WM Favorite Things: Holiday Gift Guide & Favorite Charities

WM Favorite Things: Holiday Gift Guide & Favorite Charities

Today is #GivingTuesday. 

Did you know that military personnel and their loved ones seeking help through Give an Hour are given a list of volunteer licensed mental health providers located near their homes or bases and make their own appointments directly with the providers?

There are no claims or forms to fill out. 

This system provides convenience, flexibility, privacy, and almost instant connection with a provider instead of long waits that could exacerbate problems.

Last year we estimated that each hour of counseling was provided for a total cost of $17 per hour.

Please consider making a donation or sharing this post to help spread the word about the crucial services we provide -->http://bit.ly/SZRA59

Thank you for your support.

Meet MLB Player Justin Verlander

Surprise your Major League Baseball fan with an experience they will never forget. Contribute $10 to Give an Hour’s online campaign and help raise funds for our #military and #veteran communities and for your chance to meet Justin Verlander during the Tiger’s pre-game batting practice. Batter up!

For more information, click here:

http://www.omaze.com/experiences/meet-justin-verlander-at-batting-practice-before-a-tigers-game

#GivingTuesday

Next week is #GivingTuesday and proves that the holidays can be about both giving and giving back. It celebrates how Americans can do more with their wallets than just shop -- and that we Americans can give as good as we get. http://bit.ly/SZRA59

The latest numbers are in and we are proud to announce that our volunteer providers have given more than 104,000 hours in mental health services to veterans and their loved ones! Thank you to all our wonderful providers!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11321403.htm

On Veterans Day today, Red Border Films will present Healing Bobby, the latest project by TIME’s new documentary film unit. Directed by award-winning photojournalist Peter Van Agtmael, the film traces the life of Bobby Henline, an Iraq War veteran who sustained burns on more than a third of his body after his Humvee hit an Improvised Explosive Device outside of Baghdad. After two weeks in a coma and months of grueling rehabilitation, Henline turned to stand up comedy to help ease the pain, using his act to bring comfort to veterans suffering from PTSD and the families whose loved ones never made it back from war.

You can view the trailer here: http://time.com/redborder

Give an Hour is proud to announce that we will now offer secure and confidential mental health care sessions for #Helpouts, Google's new service for getting help over live video!

Read the full press release below:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11298472.htm

Celebrate Veteran's Day!

Celebrate Veterans Day in the classroom!  Our friends at Got Your 6 have teamed up with History’s successful “Take A Veteran to School Day,” to educate the next generation on who are veterans are.  Learn more about the program here!  http://bit.ly/17pQUOm

Upcoming Events

Norfolk RSVP: http://conta.cc/17rtmZi

Fayetteville RSVP: http://conta.cc/16aNdRo

GAH PSA

Call For Participants - Research Study

Are you part of a combat-injured family? If so, you're invited to participate in a research study!

FOCUS-Combat Injured is being conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center r and San Antonio Military Medical Center and surrounding metro areas (MD, DC, VA, TX). Participants receive compensation, Resource Guide, access to an extensive web site, and family skill-building sessions.

If interested, please visit  www.cifamilies.org/ and click on Participate in the Study to take a brief screener. Or contact us at 301-295-1102 or info@CIFamilies.org.

FYI --The following document lists which VA services are impacted by the government shutdown and those that are not. 

http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Field_Guide_20130927.pdf.

#DreamDay Call to Action

CALL TO ACTION - NBC News is asking every American to share their dreams as the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. 

You still have time to submit your dream through Wednesday, August 28. Celebrities, politicians, journalists, thought leaders and all Americans are invited to take part in #DreamDay by completing the statement “I Have a Dream that____.” NBC News will spotlight the messages across its various shows and digital platforms, sharing the dreams of the nation with millions.

The text, photo and video messages can be submitted to NBC News using social media platforms such Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine, with the hashtag #DreamDay. A curated collection of the submissions will be featured on “TODAY,” “NBC Nightly News,” with many thousands of dreams spotlighted athttp://NBCNews.com/DreamDay. NBC’s owned and affiliate stations will also engage their local communities to take part in the effort.

Macy's Shop For A Cause

Macy's Shop for a Cause – Buy a Shopping Pass Today and Support Give an Hour

Save 25% on August 24th!

Since 2006, Macy’s Shop For A Cause Event has partnered with non-profit organizations nationwide to raise more than $45 million for their ongoing charitable efforts. This is your chance to be part of this monumental event at the Macy's in your hometown on Saturday, August 24, 2013.

Give an Hour is proud to be one of the charity partners. Help to support our mission of providing free and confidential mental health services to military, veterans and their families by purchasing your $5 shopping pass using the link below. Each $5 pass entitles shoppers to 25% exclusive savings in every Macy's store and Give an Hour keeps 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the shopping passes.

Click on this link for more information and to purchase your shopping pass: http://connected.giveanhour.org/show/macys-shop-for-a-cause

Join Macy’s and Give an Hour and find the magic of giving back!

CALL TO ACTION

NYC JumboTron Ad

Give an Hour will once again fly over Times Square this summer from mid-July to mid-October. Our ad will be on the jumbo tron on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. And will run once an hour. Let us know if you spot it!

