Operation Blessing
Lutheran Family Services of VA
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Habitat for Humanity
CHKD
Hospital Hospitality House
St. Mary’s Home
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2 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 3
UNITED WAY OF SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS
CFC #28927
We protect your family while you protect ours Your gift through the Combined Federal Campaign allows United Way to support you, your family and your friends during your time here in South Hampton Roads. Our certified partner agencies provide childcare, counseling, outreach, meals, shelter, emergency services, financial assistance and more. At United Way of South Hampton Roads, we use your gift to bring people and organizations together to solve problems too big for anyone to solve on their own. We have a unique position, as the trusted, long-term partner committed to making our communities better for everyone. Besides providing support to you and your families: Our poorest children are gaining critical reading and math skills, the first step toward breaking the cycle of poverty. Elderly neighbors get to stay in their own homes, thanks to daily in-home care and meals. Victims of violence heal emotionally and physically, on their road to independence. The disabled learn job skills on their way to a more self-sufficient life. Military families find support while loved ones are deployed. Please be a part of the solution. Give to the United Way of South Hampton Roads – and our 66 partner agencies – by donating to #28927. We take your trust seriously and will make sure good things happen when you give. Sincerely,
Carol McCormack President & CEO United Way of South Hampton Roads
Publisher | Laura Baxter Editor/Designer | Rebecca Soorani Hastings Creative Director | Tricia Lieurance Editorial | (757) 322-2865 Advertising | (757) 222-3990 | sales@militarynews.com
Banding together to help a dying veteran
OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL
CFC #10530
Washed away
Monica Tiffany | On behalf of VFW
Navy volunteers help flood victims
Time was of the essence for Vietnam veteran Gary Parsons. When Parsons collapsed unexpectedly in his kitchen, no one suspected the tragic diagnosis that followed. After being rushed to the hospital, doctors determined he was suffering from inoperable prostate cancer that had spread to his hips and lower spine. Parson’s had become partially paralyzed, and his condition was terminal. Parsons’ son sought the advice of Paul Pirlot, State Director, VFW Detroit Service Office. “They had no idea that prostate cancer is a presumptive illness connected to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange,” said Pirlot. “I took a look at his file and let Parsons’ son know his dad may be entitled to service connected compensation and VA hospice care.” But Pirlot knew time was of the essence on this case, and Parsons didn’t have a minute to lose. Resolving claims can take weeks, months or even longer. Pirlot took matters into his own hands. “Everyone involved knew this was a special situation and we had to work together – and work fast,” explained Pirlot. “This particular case shows what can happen when all parties cooperate to get the job done.” Pirlot’s first stop was a visit with the medical center’s patient advocate who explained what it would take to get Parsons admitted into hospice care. Then he personally coordinated Parsons’ transfer to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and completed all the claim paperwork required by the VA Regional Office. After he had Parsons’ signature, Pirlot hand-carried the claim to the VA section responsible for the next stage in the claims process. Within three days Parsons received a rating decision granting service connection and special monthly compensation. He was also admitted into VAMC hospice care. His son was so relieved and thanked Pirlot profusely. “It’s always satisfying when we can help turn a gloomy situation into one with a little more hope for veterans and their families. Parsons died at peace knowing his service was recognized and honored,” Pirlot concluded.
Sarah Nguyen | Director of Integrated Media
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS FOUNDATION
CFC #10511
It was just another thunderstorm. Or so they thought. As rainwater began to seep through the window sills and doors, Barbara quickly realized this storm was different. Within five minutes, her house was filled with three feet of water. “That’s when I started to panic,” she said. Five minutes later, the water had risen to six feet. Barbara, her husband John, and their two sons fled to the attic, cutting a hole in the roof to escape the rising floodwaters, where they were eventually rescued by boat. They later returned home to complete devastation. “We lost everything,” Barbara said. “The current was so strong it just took everything out of the house. Everything was in shambles.” In the wake of such severe flooding, Operation Blessing deployed teams of volunteers, including service members from the U.S. Navy, armed with wheelbarrows, shovels, crowbars, hammers and more to help affected residents. Volunteers helped removed damaged carpet, drywall, insulation and personal belongings from residents’ homes so they could begin the rebuilding process. “The partnership between our U.S. Navy volunteers and Operation Blessing has been great and allowed us to give back to the community we’re serving,” said Chief Petty Officer Dan Rayburn. “It was an amazing experience,” said Airman Cody Vickers. “We join the military for the people, so having a chance to actually volunteer on the home front is great, and it just shows our support for the community and that we appreciate how much they support us.” For residents like Barbara, their support and service has meant everything. “I’m just so thankful,” she said. In addition to helping storm victims in Florida, Operation Blessing teams were also hard at work in Tupelo, Mississippi, aiding families devastated by tornadoes spawned from the same storm system. Last year, Operation Blessing’s U.S. disaster relief team responded to five major U.S. disasters, serving over 17,000 meals; delivering more than 288,000 lbs. of relief including emergency food, water, blankets and supplies; and managing more than 10,000 volunteers who provided over 71,000 hours of volunteer service helping residents and families in need.
The contents of this special section are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. government, the DoD, the DoT or the U.S. Coast Guard. Opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Military Newspapers of Virginia or The Flagship®. The availability of these newspapers and the appearance of advertising in these publications, including any inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorsement by the federal government, the DoD, the DoT, the U.S. Coast Guard or Military Newspapers of Virginia of products or services advertised. Military Newspapers of Virginia is a private firm and is in no way connected to the DoD, the DoT or the U.S. Coast Guard. Published by Military Newspapers of Virginia | 150 W. Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510 | Phone: (757) 222-3990 | Fax: (757) 853-1634
4 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
TWO FRIENDS Looking at Alexis Brown, 16, and Joey Austin, 4, you wouldn’t think they have much in common. But they do. In 2012, both Alexis and Joey were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. Joey was diagnosed in September just days after her third birthday. Alexis was diagnosed in January. Both girls and their families immediately became actively involved with the JDRF, but hadn’t met. It wasn’t until Joey’s mom, Erica Austin, called JDRF for recommendations on T1D babysitters that the two were matched up. All it took was one meeting between Alexis and Joey for their bond to become unbreakable. “It was incredible to see this instant connection between them,â€? said Erica. “My sweet Joey ďŹ nally had someone she could relate to who understood this whole new way of life. Because that’s what T1D is. It’s a whole new way of living. There’s nothing it doesn’t impact.â€? All too often misunderstood and con-
CFC #24809
JDRF
A journey together along the way to a cure fused with type 2 diabetes, T1D: „ Strikes infants, children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet and lifestyle. „ Can strike any one of us at any time. There is often no genetic link to a T1D diagnosis. „ Occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin is essential to turning food into energy. Insulin is essential to sustaining life. „ Requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing, and lifelong dependence on injected insulin. The newfound friendship between the girls was mutually beneďŹ cial. “Meeting Joey has been incredibly encouraging for me,â€? said Alexis. “Being able to babysit Joey and spend time with her is healing. Seeing that a three, now four-year-old can live with T1D gives me hope and strength. By helping her, I’m helping myself.â€? In 2013, JDRF provided more than $106 million for T1D research and currently sponsors $550 million in scientiďŹ c research in 17 countries. A portion of this
Courtesy photo
16-year-old Alexis Brown and 4-year-old Joey Austin both live with type 1 diabetes.
