$75,000 Awarded to 11 Organizations to Build Upon Their Success
$100,000 Newman’s Own Foundation Grant Presented to Fisher House Foundation
Westport, CT, (September 10, 2009) – Newman’s Own, Inc. announced today 11 winners of the 2009 Newman’s Own Awards at the 10th annual Pentagon award ceremony. The award competition — sponsored by Newman’s Own, Inc., Fisher House Foundation, and Military Times Media Group — honors volunteer organizations for innovative programs that improve military quality of life. Each year, Newman’s Own, Inc. awards a total of $75,000 to the recipients. Chosen from 112 total entries, the top award of $15,000 was presented to USA Together, a Craigs List-type web site where qualified injured service members and their families can post unmet needs for goods, services or modest financial assistance from the general public.
“It was difficult to choose the final winners since they are all exemplary initiatives,” said Tom Indoe, president of Newman’s Own, Inc. “We hope the recognition of this year’s ingenious ideas will inspire others to reach out and help our military in many other ways.
Vets4Vets, a San Diego-based non-profit, was the recipient of the second largest Newman’s Own award of $10,000. The national, peer-support community of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans helps one another heal from the psychological injuries of war. In two years, more than 1,000 individuals have attended one of 45 free, residential weekend workshops across the country to benefit from and learn the skills of basic peer support.
At the close of the ceremony, Newman’s Own Foundation presented a $100,000 grant to Fisher House Foundation, an organization that has built and donated a network of 43 comfort homes on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. Today’s 10th anniversary marks $1.2 million in grants and sponsorships by Paul Newman, Newman’s Own, Inc. and Newman’s Own Foundation to military charities.
The other nine award winners’ stories are outlined below:
$7,500 AWARDS
"Homes for Wounded Heroes"
Bay Area Builder’s Association Support Our Troops. Inc., League City, Texas
Bay Area Builder’s Association (BABA), a division of Greater Houston Builder’s Association, was approached in 2005 by the family of a Marine severely injured in action in Afghanistan. The family was seeking a trustworthy remodeling contractor to make the necessary home improvements to accommodate their son, returning in a wheelchair. BABA answered, “Here we are!” BABA accomplished the project 100% free of charge, and BABA Support Our Troops, Inc. was born. Since then, the organization has provided new homes for 4 families of severely wounded heroes from the war on terror. The 5th new home is being presented soon, completely free, with taxes and insurance paid for two years. The dream is to spread this program to other Home Builder Associations around the country. In January 2010 BABA Support Our Troops, Inc program will be presented at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas. For more information, please see www.babasupport.com.
“Three Step Transformation”
Operation Life Transformed, Woodbridge, Virginia
Founded in March of 2007, Operation Life Transformed provides access to flexible online training programs that lead directly to high-demand job placement opportunities as identified by the Department of Labor. The Three Step Transformation program bridges the gap between online training, resume assistance and job placement with corporate partners, thus improving the quality of life and financial stability for our military families. The 2009 Newman’s Own Award grant will provide online training to 57 members of our military community to include: active duty military spouses (Guard and Reserve), Veterans, widows/ers, and the caregivers of wounded soldiers. Operation Life Transformed also received a Newman’s Own Award grant in 2007. For more information, contact Tania Mercurio (tmercurio@lifetransformed.org)
$5,000 AWARDS"Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans"
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas
The Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans is named in honor of donors Buddy G. and Charlotte Beck of Fairfax Station, Virginia. “PRIDE” is an acronym for Personal Rehabilitation Individual Development and Education. The mission of the Beck PRIDE Center is to provide combat wounded veterans with first class educational opportunities, extensive learning assistance, plus physical and mental health rehabilitation; within a university environment. It supports the reintegration and preparation of wounded combat service members into post-service careers. The Beck PRIDE Center opened in October 2007. It has served more than one hundred thirty active duty or discharged service members and their families; including all branches of military service- from across the U.S. It supplements veterans benefits or fills service gaps; does not duplicate other federal or state programs. The Beck PRIDE Center is housed within Arkansas State University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions in Jonesboro, Arkansas. ASU is a natural setting for this program; offering comprehensive higher education programs and degrees that directly support veterans. A “military friendly” institution, ASU has an active ROTC program and houses the 875th Arkansas National Guard Armory. For more information, contact Susan E. Tonymon (stonymon@astate.edu).
“Operation Patriot’s Call”
AMVETS Post 12, Winder, Georgia
Operation Patriot’s Call is a partnership between AMVETS Post 12 and local citizens, businesses and organizations that have pledged to support the families of the 1/121st, currently deployed to Afghanistan. The vision of Patriot’s Call is to mobilize Georgia’s communities to support their local heroes. National Guard Units do not have the convenience of a local base for support nor do they have the sense of community that comes with being attached to a base. While some communities wave flags as the soldiers leave and then quietly go about their business, Operation Patriot’s Call is actively creating and building a network to help with issues that come up while a spouse is deployed. This effort helps improve the quality of life for military families by providing a support network during the deployment and for up to 6 months after, giving the soldiers peace of mind while defending this Nation’s freedom. For more information, contact Michelle Walker (michellewalker30680@yahoo.com).
