Remember vets with donation to fund to help them
Many in the community will remember those who have served in the military today by attending the annual Veterans Day parade.
It will be a joyful and patriotic event, but the reality for some veterans is not so joyful and we should not forget that.
Those who have been in battle sometimes return with grievous physical and mental wounds that stay with them throughout their lives. They need ongoing assistance that can be difficult to find or is limited.
That is why a Yuma Veterans Fund is currently being created by the Yuma Community Foundation.
The fund has been initially funded through a donation from a caring individual who has donated $10,000 in “matching” money. The goal is to get another $2 in donations for each dollar in the initial donation. Once a certain amount is raised — $25,000 — the fund will begin distributing a defined portion of interest from the money each year to veterans programs in the community. The more that is donated, the more that will be available.
All of the money will stay here helping local veterans and will exist in perpetuity.
Retired Marine Lt. Gen. John Hudson, who is serving as an adviser to the Yuma Veterans Fund, notes that the goal is not to replace current veterans programs but to help them and to fill in funding gaps that may exist.
“There's not enough money, not collectively, not individually” to do what is needed to help veterans, he said.
Putting on a parade and in other ways honoring veterans is important and appreciated. But actually providing money to help veterans with their many needs after they have served their nation is also important.
The fund hopes to be organized and distributing money by the spring of next year, but it all depends on people being generous and providing the needed “seed” money.
If you would like to help, you can make tax deductible donations online by going to www.AZFoundation.org/YumaVeterans or by mailing a check to: Yuma Community Foundation, P.O. Box 6835, Yuma, AZ 85366. Donors should write “Yuma Veterans Fund” on the memo line of the check.