research is happening here in Virginia at EVMS and UVA, where scientists are currently running human clinical trials for the ArtiďŹ cial Pancreas Project. An artiďŹ cial pancreas system – which uses computer algorithms (that calculate everything from insulin doses to blood-glucose levels) to link insulin delivery to continuous glucose monitoring – can respond to glucose uctuations in real time. The technology has the potential to dramatically improve the lives and health of millions of people with
T1D by reducing life-threatening extremes in blood-glucose levels. T1D doesn’t just affect the person living with the disease. People living with T1D and their families must quickly adapt to a 24/7, unrelenting cycle of blood-sugar testing and insulin injections to manage the disease. For parents of a T1D child, this often means waking every two hours to check their child’s blood sugar levels. Despite the difďŹ culties that come with T1D, Alexis and her mom, Dawn Brown, have hope. “I’m conďŹ dent there will be a cure someday,â€? said Dawn. “By supporting JDRF, I know that at least 80 percent of every dollar we fundraise is going to improve Alexis’ life until a cure is found. Better therapies like the artiďŹ cial pancreas are just as important to us. Our main focus is that our daughter lives the longest and healthiest life possible. JDRF is helping us achieve that.â€? Joey’s family and their military friends continue to support JDRF through their annual gifts to the Combined Federal Campaign. Both the Austin and Brown family ask you to do the same! Thank you for helping us turn type one into TYPE NONE! For more information about the JDRF, please visit www.jdrf.org or call 757-497-2202.
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2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 5
Rediscovering Independence
GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION CFC #11157
Donations make a difference.
Bill Krol | Communications Manager Brian Pearce hadn’t always planned on a military career. When he graduated high school, he joined the sheriff’s department in his hometown in Ohio. At 18 years old, he was the youngest deputy sheriff in the state. However, after five years on the job, budget cuts eliminated his position. He tried other police organizations, but no one was hiring, so he went to see an Army recruiter friend of his and enlisted in 1992, right after Operation Desert Storm. Although he was not deployed then, Pearce saw plenty of action over the next several years. He was stationed at several bases in the U.S., including Fort Rucker, Ala.; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Drum, N.Y. He also served in Korea, Bosnia and Somalia, among other deployments. After his move to Fort Drum, however, Pearce decided that when he had fulfilled his current obligation, he would not reenlist and returned to civilian life as a police officer. During this service break, he spent a year and a half in the Army Reserves and then a year in the National Guard. In 2003, Pearce reenlisted. “After 9/11, I knew that whenever I came back on active duty I would go to Iraq or Afghanistan,” he said. He changed military occupational specialties (MOS) and trained as a field artillery chief surveyor. In 2006, Pearce and his squad were delivering medical supplies and fresh water to an Iraqi medical clinic, when he ran over an IED. Although the water tanks were mistaken for fuel trucks, the IEDs did not detonate when the tankers went over them. “They missed them,” Pearce said, “and hit my Humvee instead.” Pearce suffered traumatic brain injuries and a piece of shrapnel about the size of a quarter penetrated the right occipital lobe of his skull and entangled in his optic nerve. “I was clinically dead when they found me,” he stated matter-of-factly, “but the medics brought me back to life.” At the field hospital, surgery was performed to remove the shrapnel, but in doing so, his optic nerves were damaged, and he lost his vision. Pearce spent 47 days in a medically induced coma because of his brain injuries. “When I started to come out of it, I heard my wife yelling at the doctors, and I wondered, ‘What is she doing in Iraq?’” She
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Brian Pearce works with his guide dog in Patchogue, NY. told him what had happened. The damage to his optical nerves left him with about three percent vision in one eye. Although “everyone” kept tell him to get a guide dog, Pearce says he fought it for a long time. Finally, he met two field representatives from America’s VetDogs at a retreat for military families. They had two dogs with them. He says that almost immediately, “I knew this was the right organization for me,” and he was finally ready for an assistance dog. Pearce’s dog has been trained to do both guide dog work and service dog tasks. As a guide, the canine will enable him to follow a clear path, maneuver around obstacles, and stop at curbs. The dog has also been trained to perform nightmare interruption. His instructors demonstrated how the dog would perform this task, although they did not practice it immediately. However, Pearce reports, “two nights later, I had a nightmare, and my dog woke me up.” The dog, he added, “has boosted my confidence 100 percent.” When he used a white cane, Pearce would keep his eyes down to see what the cane was bumping into. “With my dog, I’m able to look up again.” His dog has already picked up on cues when Pearce is having a bad time. “He likes to be right near me.” He adds, “My guide dog has already made a huge difference for me. My posture is better, my attitude is better. I’m able to deal with things a lot better than a year or two ago. It’s absolutely phenomenal.”
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6 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Cookies, camps and crafts and a whole lot more! GIRL SCOUTS OF THE COLONIAL COAST
Marcella Germanotta | Communications Director Girl Scout volunteers come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They come from different professions and different genders. They volunteer in troops or in short-term volunteer positions. For anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of girls, who is older than 18 years old and willing to accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law, there’s a place for them in Girl Scouts! That’s just what ten Navy chiefs and members of their families learned this summer when they agreed to help out at A Place for Girls, the headquarters and program center for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC) – a council that serves nearly 15,000 girls in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. While a few of the women volunteers had been former Girl Scouts, the guys were fairly “green� when it came to knowing about what the girls in green did as an organization. They shared their skills and talents working at the center while Girl Scouts took the opportunity to give them an orientation on what Girl Scouting is all about these days. “We’re more than cookies, camping and crafts – like most people think when they hear the word Girl Scouts,� Tracy Keller, the CEO of the local council, said during her welcome
CFC #59158
to the Navy chiefs. “We have a few other “Câ€? words that describe us, such as building girls of courage, conďŹ dence and character through a leadership program that includes community service. Girls are learning skills they will use a lifetime. They are being encouraged to dream big and set their eyes on futures that may include science, technology, engineering or math careers. We’re about empowering girls with the conďŹ dence to succeed in life. By supporting Girl Scouts and being here as role models, you’re helping make sure our nation has a new generation of leaders.â€? Community service and leadership was something these volunteers knew about. They were there to give community service through an outreach program sponsored by the Navy that aims to help out neighbors in Hampton Roads while helping active duty Navy build and strengthen leadership qualities. “Volunteering with organizations like the Girl Scouts helps us engage with the community and allows us to show our pride of being part of the Navy,â€? said LSC Frank Cepeda who was the coordinator for the volunteer project effort. Thanks to Frank and the others, the boardwalk that leads visitors at A Place for Girls to the nature area behind the center, The Outback, was ready to greet happy campers when the Girl Scout summer camping season opened.
Volunteer work in The Outback has been just one of many volunteer days offered by Navy members to Girl Scouts. Twenty-two volunteers spent a day at A Place for Girls in August to give a hand assisting with repairs, such as replacing a hot water heater, painting and setting up storage units. Navy volunteer Vanessa Braimer who is a former Girl Scout was part of that work crew and said she loved being a Girl Scout again. Memories came back to her and she recalled a message she learned as a Brownie Girl Scout to do a good deed each day. “I don’t have any daughters, so I haven’t thought about getting involved as an adult in Girl Scouts,� she said. “I really enjoyed the chance to be a Girl Scout again for a day! I remember being proud of the badges that I earned, and looking back, I see how important it was for me to learn about civic duty at a young age.� From helping on short-term volunteer projects to becoming a troop leader or assisting adult, members from the military are part of the Girl Scout Movement in Hampton Roads! And to thank the military this year, GSCCC donated more than 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to military men and women overseas or who are served by the USO. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast relies on volunteers all year long to not only serve as mentors and guides for nearly 15,000 girls across the region, but to support the Council in many other ways that range from property help to assisting with adult educational classes. If you would like to volunteer and share your skills – and build upon the skills you already have – contact them at 1-800-77SCOUT (1800-777-2688) and visit their website at www.gsccc.org.
