The Virginian-Pilot
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The Navy SEAL Foundation announced Tuesday that a Virginia Beach-based business has donated $1 million to a new fund dedicated to helping the children of commandos killed or wounded in combat - and the foundation is challenging donors to give twice that amount.
ADS Inc. sells tactical and medical equipment to military and other federal agencies. The family-owned company got its start as an arm of the Lynnhaven Dive Center, which does lots of business with members of the special warfare community.
"We are blessed to serve these brave warfighters," Luke Hillier, CEO of ADS, said in a news release. "Their sacrifices are no less than extraordinary. Supporting these special families... is both an honor and a privilege."
Jim Smith, the foundation's executive director, said there was an outpouring of support from individuals and companies after the death of 22 Navy special warfare personnel when a helicopter was downed in Afghanistan in August. But there also were a lot of upfront expenses to cover as families coped with loss.
The foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000, wants to address the ongoing needs of affected families, and it has learned they often need more assistance for a longer stretch than military benefits provide, Smith said.
For instance, he said, SEAL wives who lost husbands in recent years told him their children often needed more than two years of grief counseling. Many rely on financial counseling arranged by the foundation as they plot new futures for their families. Some surviving spouses need help covering expenses as they prepare to sell a house or complete a home renovation that their husband intended to finish.
Thirty U.S. service members died in the helicopter downing in August. The 22 Navy men among them left behind 12 wives and 26 children, according to the foundation. And though no one likes to say so directly, more families will join their ranks. The number of U.S. military members assigned to Iraq and Afghanistan will drop in coming years, but experts say the nation's reliance on special operations personnel will only grow.
According to forms filed with the IRS, the foundation received $5.4 million in contributions and grants in 2010.
Ultimately, Smith said, the foundation's directors hope to amass a $30 million endowment.
The new fund - called The ADS Inc. Fund for Children of Naval Special Warfare - will enable the foundation to provide some services almost immediately in the wake of a death, including airline tickets and lodging for family members.
"The military's assistance is limited," Smith said. "Ours is less limited."
For instance, the government pays for travel for immediate family after a death.
"Their idea of immediate family is different than our idea of immediate family," Smith said.
But the fund also will cover longer-term needs, Smith said: tutoring for school-age children, leadership opportunities, college or vocational school tuition not covered by existing federal programs.
"We're in it for the long haul," Smith said, "and support for the long haul means that donations have to keep coming."
Donations can be made at www.nswfoundation.org or sent to Navy SEAL Foundation, 1619 D St., Building 5326, Virginia Beach, VA 23459.
Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
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Thankful!
I am thankful & honored to say, "I work for this Company"
This company is very dedicated to our service men and woman.
We have a great leader in Luke Hillier who has always gone above and beyond to help those in need as well as those left behind. The generousity never ends.
Atta Boy
Wow. How about everyone stop over analyzing and actually just acknowledge that something good was done here?
Comment deleted
Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Personal attack, name calling
Charity rating 59.37
According to Charity navigator the Navy Seal Foundation had a 59.37 rating on a scale of 100. Administrative expenses were over $1,700,000, which is why I raised the question on the efficiency of setting up a separate fund for the same thing,which creates more overhead and administrative expenses.
Good points
Isn't it ironic that the war profiteers have to give back to the cause they profited from? I'm thankful for all that serve but can our MIC continue unabated?
bob
I use Charity Navigator also. Everyone should use it. It will tell you how much is spent on administrative costs, which is my one biggest factor in determining where I send my money to help the less fortunate. Some charities are out and out frauds and some that are very well known pay tremendous salaries to their boards and administrative employees. That rating is not great. Seems like there should be some accounts set up at the banks to help some of the local families?
great cause!
Thirty servicemen died in that crash.
Some families do not get help even though all thirty died in the same mission?
"We are blessed to serve
"We are blessed to serve these brave warfighters,"
Seems like an odd statement.
What is odd about it?
They, as a company, are blessed in the fact that they are able to give to a charity. Most companies nowadays are not so blessed.
Sorry, I thought he implying
Sorry, I thought he implying they were blessed to be able have a contract with the military..... which in turn lets them profit from war.
They stated serve, not give back so I misunderstood what was said.