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MOAA’s eight-member Finance and Scholarship Department has a dy- namic and diverse mission. In addition to handling all the financial operations for MOAA, we support the MOAA Scholar- ship Fund, Voices for America’s Troops, and the MOAA Military Family Initiative. The MOAA general fund includes all

Learn More To read more about or donate to the MOAA Scholarship Fund and MOAA Military Family Initiative, visit www .moaa.org/donate.

operations in support of the association’s membership, including a robust military- advocacy operation, production of Military Officer, and the council and chapter sys- tem. We also manage funding for the many member products and services MOAA offers and provide oversight of the associa- tion’s investment portfolio. Though there are many gratifying as- pects of working in our department, per- haps the greatest is supporting the MOAA Scholarship Fund. This unique program provides interest-free loans and grants to over 1,700 students annually. Combining our generous donors’ giving with our very extensive loan repayment program, with over 2,200 students making monthly repay- ments, allows us to continue to fund new students each year. We also are proud of our American Patriot Scholarship, which provides grants to military children whose parents were killed while serving on active duty. Recently, we expanded the program to include children of severely disabled servicemembers eligible for Traumatic Ser- vicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. We also support Voices for America’s Troops, a subsidiary organization open

48 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2015

MOAA’s Finance and Scholarship Department ensures the association’s vital resources are properly managed, accounted for, and well-spent. By Col. James O’Brien, USAF (Ret)

to those who are not otherwise eligible for MOAA membership and who share MOAA’s interest in maintaining a strong national defense and sustaining essential support systems for the nation’s service- members and their families and survivors. Our newest subsidiary, the MOAA Mili-

tary Family Initiative, creates, enhances, expands, or supports high-impact, proven- successful programs and services that en- able servicemembers and veterans of all ranks and their families to maintain a qual- ity of life reflective of their selfless service. The foundation funds these programs and services through philanthropic contribu- tions from the American people and organi- zations that support our mission. Ensuring we have strict financial con-

trols and a strong audit program are essen- tial, so MOAA and its subsidiaries have a strong governance structure, including ac- tive boards of directors and committees that provide oversight of all financial operations. Additionally, we have an extensive on-site audit performed annually by an outside firm to ensure we are compliant with accounting policies and applicable tax laws. The Finance and Scholarship Depart- ment is proud to serve the MOAA mem- bership, and we take very seriously our responsibility to ensure your money is well- spent and properly managed.

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— Col. James O’Brien, USAF (Ret), is chief fi nancial offi cer of MOAA and director of its Finance and Scholarship Department.