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2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 7
757.337.4447
8 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Sailors, Subway support American Diabetes Association
Courtesy photo
Tony Pannone, right, and son Brian at the American Diabetes Association’s display at the annual Subway Rally.
Deanie Eldridge Virginia Area Executive Director
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
As a kid growing up in upstate New York, Tony Pannone worked at a local sub shop and always had a dream to start his own sandwich business. Meanwhile, at a rival high school, Fred DeLuca, three years older than Tony, had a similar dream and started a chain of sandwich shops that grew into the Subway franchise of sandwich restaurants. Tony put his dreams of business ownership on hold in 1968, to join the U.S. Navy as a Seaman Recruit. He attended Class A School in Pensacola, FL and became a communications technician. Subsequent assignments included Rota, Spain; the National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, MD; and on the USS Caron (DD970). While onboard the Caron, Tony was promoted to Chief Petty OfďŹ cer and then Ensign. As an ofďŹ cer, Tony was assigned as staff cryptologist on the staff of Commander Third Fleet in Hawaii, and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight, on an eightmonth deployment onboard USS Saratoga (CV 60), for both Desert Shield and Desert
Storm. He also served as an action ofďŹ cer on the staff of Commander U.S. Atlantic Fleet and U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk. Tony retired a lieutenant commander in 1995 and settled with his family in the Hampton Roads area. After 27 years in the Navy, Tony had not forgotten his dream of owning a sandwich shop. In 1996, with the support of Debi, his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, he opened his ďŹ rst Subway restaurant in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake. Fast forward to 2014, and Tony and son Brian, a partner in the company, operate 11 area Subway restaurants. Tony and his family are honored to serve the Navy at their Subway located next to the NEX MiniMart and Gas Station on Naval Station Norfolk, which they opened in 1997. Tony holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Chaminade University. His daughter Amanda is engaged in community wellness. She owns “Get In Shape For Women,â€? a small group personal training studio in Virginia Beach.
CFC #74975
Four years ago, Subway Development Corp. of Washington DC (which includes the Subway restaurants in Virginia) made a decision to support the American Diabetes Association, through an annual three-month summer pin-up campaign, as well as proceeds from a golf tournament and donations and support of association events. Tony also joined the association’s community leadership board in 2013. “Serving on the local Diabetes Association Board gives me an opportunity to be involved in this critically important effort to prevent and cure diabetes. Diabetes affects several members of our family and many of our employees and their families as well. We are proud to be part of the Hampton Roads Subway community, and its summer-long fundraising campaign to stop diabetes,� Tony said. “Last year, Tidewater Subway restaurants collected $57,000, and this year we hope to raise even more. Please consider selecting the American Diabetes Association as your charity of choice during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) fund drive this September. We sincerely appreciate your support, and thank you for your generous donation.�
5WRRQTV ;QWT 2CUUKQP 3HRSOH JGNRKPI &KDULWLHV \RX NQRZ WUXVW SHRSOH Some of our member charities:
Some of our member charities:
American Family Association Awana Clubs International Bible League International Biblica (Formerly International Bible
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind www.guidedog.org
Society)
Bullying Prevention by Rachel’s Challenge www.rachelschallenge.org
United Breast Cancer Foundation www.ubcf.info
Volunteers of America www.voa.org
CFC #10170 Full member list at www.hsca.org
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Blessings International Cadence International Care Net Children’s Hunger Relief Fund Christian Blind Mission Club Beyond/Military Community Youth Ministries Focus on the Family
Global Recordings Network International Justice Mission Mission Aviation Fellowship Navigators,The Operation Blessing International
Relief and Development Corp. Prison Fellowship Voice of the Martyrs, Inc World Vision, Inc. Wycliffe Bible Translators
CFC #10171 • Full member list at
www.christianservicecharities.org
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 9
10 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Service dog changes life of Air Force major PAWS4VETS
CFC #19324
Michael J.Branck, client and volunteer I am Major Branck. I am a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. My service/combat-related medical issues are multiple, including chronic-post traumatic stress disorder and residuals from three traumatic brain injuries. Fallon is my PTSD service dog, without whom my recovery would not be possible. I assist the paws4vets organization as much as possible, primarily as a client advocate and mentor and as a representative at CFC functions. I am married to Lisa and we have six children. My psychiatric service dog Fallon has enabled me to lead a more independent life in several crucial ways. Fallon helps me perform tasks that I was otherwise unable to do and/or would have extreme difficulty doing by myself. She and I have a special bond, with established milestones and goals to mollify many of my PTSD and related symptoms. I’ve also seen improve-
DOLPHIN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
The Branck family.
Courtesy photo
ment in my acceptance of having PTSD, including limitations and restrictions associated with the disorder. She has increased my personal accomplishment, self-esteem, and self-confidence. She is amazing in her ability to replace negative feelings including guilt, shame, blame, horror, anger, distress, fear, helplessness, and phobias that cause so much pain for myself and my family. She also replaces negative aspects of PTSD, and other physiological and neurological symptoms. Fallon helps me find that lost energy in order to help conquer the power, control, and encapsulating effects that PTSD and other stated physical, neurological, psychological and emotional disabilities have had over my life. I am so thankful for the paws4vets organization and the Hampton Roads CFC for their support to allow me to receive Fallon and turn my life around.
promise, restored Your support through the Combined Federal Campaign helps us build stronger individuals, families and communities through foster care and adoption. CFC #75391
lfsva.org
CFC #10102
Battling the high cost of education one scholarship at a time Andrew Clark | Executive Director The mission of the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is to provide financial assistance for undergraduate college study for children/stepchildren of eligible active, retired, or former members of the United States Navy who have served in, or in direct support of the U.S. Submarine Force. DSF awarded its first scholarship of $350 in June 1961. Since then, more than $9.2 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to more than 1,180 scholars. Throughout its history, the Foundation has supported the Submarine Force through Dolphin Scholarships and several other programs. In 2006, DSF was selected to administer the Laura W. Bush Scholarship for children of the USS Texas (SSN 775). In 2009, DSF and the Nautilus Alumni Association, Inc. established The Nautilus Scholarship for spouses and descendants of USS Nautilus crewmembers. In 2012, DSF established the SubForce Scholarship - Online Application that allows the applicant to complete only one application for five different submarine community scholarships, including the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. and USS Bowfin scholarship. Also, in 2012, DSF implemented an online scholar selection program that gave us the ability to assemble a selection committee comprised of members and affiliates of the submarine community that are located all over the world. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, DSF was able to fund 115 renewable scholarships in the amount of $3,400 per student for four years of undergraduate college education for the past three years. For the 20142015 academic year, DSF was able to
Courtesy photo
Dolphin Scholarship Foundation (DSF) scholars.
provide 28 new scholarships to well deserving High School and College students. We are growing closer to reaching our goal of providing 140 scholarships of $4,000 each to students in need of financial support. In response to the growing number of students choosing to attend 2-year community colleges to lessen the blow of rising college tuition costs, the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation will offer 2-year scholarships beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year. Though donations from submarine spouse associations, corporate/individual supporters and fundraising events such as our DSF Annual Golf Tournaments held in Virginia Beach, Groton, and Kings Bay remain a significant portion of our income, DSF depends heavily on the generosity of CFC donations. For more than half a century, DSF has been assisting the children of the submarine force in receiving a quality undergraduate education and we are very proud of our legacy. I hope that you will keep the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation in mind when you make your next charitable tax deductible donation so that we may continue to provide scholarships to children who may not otherwise be able to afford the rising costs of a college education.
