R 281948Z FEB 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 008/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/2012 ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  FOR OVER 108 YEARS, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY HAS OFFERED MARINES AND SAILORS A PLACE TO TURN FOR FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. A SMALL PAID STAFF AND TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE 24/7 TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES DEPENDS PRIMARILY ON YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
2. IN 2011, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY AIDED NEARLY 100,000 MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, DISBURSING APPROXIMATELY (DOLLAR SIGN) 50 MILLION IN INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND GRANTS.  THESE LOANS AND GRANTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE DONATIONS OF FELLOW WARRIORS AND REMARKABLE SUPPORTERS OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.  THE NUMBERS FROM 2011 REFLECT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT TO ROUGHLY ONE IN EVERY FIVE ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND SAILORS SERVING OUR NATION. THE GENEROUS DONATIONS PROVIDED FOOD, SHELTER AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES; MONEY FOR EMERGENCY TRAVEL; DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKES, TORNADOES, HURRICANES AND FOREST FIRES; AND MUCH MORE.
3. DURING MARCH AND APRIL, IT IS OUR TURN TO SUPPORT THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY THROUGH THE ANNUAL ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE. THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN ECHOES MY PERSONAL SENTIMENT: "IT TAKES ALL HANDS." IN 2011, ONLY ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ACTIVE MARINES AND SAILORS RESPONDED TO THE CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. LET'S WORK AS A TEAM TO INCREASE THAT STATISTIC.
4. DEMAND FOR RELIEF SERVICES REMAINS HIGH - UP 75 PERCENT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.  PLEASE GIVE THIS CAMPAIGN YOUR ATTENTION AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN YOUR UNIT TO SUPPORT THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY BY EMBRACING THE TIME-HONORED TRADITION OF CARING FOR OUR FELLOW MARINES AND SAILORS.
5. SEMPER FIDELIS, GENERAL J. AMOS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//