Freedom Alliance
This scholarship fund is well known to listeners of the Sean Hannity Show. The fund benefits dependent children of an active duty service member who died or was permanently disabled in the line of duty or who is currently certified as POW or MIA. Other criteria include financial need, past academic performance, potential for success and personal initiative.
Each year the fund raises millions of dollars from events such as the Hannity Freedom Concert at Great Adventure. The 2005 concert, hosted by Hannity and LtCol Oliver North featured performances by LeAnn Rimes, Aaron Trippin and Buddy Jewell. One hundred percent of fund donations go to the Scholarship Fund.
Spirit of America
This organizations frontline projects include the Afghan Medical Reference Library, an Iraqi Agricultural Co-op, classroom supplies in Iraq, bullet-proof vests for Afghan security forces, Iraqi literacy programs and much more. They express their mission as extending “the goodwill of the American people to assist those advancing freedom, democracy and peace abroad.” Their program enables you to select which project you would like to support.
Armed Forces Family Scholarship Assistance Fund
This is a special project of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. Its Goal is to provide scholarships to children whose parent was killed in the line of duty in the Iraqi and Afghanistan war operations. The parent organization benefits children of Marines and Federal Law Enforcement personnel killed while serving at home or abroad, and has distributed aid valued at over 24 million dollars.
Boy Scouts of America
Donations to your local council can be initiated here. Hey, the Scouts are the only way I can get away with saying I served “in uniform” during Nam. Back then we wore a full uniform with pressed slacks and polished shoes, not jeans and sneakers with just a uniform shirt. But anyway, Scouting is still one of the best ways to instill in youth a sense of self-reliance, an appreciation and respect for the outdoors and a system of goal-setting and rewards. Support the Girl Scouts too – may I suggest the thin mints. Yes, I may. As Levin would say, thank me very much.
A Million Thanks
Having passed the one million letter mark, this student-founded organization is working on another million messages of thanks to the troops. This is a project run by the students of Lutheran High School of Orange. California. They will forward thank you letters, cards and emails to service members abroad, wounded soldiers and veterans. The million thanks website also lists other ways to express thanks or help support the troops humanitarian efforts, the sort of operations you never hear about in the mainstream press.