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 11
CFC #10102
12 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Coast Guard volunteers OASIS COMMISSION ON SOCIAL MINISTRY PORTSMOUTH/CHESAPEAKE
CFC #22652
Janet Cantrell | Oasis Social Ministry Volunteer I began my volunteer service at Oasis Social Ministry in Portsmouth in 2013. I was enrolled at a local college and my degree program required me to complete two semesters as an intern at a local public service related organization. I chose Oasis Social Ministry. Oasis is a private, not-for-profit, charitable organization. Their mission is to provide comprehensive services to the homeless and the less fortunate in Portsmouth, Western Chesapeake, and Northern Suffolk. Operating, uninterrupted since 1970, Oasis has been continuously meeting the basic socio-economic needs of the region. Celebrating more than 43 years of community service, Oasis was started by five local catholic parishes. Today it has evolved into an ecumenical multi-serving agency committed to helping individuals and families meet their basic needs and to support their efforts of self-reliance and independence. In January 2013, I started my internship and quickly began to realize the importance of volunteering my time. I had always felt compassion for the less fortunate, but once I began working with such individuals on a daily basis, my eyes and heart opened even more. I watched people show progress while accepting their challenges as a means of motivation. I captured each moment in my mind and absorbed
Designate Federal 45453 • State 6025
every detail. With dignity and grace, I listened to their needs and worked diligently to find the available resources to help each one. As rewarding as it was for these individuals to reach their own self-sufficiency, it made me appreciate organizations like Oasis Social Ministry – an organization that genuinely cares for others and maintains professional services to achieve goals. When I graduated and received my degree in Human Services, Oasis hired me as a full-time employee. I had finally reached my own personal goal. Numerous men and women from local U.S. Coast Guard units were volunteering at Oasis in their spare time. Since Oasis Social Ministry offers a food pantry, soup kitchen, and thrift store, there is always a need for extra hands. The Coast Guard personnel would come in and work in the warehouse, prepare and serve meals and help organize and sift through thousands of donated items for the thrift store. Dressed in their Coast Guard uniforms, their presence was appreciated and a very welcoming site for me. I always felt a special sense of pride when I watched them walk through the front doors and immediately begin to help others. In May, 2014, my husband was selected as the 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. Indeed, an honor that I cannot explain, it also meant that he and I must leave our home in Portsmouth and move to the Washington, DC area. This also meant that I would have to leave Oasis – a bittersweet exit. Our new home in Arlington, Virginia is only a few short hours from Oasis Social Ministry. Whenever I am scheduled to be in the Portsmouth area, I make sure that I block out a few hours so that I may continue my volunteering and assisting others at Oasis.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS
CFC #45426
Rebuilding the American dream for military families Wayne Lavender | Executive Director Founded in 1988, Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads is one of more than 1,500 affiliates in the United States. Throughout its 25-year history, Habitat SHR has built and then sold just under 200 affordable homes to qualified, hardworking families in the local community. More recently, the organization has expanded its services to focus specifically on the military community in response to the critical housing issues confronting Veteran and active-duty military personnel. Despite programs and assistance – such as VA loans available to military personnel – staggering statistics reveal that nearly one million veteran homeowners are severely cost-burdened and approximately 1.4 million veterans live in poverty. Through its Habitat for Heroes program, implemented in 2011, Habitat SHR provides veteran and active-duty military families with access to simple, decent and affordable housing.
Read the rest at http://bit.ly/1rXYSh9.
Visit their website at shrhabitat.org
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 13
Kathleen Henry, RMH Chapel Hill guest with help from Chase McBride, Special Events and Marketing Assistant My name is Kathleen Henry and my husband Robert is the battalion S3 operations NCO for a Military Police Battalion. We have been stationed at Ft. Bragg since 2002. In 2008, just after turning 2, our son Collin was diagnosed with pre-B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. My husband was deployed at the time and was sent home on emergency leave and thankfully, was allowed to stay home. We had to spend two or three days a week at the hospital in Chapel Hill for Collin’s chemotherapy, so finances soon became an issue. Robert volunteered for multiple deployments to supplement the income I was unable to bring in while caring for Collin. In 2009, he received orders to go to Illinois and become an ROTC instructor at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. The kids and I stayed behind for continuity of care at UNC. It was a difficult decision, but we were thankful that Robert would be in America, in a much safer job.
I thought I would finally be able to sleep a little easier, that we might be able to make it through this. Then in October 2010, at age six, our middle son Patrick was diagnosed with Stage II Hepatoblastoma, a very rare and aggressive form of liver cancer. He underwent an eight-hour surgery and three rounds of chemotherapy. Patrick completed his chemotherapy in 2011 and shows no signs of cancer! Collin’s treatment was much more intensive. He received hundreds of doses of chemotherapy, some even through spinal taps straight into his cerebrospinal fluid. During his last routine spinal tap, they discovered more leukemia. After being off chemotherapy for just 17 days, Collin suffered an isolated central nervous system relapse. We were devastated. His doctors began another aggressive treatment plan that would last two years. We left Chapel Hill for just a few weeks total during this time. Our family was tired, and being separated was taking its toll. Our other children, Lacey and Patrick, were so strong, but understandably they started struggling emotionally with their brother’s relapse. Being a military family, we had
no relatives nearby. We had relied heavily on friends to help us keep it together, but eventually it became too much for them to handle. Watching our children suffer was more than our friends could bear, and eventually their help ran out. I felt like it was the kids and me against the world. In October 2011, we found the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. It really became a crashing place for us. We wanted to spend as much time with Collin as possible, so we would stay late at the hospital until they kicked us out and then come back to RMH to grab a bite to eat and sleep for a few hours. It was our saving grace; we were never turned away. Even when the House was full, they offered us vouchers to stay at local hotels and provided our family with gas cards. Through it all, the Ronald McDonald House was our rock. There was always food made by volunteers and activities for Lacey and Patrick. Their help never ran out, it was often the only thing I could count on! I know my family would have been lost without them, and we wouldn’t have been able to get Collin and Patrick the incredible treatment they needed to save their lives.
Two brothers fight cancer together RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHAPEL HILL
CFC #14030
Courtesy photo
Collin Henry and Robert Henry fight cancer together.
WHEN A HERO NEEDS A BEST FRIEND Angel Canines for Wounded Warriors CFC #19800 Free travel for wounded veterans to match them with service dogs and to assist with other compelling transportation needs.
888-241-6193
AngelCaninesforWoundedWarriors.org
14 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Wounded medic to new best friend: ‘We will get through this together’ the frontline. Ironically, after a particularly traumatic event, she was the one needing the emergency care.
