Summer Camps for Thousands of Military Kids in Jeopardy

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Nation prepares for the unofficial wind up of summer 2010, 10,000 children of active duty military service members are in jeopardy of losing one of the largest private programs helping them cope with the lengthy and repeated deployments of their parents. Without funding from the private sector in the coming months, Operation Purple® Camps will not be around in the summer of 2011, according to the National Military Family Association, which runs the program in nearly 70 locations in more than 30 states.

The organization announced a critical campaign in partnership with the National Fraternal Congress of America to save the camps and issued a call asking corporations, other philanthropists and individuals to come forward to help thousands of deserving military children.

"As we mark the end of summer 2010," said Joyce Raezer, Executive Director of the National Military Family Association, "we need help to ensure these camps will be available next summer for military kids struggling under the prolonged strain of war."

Next week, the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) will work at its annual meeting in Chicago to begin organizing fundraising efforts among its member organizations who work to meet the needs of local communities and national causes. NFCA members, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Knights of Columbus, Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World, and dozens of other fraternal life insurers doing business in all 50 states, have pledged to fundraise in local communities throughout the country to send children to these special camps.

"We are grateful these patriotic and civic-minded fraternal organizations are eager to help military families in their communities and across the Nation," said Raezer.

"These multi-generational groups recognize that a generation of children's lives are being shaped in significant ways in the short and long term as a result of their parents' commitment to the Nation," said Joseph Annotti, President of the NFCA. "By supporting Operation Purple Camps we are providing much needed assistance to military families and, in a small but meaningful way, strengthening our national defense."

As First Lady Michelle Obama noted at the Association's summit on military families in the spring, "This unprecedented time in our Nation's history calls for an unprecedented response on behalf of the 1% of Americans and their families who are shouldering the burden of our Nation's global security."

Critical emergency funds are needed to help nearly 10,000 campers whose parents are deployed attend this free week of summer camp designed specifically to enhance the well-being of military children from all military services. Operation Purple Camps, now in their seventh year, were funded by a major donor who can no longer sustain the commitment. The program has served 40,000 children and their families.

New studies and the groundbreaking summit convened by the Association in May affirm that military children benefit from programs that provide extra support to cope with stress levels that are about 30% higher than average American kids.

"As the Nation ends the rites of summer this Labor Day weekend, we want to make sure our military kids can count on a summer that serves them next year," said Annotti. "Fraternal organizations will use their events and activities over the next several months to inform their members of this critical way to help. We will be gathered for our annual meeting next week where we will strategize further about keeping this critical program alive."

About the National Military Family Association

Military families serve our country with pride, honor, and quiet dedication. The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthen and protect the families of the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen. We provide families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve, and offer programs that improve their lives. Our 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for military families and the Nation's leaders. To learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.

SOURCE National Military Family Association