chapters in action
One charity — Food for Families — received both financial support from the fund and more than 5,000 pounds of food for needy military families. Most of the food was donated by residents of a retirement community in Green Valley.
“The fund allows us to do a lot of things ... to support JROTC cadets and needy Guard and Reserve families [and] veterans’ programs,” says Maj. Steve Abel, USAF (Ret), who helped establish the fund. “It’s also generated a lot of publicity for our chapter.”
Support for local programs
Many MOAA affiliates have established general charitable funds, which in turn donate to local military and veterans’ charities. Chapter leaders carefully select each organization their charitable fund supports to ensure it’s reputable and well-run. Most chapters’ charitable funds also have an IRS 501(c) nonprofit status to encourage donations, and contributions are kept in a separate account from the general fund.
The Cape Canaveral (Fla.) Chapter (
www.moaacc.org) supports local JROTC programs and military and veterans’ charities through its Good Deeds Fund, which is fueled by members’ donations and proceeds from an annual golf tournament. For eight consecutive years, the fund has donated $6,000 to Operation Warmheart, which provides year-round assistance to needy airmen and their families at nearby Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
“During our monthly board meetings, we consider requests from other groups,” says chapter President Cmdr. Courtney Yelle, USN (Ret). “Last year, the Good Deeds Fund provided financial support to several local JROTC units and Space Coast Honor Flight.”
The Richmond (Va.) Area Chapter’s (
www.racmoaa.org) Military Community Assistance Program (MCAP) also supports local military charities. Cmdr. John Baumgarten, USN (Ret), who helped establish MCAP in 2008, says members’ donations are the primary source of funding.
The chapter’s board of directors reviews requests from charities seeking financial assistance and determines the amount MCAP will contribute. In 2012, two organizations — the spinal cord injury unit at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center and the Families of the Wounded Fund Inc. — received donations. In addition, $3,600 in MCAP funds was used to purchase the first-ever “moaamobile,” a handicapped-accessible, reconditioned golf cart that’s used to transport visitors with mobility issues to their loved ones’ gravesites at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia.
“Our chapter receives requests to contribute to monuments, plaques, and memorials that honor veterans, but we tend to support programs that help people,” says chapter President Col. Vince Cammarata, USA (Ret).
"The Good Deeds Fund provided financial support to ... local JROTC units and Space Coast Honor Flight.“
— Cmdr. Courtney Yelle, USN (Ret)
Charitable endowment
The Albuquerque (N.M.) Chapter’s (
www.albumoaa.org) nonprofit, tax-deductible Charitable Giving Program supports ROTC and JROTC units, as well as several charities that help veterans, servicemembers, and wounded warriors. Members can earmark where they would like their contribution to be used or simply donate to the program. According to chapter President Col. Roger Mickelson, USA (Ret), the program receives about $12,000 annually from members’ contributions and the chapter’s reserves and substantial contributions from the chapter’s ski and tour clubs. This allowed the program to help more than 10 military-related charities in 2012.
In 2012, an endowment bearing the chapter’s name was established through the Albuquerque Community Foundation using funds from the Charitable Giving Program that had built up over many years. According to chapter treasurer Col. Rettig P. Benedict Jr., USAF (Ret), the endowment will enhance the chapter’s current and future ability to contribute to charitable organizations that help military personnel and veterans and their families. To date, the endowment has $27,600 and continues to grow, thanks to members’ contributions and growth in investments. The chapter can use 4 to 5 percent of the value of the endowment each year to enhance its Charitable Giving Program or use the money to maintain donation levels in lean years. Chapter members also can include the endowment in their estate planning.
“Our chapter is very enthusiastic about our Charitable Giving Program that has been going on for at least 10 years,” says Benedict. “The endowment is a recent innovation, and we think it has exciting potential.”
SEPTEMBER 2013 MILITARY OFFICER 45
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