Jacqueline O’Dell Asst. Director of Public Affairs Consider them the tough love dispensary. Medics (Army) and Corpsmen (Navy) embody compassion in combat – but never mistake their kindness for weakness. Medics are trained to both fix and fight. Army Reserve Specialist Kim, a medic from Alabama, earned herself the title “Evil Medic.” But it turns out she was given the name because of her gentleness. “My medic instructor gave me the name. He said I had the most heart he had seen in a soldier in five years. So [for me] ‘evil’ is a nickname like calling a big guy ‘slim’.” During Iraqi Freedom in 2010, she said, “I was in charge of an infantry platoon’s medical needs.” She routinely treated combat soldiers for dehydration, hand burns from weapons, and sand in the eyes. “I flushed so many eyes I could do it blindfolded.” Kim doesn’t like to talk about it, but her eyes have seen everything while serving on
Fixing a Medic Adjustment to life with PTSD was lonely, but while still in the hospital, Kim opted to keep serving. “Before the Army, I was an animal trainer at Busch Gardens, Tampa.” She has a biology degree with an emphasis in wildlife, allowing her to train both land and aquatic animals. “Ft. Stewart had a paws4vets chapter. I joined as a trainer.” On July 4, 2011, while she was busy training a canine named Deja, Mr. Henry – father of Kyria Henry, CEO of paws4people – brought three new dogs to the hospital. She met Drake that day. At first, Kim was training Drake for another veteran. It turned out “he only had eyes for me,” she said. “You really don’t choose a service dog. They choose you.” “He was rescued from an abusive owner and was afraid of men. He also had PTSD.” She said Drake was cowering under a bed
Habitat for Heroes HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PENINSULA AND GREATER WILLIAMSBURG LaToya Tyler | Deputy Director About The Program Habitat for Heroes is a new outreach initiative seeking to assist, engage, mobilize and educate military members and veterans about our programs and services. The goal of the Habi-
ease into being around people again, we joined a running team.” On days she isn’t motivated, Drake started bringing Kim his leash and her running shoes. The duo eventually started running 5Ks then a 10K – four races together, so far. “Drake became my running coach.”
CFC #34260
tat for Heroes program is to provide veterans with access to quality affordable housing, the opportunity to engage with the community and fellow veterans, and the chance to serve others by volunteering. Apply Habitat for Humanity Pen-
Courtesy photo
Service dog Drake became Katrina’s “light at the end of the tunnel”.
when he was rescued. She spoke to him saying, “We will get through this together.” Love Heals “Deja’s owner, Staff Sergeant Dan, became a brother to me,” Kim said. “Sharing war stories with someone who also had PTSD was very healing.” She recalls many late nights when they would sit at a hospital table building puzzles together, “and there were Drake and Deja sitting at our feet the whole time.” Today, Kim and her canine companion are home in Tampa having fun outside. “To
insula and Greater Williamsburg is currently accepting applications for veterans interested in becoming first-time homebuyers. Families will be selected for the Habitat for Heroes program according to the standard Habitat criteria, found online at www. habitatpgw.org, which is based on need, income, credit history and residency. Habitat for Heroes families receive a 25% discount off the total house cost. Families
Help from Angel Canines for Wounded Warriors (ACWW) “Paws4vets has annual exam to make sure that the dogs are staying sharp and are not becoming lazy.” The exam tests dogs on command response, dog manners and even memory of where a veteran parked his or her car. After the deployment, she couldn’t afford the cost for annual trips to paws4vets in Willmington, North Carolina. ACWW helped with travel assistance. “I would definitely recommend ACWW.” She thanked the charity by saying: “Thank you for helping Drake and me! He saved my life . . . I was very lost and did not see the light at the end of the tunnel until I met him!” ANGEL CANINES FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS
must earn 45-80% of the area median income ($31,770 to $56,480 for a family of 4). The zero-interest Habitat mortgage will breakdown to about $500-$550 monthly and will include real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance - what a deal! Donate To ensure the success of this initiative, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is actively seeking financial and in-kind resources for future
CFC #19800
Habitat for Heroes builds. It is our goal to continue to serve those who have served us. Email heroes@ habitatpgw.org for information. Volunteer Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg has many projects that need the leadership and expertise of current and former military in our community. Visit our website at www.habitatpgw.org to sign up today!
FOR EVERY PERSON, A PERSONAL APPROACH. Supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities exclusively in their own homes.
757.625.6161 | www.Hope-House.org | CFC#14719 |
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 15
Veteran with disability embodies St. Mary’s mission ST. MARY’S HOME
Katie McCarthy | Marketing communications intern When you walk past one of the classrooms at St. Mary’s Home, you see the quote, “I am able, I just need your help.” Darrin Snyder knows this firsthand. Snyder, 47, is a recreational therapy intern at St. Mary’s Home, which provides around-the-clock care for children and young adults who have severe disabilities and helps them reach their full potential. He is finishing up his second bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University (ODU). He greets everyone he passes in the hallway, with his service dog by his side. With his bright smile and mellow demeanor, you’d never guess that he has a story that goes beyond simply wanting a second degree. Right out of high school, Snyder joined the Marines, and what was supposed to be six years of service was cut short after just three. Seven miles through a 10-mile beach run on the soft sand during physical
training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he hit a dip in the sand and twisted both knees. He finished the run, but not unscathed. Snyder compares his knees to a rubber band: When you stretch a rubber band too far, it stays stretched out, rather than snapping back to its original size. Nothing in his knees is torn, but everything is overstretched, sometimes making it difficult for him to walk or even stand. After about six months of recovery and regular exercise with a friend studying physical therapy, Snyder went to ODU for his first degree, in exercise science, graduating in 1994. In 2006, he went to the U.S. Paralympic training camp, where he discovered that there were ways for him to stay active and involved in sports. He also learned about recreational therapy and realized he wanted to work with veterans with disabilities, so he returned to ODU in 2013 to obtain a second degree, in recreational therapy, and become a certified therapeutic recreation specialist.
THE BAY YOU LOVE IS IN TROUBLE. Join us in our efforts to fight pollution and save the Bay and its rivers and streams for current and future generations.
Photo Credit: Corbis
CFC#11325
Visit us online at cbf.org or call 888/SAVEBAY for more information.
CFC #10064
Around 2010, Snyder had his first post traumatic stress episode after a nightmare about his time in boot camp. This led to depression and anxiety. His doctor recommended that he look into getting a service dog. Remy, short for Remington, is Snyder’s six-year-old service dog. He is “a chocolate lab mix without the retriever,” Snyder said. Darrin Snyder holds Iker, who lives at St. Mary’s, while he pets Remy.
“If you throw something, he thinks you can go get it.” Remy helps with Snyder’s disability, and also with his anxiety. If Snyder is having a nightmare and breathing heavily, Remy can tell that he’s having a nightmare. He will jump on Snyder’s bed and lick his face until he wakes up. Sometimes, Remy will even turn on the bedroom light. When Snyder is having trouble with depression, he says Remy gives him a reason to get up in the morning. Remy goes everywhere with Snyder and is always alert, even when he looks like he’s sleeping. Snyder will continue his internship at St. Mary’s for the next few months to fulfill his internship hours and finish his recreational therapy degree. He first heard about St. Mary’s from his adaptive physical education teacher at ODU, who also teaches adaptive P.E. at the Home. He said, “St. Mary’s chose me. Working with kids was a big part of it.” Snyder’s kindness and easygoing attitude are the kinds of qualities you’ll find in the people who work at St. Mary’s. His drive and mentality to never give up on his dreams are perfect for the atmosphere here, where children and young adults are encouraged to reach their full potential and be the best they can be, no matter what the obstacles.