$3 million goal reached for Macy's/GotYour6 Campaign!

The results from the Macy's American Icons campaign with our friends at Got Your 6 are in.... we are proud to announce, thanks to all our supporters and Macy’s shoppers, Macy’s reached the goal and have raised an astounding $3 million for Got Your 6, their nonprofit partners and our veterans! A BIG thanks to Macy’s for making this all happen. Now, that’s the magic of Macy’s.

GAH Participating in First Virtual Mental Health Fair

Ever wish you could attend a conference just to roam around the exhibit hall? Well we’re bringing it to you! Join Give an Hour with DCoE - Defense Centers of Excellence on Facebook on June 19 for the first Virtual Mental Health Fair where you can virtually roam booths, gather useful information and even live chat. Stay tuned for more information.

Veterans Charity Challenge Launch!

Give an Hour is excited to be a part of the Crowdrise/craigconnets Veteran's Challenge. Please visit http://bit.ly/10McZCr to donate or set up your own fundraising page that you can share with your friends and family to help raise money for Give an Hour. All donations will go directly to Give an Hour and will help offset the cost of public education and nationwide mental health provider trainings.

Thank you for making a difference and supporting the Give an Hour mission!

Macy's Got Your 6 Launch!

Let’s make Got Your 6 a household name! 

Today is the official launch of Macy's American Icons program to celebrate the people, places, and things that make America great-­‐ and veterans are most certainly in that group. 

Every Macy’s shopper can support Got Your 6 by purchasing a 15/20% shopping pass good for one day for only $3, where 100% of proceeds (up to $3 million) will benefit Got Your 6 and their nonprofit partners. And when you give $6 in support of Got Your 6, you will get a golden Got Your 6 pin to wear your support plus the shopping pass. That’s a win for everyone, so let’s get shopping with Macy’s! www.gotyour6.org/macys

Research Study

Click here to take the survey ----> http://bit.ly/MainSurveyA

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this research study!

"A Celebration of Service"

Join Give an Hour for “A Celebration of Service.” This is a series of events June 2-3, 2013, that will bring together all those from the military, government, corporate, and nonprofit worlds who work with us year-round to honor and support the men, women, and families who serve our country.

To learn more about the events click here --->
http://connected.giveanhour.org/celebration_of_Service.shtml

Give an Hour Founder Quoted in Senate Press Release

 

Support For Inhofe-Hagan Military Tuition Assistance Amendment Grows

 

Prominent National Groups Endorse Effort To Reinstate

Tuition Assistance Program

 

March 18, 2013

Contact:

Chris Moyer (Hagan)

202-379-8421

Press@hagan.senate.gov

Donnelle Harder (Inhofe)

202-224-4721

Donelle_Harder@inhofe.senate.gov

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kay Hagan and Jim Inhofe today announced growing support for their bipartisan amendment to reinstate the Tuition Assistance Program for servicemembers. Prominent national groups including the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), American Legion, Marine Corps League, American Military Retirees Association, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Non Commissioned Officer Association (NCOA), and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) have endorsed the amendment. Other endorsements include local community colleges and families personally affected by the discontinuation of these funds. Due to sequestration, the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps have suspended beneficial Tuition Assistance funds that are designated for servicemembers.

 

“I am proud to have the support of so many military and education groups who are standing with me and Senator Inhofe as we fight to get tuition assistance benefits reinstated,” said Hagan. “We cannot balance the budget on the backs of ourservicemembers. There is no doubt we must get our fiscal house in order, but this is not the way to do so – it is shortsighted to completely suspend this crucial program.”

 

"Around 60 percent of our men and women who join our all-volunteer Armed Forces do so in order to pursue a higher education," said Inhofe. "This is a moral issue; not a partisan issue. Sen. Hagan and I have heard from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, countless military families and veterans, as well as organizations concerned and alarmed by the abrupt end to the program. While we must address our nation's challenging fiscal crisis, we must establish priorities with the resources we do have. We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform for this amendment to be voted on and included in the Senate Continuing Resolution."

 

Vice Admiral Norbert R. Ryan, President of MOAA said:

 

“MOAA is deeply concerned that the Pentagon abruptly canceled tuition assistance programs for the troops. In addition to the obvious impact on morale, it’s already having a measurable impact on recruiting. With so many years of sacrifice for the nation the all-volunteer force deserve better. MOAA strongly supports Senators Inhofe and Hagan’s efforts to reverse this bad decision.”

 

The Non Commissioned Officer Association (NCOA) released a letter of support that said:

 

“It is readily apparent to the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) that tuition assistance programs contribute to the creation of significant leadership potential of every serving member.” The NCOA letter said, “Well done Senators Inhofe and Hagan on the priority introduction of this high value Amendment! NCOA fully Supports your action and will assist in every way possible to preserve tuition assistance.”

 

For a copy of the full NCOA letter, please click here.

 

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stated in a letter:

 

“On behalf of the 2 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and our Auxiliaries, we are pleased to offer our strongest support to your amendment to the upcoming Defense Continuing Resolution, requiring each military service secretary to carry out Tuition Assistance programs authorized by law.”

