2010 ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY
Date Signed: 2/25/2010 | ALMARS Number: 006/10
ALMARS : 006/10

R 252119Z FEB 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 006/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/2010 ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  FOR 106 YEARS, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY (NMCRS) HAS BEEN THE PLACE WHERE MARINES AND SAILORS TURN FOR FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.  THE SOCIETY'S SUCCESS IN HELPING THOSE IN NEED IS A REFLECTION OF THE SELFLESS SERVICE, DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND PROFESSIONALISM OF ITS SMALL PAID STAFF AND MORE THAN 3,600 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS LOCATED AROUND THE GLOBE.  LIKE THE NAVAL SERVICE IT SUPPORTS, THE SOCIETY IS EXPEDITIONARY AND FORWARD DEPLOYED WITH MORE THAN 250 OFFICES ASHORE AND AFLOAT.  THEY ARE AVAILABLE 24/7 TO RESPOND TO THE UNEXPECTED NEEDS OF OUR WAR FIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, GIVING GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, FAMILY READINESS, AND OPERATIONAL READINESS OF OUR NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SOCIETY'S EFFORTS, COUNTLESS MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS FULLY ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OUR NATION, KNOWING THERE IS A SAFETY NET AT HOME TO CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
2.  BEGINNING MARCH 1ST, ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND SAILORS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF NMCRS. 
3.  NMCRS OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND GRANTS.  DURING THE PAST YEAR, NMCRS RESPONDED TO THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF MARINES, SAILORS AND FAMILIES 91,418 TIMES - A 17 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR - AND PROVIDED MORE THAN 47.4 MILLION IN INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND OUTRIGHT GRANTS.  THE SOCIETY'S QUICK ASSIST LOAN (QAL) PROGRAM, DESIGNED FOR MARINES AND SAILORS WHO NEED JUST A LITTLE HELP, ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY HALF THE CASEWORK AND ONE-FOURTH OF ALL THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIETY IN 2009.  THE QAL PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO HIGH INTEREST, PREDATORY LENDERS AND HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS STORY.  THE SOCIETY'S 48 REGISTERED VISITING NURSES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR COMBAT INJURED MARINES, SAILORS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDING LONG TERM CASE MANAGEMENT FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED.  THESE NURSES MAKE FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH THE INJURED AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY ARE BEING TREATED IN MILITARY MEDICAL FACILITIES AND REMAIN IN CLOSE PERSONAL CONTACT FOLLOWING THEIR RECOVERY OR DISCHARGE.  THEY CURRENTLY FOLLOW MORE THAN 750 SERVICE MEMBERS INJURED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE ARABIAN GULF.  IN JUST THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE SOCIETY HAS PROVIDED NEARLY 3.5 MILLION IN OUTRIGHT GRANTS TO MORE THAN 2,500 MARINES AND SAILORS INJURED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE ARABIAN GULF. 
4.  YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE THE PRIMARY FUNDING THAT ENABLES THE SOCIETY TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.  IN 2009, YOUR GENEROSITY RESULTED IN DONATIONS OF 10.1 MILLION.  GIVEN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, THAT LEVEL OF GIVING WAS REMARKABLE.  THIS YEAR'S FUND DRIVE WILL REQUIRE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL ATTENTION.  KEY TO OUR SUCCESS WILL BE A UNITED AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT FROM COMMAND LEADERSHIP AND A SPIRITED, FOCUSED EFFORT THROUGHOUT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.  AS NMCRS STATES: "IT'S NOT ABOUT SAILORS AND MARINES GIVING MORE; IT'S ABOUT MORE SAILORS AND MARINES GIVING."  TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN TAKES ALL HANDS.  THE NMCRS WEB SITE AT HTTP:(SLASH SLASH)WWW.NMCRS.ORG SHOWS THE SCOPE AND VARIETY OF ASSISTANCE OFFERED AS WELL AS A COMPLETE LISTING OF OFFICE LOCATIONS, HOURS OF OPERATION, AND MORE.
5.  WITH THE DEMAND FOR RELIEF SERVICES CONTINUING TO GROW - UP TWO THIRDS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS - I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT NMCRS BY GIVING GENEROUSLY TO THIS ORGANIZATION THAT IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE MEMBER OF OUR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TEAM.
6.  SEMPER FI.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//