16 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
Helping parrots, locally and beyond Leigh Ann Hartsfield | Virginia Education Coordinator The Phoenix Landing Foundation™ is all about parrots! Cofounded by a government SES employee Ann Brooks in 2000, the all-volunteer 501(c)(3) group facilitates adoption for parrots who need new homes, provides educational activities regarding the care and needs of parrots, sponsors avian education for veterinarians and vet students, and helps
fund research of the habitats and natural behaviors of wild parrots. Phoenix Landing also advocates for improved standards of care for parrots by pet stores, breeders, and rescues. Phoenix Landing urges people to consider adoption first with pet parrots just as with dogs and cats. We’ve re-homed over 2,400 birds, many of whom have a military connection. One example of the thousands of parrots directly helped by Phoenix Landing is
Meet Tinker Amanda Panuline Dunlap, Director of Adult Volunteers & Community Outreach Tinker is an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix pup who came to the Virginia Beach SPCA in early July with several medical issues. She was transferred to the VBSPCA from another shelter in a more rural part of Virginia, and required multiple surgeries to remove her mammary masses, fix her dental calculus and extract teeth, and repair her inguinal hernia. Due to the stress of the shelter environment and because of all her of medical concerns the shelter environment was no place for Tinker to recover. The VBSPCA staff, volunteers, and customers quickly fell in love with Tinker and stepped up to help this lovely girl. Tinker’s surgeries were taken care of upfront at the VBSPCA Veterinary Clinic, then VBSPCA staff began advertising Tinker’s photos and story on their website and on Facebook in the hopes of raising the funds to cover the cost incurred by her surgeries. The response to help Tinker recover was great and immediate. In fact, a VBSPCA volunteer not only made a donation towards
PHOENIX LANDING FOUNDATION
Leigh Ann Hartsfield
Argo is an 18-year-old Timneh African grey parrot.
Argo, an 18-year-old Timneh African grey. She was bought by a Navy SEAL at a market in Bahrain and moved with him several times. However, the service member and his wife had a child, and then he was deployed to Afghanistan. Keeping Argo was no longer an
tthe surgery cost, but further offered her servvices and her home to foster and care for Tinker as she recovered. T The Virginia Beach SPCA does not recceive any taxpayer funding nor ongoing ssupport from a national organization. Ratheer, each SPCA and Humane Society is a unique and independent organization. u The Virginia Beach SPCA serves the region’s animals with an annual budget of nearly $3 million, and remains a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit animal shelter. In order to provide the services and programs that the community has come to depend on, the VBSPCA relies mainly on a supportive community and monetary donations to continue to serve the 4,000 companion animals and 1,500 wildlife animals each year. Animals with severe and unforeseen medical conditions place huge financial stresses on the shelter’s medical care budget, such as the case with Tinker. For the past 48 years, The VBSPCA has depended on volunteer support through every facet of the shelter. Volunteers participate in such tasks as fostering and providing care at home for our critters such as Tinker’s temporary foster mother. Many of the Beach SPCA’s regular volunteers are active-duty military personnel, and they find the lenient volunteer program permits them to be as involved as their hectic schedule allows. If your schedule will not allow you to volunteer hands-on at the shelter, please consider donating to animals at the VBSPCA like Tinker! VIRGINIA BEACH SPCA
CFC #18191
option for the family, and she was relinquished to Phoenix Landing. While very sad to lose his friend, the SEAL entrusted the Adoption Coordinators of Phoenix Landing to find Argo her next home. Parrots can live for decades, and practically all pet parrots will need multiple homes. All our lives change and evolve, especially those of us who are military families. Phoenix Landing’s network reaches from Maryland to South Carolina, including a very active group here in Hampton Roads. Many Foundation parrots have been fostered and/or adopted in this region, and free educational
CFC #31469
classes and activities are offered each month at Midway Veterinary Hospital in Chesapeake. Covering a wide array of topics from nutrition and enrichment to behavior and training, these classes are taught by Phoenix Landing volunteer and Navy wife Leigh Ann Hartsfield. Please consider donating to The Phoenix Landing Foundation during this year’s Combined Federal Campaign. Overhead expenses are kept remarkably low in this all-volunteer group, so 100% of donations will go directly to helping parrots. Visit our website at www.phoenixlanding.org for more information.
A Navy family’s compassion comes full circle for the dogs
HERITAGE HUMANE SOCIETY CFC #31879
Michael Rhodes | Director of Communications and Outreach Meet the Parkhouse family. Teri Lawson-Parkhouse, Lieutenant Junior Grade, and Jason Parkhouse, Commander Supply Corps Officer, have long-standing ties to Heritage Humane Society. What began as a standard pet adoption has grown into full-blown love affair with the Williamsburg animal welfare nonprofit. When she retired from the Navy in 2004, Teri began to explore volunteer opportunities. After becoming an “accidental” dog owner when a friend could no longer keep her canine companion, Teri quickly realized there was a place for her in animal welfare advocacy. That’s when she discovered Heritage Humane Society in 2007, and met a dog name Fat Boy that stole her heart. Her level of volunteerism expanded over the years. She walks dogs, fosters special cases, represents Heritage Humane at off-site events while featuring adoptable pets. She even joined the Heritage Humane Society Auxiliary to help the organization raise much needed funds, and quickly became the president of the group. Most recently, Teri and Jason participated in the annual Swim Around Key West to raise money for the shelter they love. In this event, Teri swam 12.5 miles, around Key West, in open water. Jason was by her side the entire time in a kayak to provide hydration and make sure the swimmer was safe. The support of the Parkhouse family, and countless other military volunteers, ensure the pets awaiting adoption at Heritage Humane Society have heroes of a different stripe to help them on their journey to the next chapter of their lives.
Photo by Teri Parkhouse
Jason Parkhouse, Commander U.S. Navy (O-5) Supply Corps Officer and Heritage Humane adopted alumnus, Fat Boy.
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 17 ®
MAKE-A-WISH OF GREATER VIRGINIA
CFC #90869
A wish for America Chris Williams | Senior Manager of Development Kyler is an active 14-year-old young man who lives in northern Texas. Until a couple years ago his life was fairly normal. Kyler was diagnosed with a disease that has affected his mobility; however, he doesn’t let that hold him back. Kyler was referred to Make-A-Wish® North Texas to receive a wish. As a young man with an adventurous mind, he wished to experience some of the many wonders of America. His list included visiting Niagara Falls, the 9/11 Memorial, and several of the national sites in Washington, DC. As his travels took him through Virginia, Kyler asked if he could stop in Norfolk to tour a ship, see a helicopter and meet members of the elite Navy SEALs. MakeA-Wish® Greater Virginia was called to
make the local arrangements for Kyler’s wish. After a few staff calls, Kyler’s wish to visit Naval Station Norfolk was scheduled. In July, Kyler and his family arrived at the installation and were immediately taken to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 to tour their hangar, look at the helicopters and meet the crew. Next, they were shuttled to the dock of USS Iwo Jima where they boarded the ship and toured the navigation bridge, flight deck, well deck and along the way met many members of the crew. To round out his visit, Kyler was taken to the SEAL compound where he met nearly 40 SEALs from one of the platoons. He was able to learn how they dive, jump and also shown some of their equipment. At the end of his tour, he was given a certificate and a SEAL Trident pin. The gift of granting a wish for a child facing a life-threatening medical condition can not only make a significant difference in their immediate health situation but it can also be a life-changing experience. A wish can improve a child’s state of mind, replacing fear with happiness and help them to feel like a normal kid again.
The Union Mission Women and Family Shelter Linda C. Jones | Public Relations Director Carrie, 56, had the kind of life many of us can’t imagine living. She left school at 13 and left home at 14 because her parents abused her physically, emotionally and sexually. She got married and had a child but the marriage failed. “We were too young and didn’t know how to do anything. He didn’t want to work so I cleaned houses but the jobs never lasted long.” Her son went to live with his father at age nine. She hasn’t seen him in 20 years. At 19, Carrie turned to drugs. ‘I did heroin and crack; all the really hard stuff for 22 years and then I just stopped. It was hard coming off that stuff, but I asked God to help me and he took the needle away. I’ve been clean now for 20 years.” Carrie didn’t have a home but knew how to survive. She did odd jobs and slept in a car for four years. When it was cold, a church would put her up for a week or two. For seven years she slept under bridges, in the bushes – anywhere she could find.