“Carolina Canines for Veterans”
Carolina Canines for Service, Wilmington, North Carolina
Carolina Canines for Service (CCFS) is a non-profit health and human services organization that provides people with disabilities quality trained service dogs. In 2008, CCFS launched a national pilot program, Carolina Canines for Veterans, to assist wounded warriors with a quality trained service dog, using military prisoners to train the dogs rescued from local shelters. Operating entirely on private donations, CCFS trains prisoners at the Camp Lejeune brig in Jacksonville, N.C. to raise and train each service dog. Carolina Canines for Veterans is the first of its kind to work within the walls of a military prison to train service dogs. Prisoners get a second chance to help their comrades. Wounded vets get a second chance for an independent lifestyle. Shelter dogs get a second chance at life. Service dogs are provided at no cost to the wounded warrior. For more information, contact Pat Hairston (info@carolinacanines.org).
“Camp C.O.P.E.”
Camp C.O.P.E., Dallas, Texas
Camp C.O.P.E. provides interactive small group counseling, specifically designed for the children of deployed or injured service members. Participants engage in therapeutic activities which highlight: coping skills, expression of anger, feeling identification, handling stress & anxiety, caring & empathy, empowerment, and dealing with grief & depression. The camp is designed to help our young heroes cope with the effects of war, deployments and the sacrifices they are asked to make everyday. So far, Camp C.O.P.E. has held six camps and provided services to over 1,000 children. All camps have been supported by corporate and individual donations. For more information, contact Sarah Balint-Bravo (campcope@yahoo.com).
“Support Our Wounded Heroes”
Family & Friends for Freedom Fund, Inc., Pompton Plains, New Jersey
Family & Friends For Freedom Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded in January 2005 after the founder’s family member, GySgt James Sturla was severely wounded in Iraq. Family and friends worked together to get through life-altering circumstances, and became aware of many other families who were undergoing similar changes in their lives. These families have been living a financial hardship long before our economy changed, and now have the added struggle of coping with emotional and physical burdens. Family & Friends For Freedom Fund has assisted over 170 military families and made grants in excess of $400,000. For more information, contact Kathy Sturla (info@injuredmarinesfund.org).
“Expanding the Comfort”
Sew Much Comfort, Burnsville, Minnesota
Sew Much Comfort provides adaptive clothing to support the unique needs of wounded service members from all branches of the military and national guard. The need for adaptive clothing continues to grow as American military members continue to be injured serving in current conflicts. Each week, wounded military members are medically evacuated to the United States for extensive treatment for bullet wounds, burns, head and limb injuries and amputations. Many previously injured are still in the recovery process. Some injuries require large fixator, prosthetics and casts that are too bulky to fit under ordinary clothing and underwear. Sew Much Comfort is the only organization providing adaptive clothing at no cost to our wounded service members. Without adaptive clothing, the only option for them is a hospital gown. Sew Much Comfort have produced and delivered over 75,000 items of adaptive clothing to our injured since we began in December 2004. For more information, contact Michelle Cuppy (mmc.cuppy@comcast.net).
“Camp STRIDE Wounded Warrior Fall Family Retreat”
STRIDE Adaptive Sports, Rensselaer, New York
In September 2008, STRIDE Adaptive Sports launched a unique mentorship opportunity between STRIDE Youth Athletes and Wounded Warriors with similar disabilities. The Wounded Warrior Fall Family Retreat was an outgrowth of four years of winter events to teach recently injured service members how to ski or snowboard in our adaptive program. The fall retreat is hosted in the Adirondacks for three days of kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, campfire cooking, and tent camping, but most importantly, a time to connect Wounded Warriors with children in the community who have similar challenges. Since 1985, STRIDE has been enriching the lives of children and individuals with disabilities by providing adaptive sports and recreational opportunities. In partnership with school districts and other non-profits, opportunities are provided to challenge people, potential and possibilities.
STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a volunteer non-profit organization providing over 4,000 adaptive sport and recreation lessons annually to children & individuals with special needs. STRIDE has over 250 skilled volunteer sport instructors, serving more than 1,000 families; and offers free programs in seventeen different sports and locations. For more information, contact Katie Moshier Suhr (kmoshier@stride.org).
About Newman’s Own, Inc.
Newman’s Own ®, Inc. — founded by Paul Newman and his buddy A. E. Hotchner in 1982 — is a successful and growing premium food business. Newman’s Own offers more than 100 varieties of delicious all-natural food and beverage products, which include salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, popcorn, lemonade, and thin & crispy frozen pizza. Based in Westport, CT, the charitable mission of Newman’s Own®, Inc. was expressed by Paul in the Company motto: “Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good.” Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $270 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.
Visit www.newmansown.com for the nearest retailer/s that carry Newman’s Own products and for recipe suggestions using Newman’s Own®, Inc. products.
Learn more about our mission at www.newmansownfoundation.org.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of 43 comfort homes on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. The houses are 5,000 to16,800 square foot homes, with up to 21 suites, donated to the military and Department of Veterans Affairs by Fisher House Foundation. The Foundation provides support to families of patients receiving care at the nearby medical center and has ensued that families of service men and women wounded or injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom do not pay for their stay at a Fisher House or other base facility if they are on a wait list. For more information on the work of Fisher House Foundation, go to www.fisherhouse.org, or call toll-free (888) 294-8560.
About Military Times Media Group
Military Times Media Group, publisher of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times, and Military Times Edge, delivers exclusive, original, in-depth news and analysis about careers, pay and benefits and other issues that affect the military community.
The Military Times Media Group is owned by Army Times Publishing Company; a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc.
For more information on the Military Times Media Group visit www.militarytimes.com.