 

For a copy of the full VFW letter, please click here.

 

American Legion, the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, said:

 

“We thank Senators Inhofe and Hagan for their work on behalf of the men and women in uniform and for their attention to this important matter,” said an American Legion spokesperson.

 

Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, President and CEO of the Association of American Community Colleges (AACC), said:

 

“The nation’s community colleges have a longstanding commitment to educating the country’s armed forces. Countless individuals have used tuition assistance benefits at community colleges to acquire needed skills and longer-term career education and training. The loss of the military tuition assistance program for the remainder of the current funding year is a terrible blow to these dedicated individuals, and AACC strongly supports efforts to reverse this outcome.”

 

Dr. David Brand, Vice President of Fayetteville Technical Community College near Fort Bragg, NC said:

 

“Over the past two years, the more than 4500 Special Operations Soldiers who participated in the Fayetteville Technical Community College have not only benefited personally from the use of Tuition Assistance, the United States Army and even more importantly the United States’ at large has benefited. An educated soldier is key to our future military and Tuition Assistance is the key to educating our military force.”

 

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., President and Founder of Give an Hour, a national non-profit organization that provides free mental health care and support to returning troops, their families, and their communities, stated:

 

"Providing those who serve with assistance to pursue educational interests has implications well beyond the opportunity to earn an advanced degree. Of course our service members gain knowledge and expertise when they pursue higher education. They also gain confidence, self esteem and pride – all of which serve to improve emotional well being, increase the likelihood of successful reintegration and smooth the transition to civilian life."

 

Bianca M. Strzalkowski, 2011 Military Spouse of the Year, and Susan Reynolds, 2013 Pope Air Force Field Spouse of the Year also extended their support and thanks for the amendment:

 

“I wanted to extend my gratitude on behalf of the military spouse community for Senator Hagan’s commitment to restoring the Tuition Assistance program for our troops. Service members have valued the opportunity to pursue their education since World War II and it has allowed our brave heroes the opportunity to achieve their degrees while courageously protecting the freedoms of our Nation,” said Mrs. Strzalkowski.

 

“The suspension of the Tuition Assistance program for three of our branches is appalling and a hurts morale in our military,” said Mrs. Reynolds. “I am pleased to know that military families have a voice in Senator Kay Hagan.  I applaud both Sen. Hagan and Sen. Inhofe in their efforts to maintain Tuition Assistance, and I vow to support this type of legislation because it keeps our military strong." 

 

In the 2012 fiscal year, approximately 300,000 servicemembers participated in the Tuition Assistance Program. In the same time period, more than 50,000 degrees, diplomas or certificates were earned by active duty servicemembers enrolled in the program. The decision exempts those already receiving aid, but prevents servicemembers from submitting new requests for the assistance.

 

Last week, Senator Hagan wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging reconsideration of this decision. Please click here to read the letter.

 

###

Social Media Impact

Social media has captured the audience of all ages in the 21^st century. From keeping up with old friends to following your favorite celebrities or organizations, social media has made a huge impact on society. The nonprofit world has caught onto this sensation and has made its presence known. As of 2012, 98% of nonprofits have a Facebook page and 74% have a twitter. Using these websites spreads news not only with ease but also in a speedy manner. 

Not only is a good source of spreading the word, but also essential in fundraising and receiving donations. The nonprofit world has recently started Giving Tuesday, which follows Black Friday. #GivingTuesday is a new phenomenon where people support organizations that they value.

Spreading the mission and has become prevalent in the nonprofit community and is here to stay. Give an Hour has also made strides in this community by creating a Facebook page, Twitter account (@GiveanHour), Google + page, a Pinterest account and this blog. Take a moment to check out these pages. Also, in order to spread the word about our organization and what we do, please share our posts on whichever social network you use. 

We thank you for your continued support and dedication to the Give an Hour mission.

(Infographic: http://mashable.com/2012/12/12/non-profits-social-media-infographic/)

Dr. Kent Corso on Voice of Warriors Talk Radio!

Dr. Corso from Give an Hour will be on Voice Of Warriors talk radio program this Tuesday evening 3/12/13 at 7pm EST. 

For more info: http://www.facebook.com/vowtomakeadifference

To listen to the show, you can go tohttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/voiceofwarriors

On this episode of VOW Talk Radio, Dr. Corso from Give an Hour will join VOW as they discuss chronic pain. According to VA statistics on a three year time span, 48% of veterans reported chronic pain, and there seems to be a direct correlation between reports of chronic pain and OIF/OEF deployments as well as the possibility of a relation to PTSD and TBI. Tune in to hear Dr. Corso discuss the causes and ways to reduce chronic pain.

Give an Hour to Educate 100,000 Students on Unique Issues of Veterans

Give an Hour Launches Got Your 6 Initiative to Educate 100,000 Students in Mental Health Disciplines on the Unique Issues of Veterans and Military Families; National Mental Health Associations Support Effort! Please share!

Click here to register and get started:http://connected.giveanhour.org/got-your-6.shtml

To read the full press release, click here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10404539.htm