UNION MISSION MINISTRIES CFC #61126 << Women’s Shelter guest, Carrie. “I was tired and couldn’t do it no more. I wanted to see if God could do it better.” She heard about The Union Mission and decided to give it a try. “It was wonderful from the first day. The staff told me to give my life to the Lord and I did. I always did everything my own way but now I’m doing it His way.” They helped her get medication for her mental and physical health issues, apply for disability, and get an apartment and furniture. “You people do it from the heart,” she said. “They even love me and no one ever did before. This is the best place in the world.”
Hospital Hospitality House is proud to serve veterans Debra Rogers | Annual Fund/ Grants Manager The Hospital Hospitality House (HHH) is a hospitality center specifically designed to accommodate the housing needs of people who have loved ones in medical crisis at local hospitals. Every effort is made to ease the burden of caregivers and reduce the stress on patients by providing the basic needs in a homelike atmosphere. Guests are asked to make a $15 per night donation towards their stay; however, no one is ever turned away due to his or her financial situation. Approximately 50 percent of our guests are unable to contribute anything towards their stay. Each year we serve more than 7,000 guests and average more than 150 guests each night. We serve approximately 1,000 veterans and their families every year who have traveled to Richmond for specialized medical care unavailable closer to their homes. Veterans come from around the country to receive specialized medical care from the VCU Health System/MCV Hospitals and/or Richmond’s Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran Affairs Medical Center. The McGuire VA Medical Center operates one of four polytrauma rehabilitation centers in the VA system, helping wounded warriors recover and return to the world. Many veterans coming to Richmond for medical services are seeking organ transplants, receiving specialized heart care, rehabilitation for head and spinal cord injuries, or treatment for cancer at either the Medical College of Virginia or McGuire VA Medical Center.
HHH OF RICHMOND
Courtesy photo Veteran Margaret Daughtery enjoys a homecooked meal at HHH. For example, Margaret Daugherty, an Army veteran and mother of three came to Richmond from Kentucky in December 2010, to receive a temporary total artificial heart. After the procedure she stayed in the hospital for a few months. In March, Margaret’s condition finally stabilized and she became the first female total artificial heart patient at VCU (second female patient in the U.S.) to be discharged from the hospital using the “Freedom Portable Driver.” This small 13.5 pound driver fits inside a backpack and powered her artificial heart both inside and outside the hospital. After receiving the driver, Margaret stayed at HHH with her husband and son while she awaited the transplant. She is now home in Kentucky, after receiving a successful transplant, but comes back to HHH for periodic check-ups. As she shared with us: “HHH is a place where miracles happen. The people I’ve met while staying here are against all odds; it’s a haven for the world.”
I can’t wait to...
Teach her something new Show her what’s possible Help her shine
Be a volunteer Designate your gift to CFC #59158 Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast
gsccc.org • 1-800-77SCOUT
CFC #65776
18 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014
One simple question can be a turning point Many veterans across the country either live in, or have had an extended stay at the numerous veterans’ hospitals nationwide. These medical facilities sometimes become their new homes. Often people there become their new extended family, or as one veteran told a volunteer who regularly visits him – “his best friend”. This transition happens more smoothly for some than others. Many groups and organizations step in to make this time easier for our veterans as a way to say “thank you” for serving our country. As it turns out, sometimes, one simple question helps to facilitate that transition. The American Red Cross at McGuire Veterans Medical Center in Richmond helped create a healing garden with a 2008 grant from the Department of Defense. The garden offers patients in wheelchairs and on spinal gurneys a way to benefit from the therapeutic activity of gardening. A Horticultural Club meets weekly to plant and tend the garden and learn about various agricultural topics. It gives the veterans a chance to come outside, engage in conversation and remain physically active. There are even specially designed gardening tools, modified to make use and access easier for veterans with physical/ mobility issues. This program is run by Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers, coordinated under Master Gardener, Certified Beekeeper, and Red Cross Volunteer, Chris Buck. Recently the club met for garden upkeep, as well as a presentation on harvesting honey. Buck brought out bee keeping equipment, tools used to harvest honey, and some recently harvested honey. In the session, she discussed how honey is made and obtained. She then asked the question: “What are the three castes of bees in the hive?” One veteran slowly answered the question: “queen, worker, drone.” The veteran’s answer to the question was one of the first times therapists had seen him communicate or take an interest in anything. Buck and the other Red Cross volunteers were thrilled to know their program had touched this person. They were doing what they always do – trying to make a difference in someone else’s life. Who knew, that for that one veteran, all it would take was one simple question. The Red Cross provides about 400,000 services to members of the military and veterans every year. These include relaying emergency messages and linking military families during an emergency, connecting families with local resources and supporting wounded warriors and patients in military and veterans’ hospitals. Dedicated volunteers support a variety of programs at veterans hospitals across Virginia aimed at improving the lives of veterans and their families. AMERICAN RED CROSS, EASTERN VIRGINIA REGION
CFC #50207
LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF VIRGINIA
Family helps heal a broken heart
CFC #75391
Army vet honors mother through volunteer work Teri S. Arnold Director of Marketing and Communications
Lindsey Scovil Lyons Photography
Casey, Annie and Jordan.
Carole Todd | Director of Communications and Marketing Jordan* commands the kitchen − and the dining area and the living room. To see the smiling 2-year-old rumble by, it is hard to believe that he was a desperately ill baby with two holes in his heart, who had already suffered life-threatening bouts of pneumonia. Now he has one speed – all out. The little charmer with a quick smile was born in August 2012 to a young mother who was overwhelmed by his care. He needed an around-the-clock nebulizer for asthma related to his condition, heart medication, antibiotics and frequent trips to the doctor. It was clear that if Jordan was to get better, he needed to be with a family who could take care of him. When the staff of Lutheran Family Services started looking for a foster family for Jordan, Annie and Casey Gasway came immediately to mind. They were experienced LFSVA foster parents. Casey, 38, is a deep sea diver based at Ft. Eustis and Annie, 36, is former English teacher and stay-at-home mom, and their sons, Cooper, 14, and Will, 11, are easygoing, open-hearted kids. Just three weeks after he came to live with them, his heart weakened by repeated infections, Jordan was wheeled into an operating room at The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk for the five-hour operation to close the holes in his heart. It was particularly hard for Casey, who had left four days earlier for a nine-month deployment to Kuwait. For six weeks, Annie had to lift Jordan carefully to avoid his wound, which ran the length of his torso. Now the scar is barely visible. To his foster brothers he is just one of the gang. Their attitude was clear on the welcome home sign they made him: Get Well or Else! Will says that when he gets bigger he will teach him how to draw. Cooper plans to take him to Busch Gardens. Annie came to foster care through her work as a teacher for home-bound students. “I was going into foster homes a lot, which got rid of all of my preconceived notions,” she said. “I could see how much my students benefitted from being with their foster parents.” She filed away the experience, intending to “do that someday.” That someday was four years ago when she and Casey took the foster parent training and started providing respite and foster care to children. Four years ago, Casey joined the army, leaving a career in corporate sales that had the family moving every 18 months. Both he and Annie laugh that being a military family has meant moving less not more! “Being in the army,” said Casey, “means a more stable family life, job security, and the opportunity to open our home to foster children.” For Jordan, the story has a happy ending: his adoption by the Gasways should be complete in January 2015. *Name has been changed.
