 50/50 tickets (half for meal, half to
fund), Members pay for own lunch, Charity Dinner, Dance/Hoot-Nanny, Bar-B-Q
at public or private park, Crab Feed, Pizza Bake, Chili Cook-off, Family
Picnic Potluck, Helicopter Rides, Solicitations/Cold Calls asking Corp. and
Banks and Casinos for money (maybe get some of our own, back) Schedule our
meetings during American Lake Events, Outings, or Picnics and share table,
self, family, food with a Vet.
Haven’t answered
questions of How much to donate? or How often.? Your Board has to have
something to do, don’t they? Sorry, Smart-ass-ism is hard to overcome. It is
part of the Warrant Officer training and cultivated mystique.
Done for today! (Sorry,
shouldn’t use words like “done-for” at our age.)
Respectfully Submitted,
VHPA Fund?
Committee
Richard
Latimer, (self-appointed chairman)
Tom Seeley
(ideas man)
Jim
Hodgeboom (via telephone)