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women. It kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Sonya Phillips knows how deadly this disease is and how it can take away a loved one without warning. She joined the U.S. Army in 1996, excited to start her new life fighting for our freedoms overseas. Little did she know that her mother was fighting her own battle with a deadly disease. Less than a year later after joining the Army, Sonya’s mother had a massive heart attack that took her life. Even though her mother suffered a stroke two years prior, Sonya was in shock that heart disease took her young mother’s life. “I will never forget that day. I was stationed at Osan Air Base in Korea when I received a phone call from my aunt. She began to speak but couldn’t continue, so she put my cousin on the phone to deliver the message that my mom had passed away from a heart attack,” said Phillips. “I was devastated. I didn’t want to believe them. I insisted that they were wrong and it was some cruel joke. We both began to cry as I held the phone. The first thing that went through my mind when I found out that my mom was gone was that I didn’t get to say goodbye. There is something about not having that closure that still haunts me. We had just spoken on the phone three days prior and then she was gone. I lost my best friend and my only parent while I was serving our country. Although I was heartbroken, I made the decision to celebrate her life and not mourn her death.” In recent years, Sonya decided to take control of her life by making healthier food choices and having a positive outlook on life. With a career as a certified nurse aide caring for the elderly, she spends most of her free time volunteering in the community. She is the current president of the Zonta Club of Hampton Roads, an organization of professionals whose mission is to advance the status of women worldwide. She also serves on the advisory board of the Hampton Roads Gazeti, a community service newspaper. “I am a member to the Hampton Roads American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Passion Committee,” said Phillips. “I joined this committee because I want to honor the memory of my mother and keep alive her beautiful spirit and giving heart. It is my personal mission to fight to save the women in our community so no one else has to lose their mom like I did. ” For more, visit www.goredforwomen.org. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
CFC #62615
2014 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 19
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF THE KING’S DAUGHTERS
At the end of February, after 50 days in the hospital, Tamia was able to go home – walking and singing once more.
CFC #68517
Critical Diagnosis Heather Kent | Communications Manager Months of pain, mystery and fear ended on a single winter’s day when pediatric specialists at CHKD accomplished in one visit what doctors elsewhere had not been able to do in six months: diagnose Tamia’s illness. It all began in the summer of 2012 when 6-year-old Tamia Johnston complained that her legs hurt. She soon became too weak to sing and dance, and her mother Sheila knew something was seriously wrong. Despite a battery of tests, none of the doctors in their New Jersey town could provide any answers. When Tamia was no longer able to sit up without help, she was hospitalized. Tamia received rehabilitation to strengthen her muscles, but the cause of her condition remained elusive, and her progress was soon lost. By November, she could barely muster a smile. “I watched my little girl slowly deteriorate. Little by little, she had lost the strength to do everything she loved to do – dance, sing, ride a bike. And when she lost her smile … that’s when I almost lost hope,” Sheila said. Frustrated and desperate, Sheila packed up her family and moved to Hampton Roads to be near her sister – hoping for a fresh start, another opinion, and most of all, some help for Tamia. A week after Christmas, Tamia became very congested
Courtesy photo
and wasn’t breathing right. She was thinner and more frail than ever. Increasingly concerned, Sheila headed to CHKD’s emergency room – a decision that would ultimately save Tamia’s life. “Coming to CHKD was the beginning of my miracle,” she recalled. Dr. Svinder Toor, a pediatric neurologist at CHKD, was called to examine Tamia. After reviewing her medical history and noting her symptoms, he had a strong suspicion of the cause. “In my experience, progressive muscle weakness plus irritability are good indicators of an autoimmune disorder called dermatomyositis,” Dr. Toor said. “In Tamia’s case, I was very concerned. I have never seen a patient so advanced in the disease. She needed immediate and aggressive treatment.” Dr. Toor’s first call was to Dr. Christos Gabriel, a pediatric rheumatologist at CHKD, who would confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. During his examination, Dr. Gabriel identified a purplish rash on Tamia’s eyelids and on the knuckles of her hands. “It’s a rare condition, but we’ve seen a number of cases here at CHKD. The rash on her eyelids and knuckles
are telltale signs of this disorder,” Dr. Gabriel explains. In Tamia’s case, the disease had reached a critical point. “Her condition was very grave.” Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and weakness of the skin and muscles. Tamia’s disease had progressed so far that she lacked the strength to breathe properly, to swallow food – even to smile. Her body’s oxygen levels were critically low, and she weighed barely 25 pounds. Immediately admitted to CHKD’s pediatric intensive care unit, Tamia was put on a ventilator and intravenous feeding to deliver the oxygen and nutrients she desperately needed. Dr. Gabriel began treating the disease with steroids and other medications that would suppress her overactive immune system and reduce inflammation. Tamia responded well to treatment. After 17 days in the PICU, she was better but faced severe muscle damage that would require intensive inpatient therapy. CHKD’s rehabilitation team prepared to help her fight her way back to being the active little girl who loved to sing and dance. “When Tamia came to us, she had a long way go,” said Dr. Jean Shelton, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist at CHKD. “She could not swallow food and lacked the strength to roll over in bed or sit independently. She could not walk or even push herself in her wheelchair. Her speech was barely more than a whisper due to lack of breath support.” During the weeks that followed, CHKD’s team of therapists worked intensively with Tamia each day. Slowly gaining strength, she took on every challenge with her reclaimed smile, a renewed spunk and her characteristic determination – something her mother feared would never return. “Coming to CHKD was like a miracle to us. After months of tests and unanswered questions, CHKD knew what was wrong the first day we set foot in this place,” Sheila said. “And every day since has been better than the day before. I’m so happy to have my little girl back.”
Navy volunteer models U.S. citizenship by teaching Katie Andleton, Citizenship Instructor Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) in Hampton Roads serves primarily as a refugee resettlement office to refugees fleeing persecution from all over the world. For decades, our program has worked to integrate refugees into our communities by increasing their self-sufficiency. To achieve this goal, the office in Newport News provides services such as case management, employment placement, adult English instruction, health services guidance, interpreter services, immigration counseling, and school placement. The resettlement services office relies heavily on the community to succeed. Many people throughout the Hampton Roads area give countless hours of their
time as volunteers. Hampton Roads also generously donates household items, clothing, school supplies, and more to help refugee families succeed. The agency is no stranger to military volunteers and the unique skills they offer our clients. CCC has begun a new program of offering free U.S. citizenship classes to not only the refugees our office has served, but to immigrants and others who are eligible to apply for citizenship. The classes have already seen all seven students who applied pass their interviews with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Norfolk. I work hard to find committed volunteers to increase the program’s achievements. The first time I met with active-duty Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Banasihan for
volunteer training, I asked him what motivated him to work within our new U.S. citizenship program. Jon responded, “I have been through the naturalization process myself. My family is originally from the Philippines. I understand how difficult it can be to start a new life in a foreign culture and language. I want to help ease that transition in whatever way I can.” Between his irregular work schedule on base in Norfolk, Jon makes time to assist classes in Newport News usually twice a week. Jon has done everything from creating new student learning activities, to working with students who need extra-attention in class, to burning audio CDs of the 100 Civics questions for students to listen to in their cars, to improving volunteer access to
the program’s curriculum. He is dependable and eager to complete every task I throw at him. Students are always shocked to hear his first-hand experience with naturalization. One student was particularly impressed with his background, saying “It’s hard for me to believe that he wasn’t a U.S. citizen for his whole life.” Students may not understand exactly how out of his way Jon goes to serve them on top of all he does, but they clearly love having him in classes. It is invaluable to have a volunteer who not only relates to the process, but who also models what it means to contribute to our nation as a citizen. COMMONWEALTH CATHOLIC CHARITIES
CFC #29259
20 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2014