Combined Federal Campaign 2013

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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By Mike Crockett | Originally published in the August 11 issue of The Virginian-Pilot.

A federal co-worker and I were commiserating about our furlough paychecks when he compared the mandatory 20 percent pay cuts to being forced to purchase a new washing machine twice a month. Talk about being taken to the cleaners!

But good news followed. The secretary of defense had reduced the number of required unpaid days off from 11 to six.

On my furlough days, I visited or volunteered with a few local non-profits that are valiantly trying to help people build better lives while weathering the tumultuous economy. The staff, their volunteers and the clients they serve are some of the less familiar faces of sequestration.

Sharon Chittim, director of family services for South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity, provides financial counseling to prospective homebuyers. These days, because she’s married to a federal employee, she’s been forced to implement the same financial advice she usually gives others.

With pay cuts looming, the Chittims deposited their entire tax refund, adjusted tax withholdings and agreed to forgo large purchases.

“Most of our Habitat partner families live paycheck to paycheck,” said Chittim. She worries more about the families, adding that they “have no money to spare.”

Chittim introduced me to Bernice, a GS-5 federal employee and recently qualified Habitat homebuyer who is raising two teenagers on her own. She earns $16.50 an hour and has seen her workload increase because of sequestration-related hiring freezes.

Like all defense employees, Bernice hasn’t had a raise in three years, and now the furlough has cost her $528 a month. She worries about paying for back-to-school supplies and for the fuel for her commute.

And then there are the 350 hours of “sweat equity” required for her Habitat home and the need to maintain good credit scores.

“There isn’t enough time in the day,” she said.

I spent one afternoon bagging canned goods and pasta alongside another furloughed volunteer at The Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore, an agency that has worked since 1981 to end hunger in our region. While filling bags, I learned about the annual “Feds Feed Families,” a governmentwide annual food drive to feed the hungry.

That campaign, which ends late this month, is peaking just as many lower income federal workers are worrying about paying for their own meals because of the furlough.

I also visited Eggleston Services, a Hampton Roads non-profit that gives people with disabilities a way to contribute to society and enjoy the satisfaction of earning a living. I heard about the struggles of employees who work on contract for custodial and food service at military installations.

Eggleston also operates an industrial laundry that handles military and hospital linens. Budget cuts there have meant less work and their laundry staff has been shrinking.

“It’s already hard enough for people with disabilities to get work and they tend to be first to go when times are tight,” said Paul Atkinson, Eggleston’s CEO. “Many are already living on the margins. We also rely on donations, which people may be less inclined to make if they have lost income themselves.”

So, what will happen later this year when federal employees are asked to donate to the government’s annual Combined Federal Campaign – or other worthwhile causes?

Despite the furlough and the outlook for 2014, I believe we’ll ultimately do the right thing ... put people first and set a good example for our leaders to follow.

Mike Crockett, a retired naval officer, lives in Norfolk. He is a federal employee and was not paid to write this column.

These are his views and do not represent those of the federal government. His email is mike.crockett@yahoo.com.

Publisher | Laura Baxter Editor/Designer | Rebecca Soorani Hastings Creative Director | Tricia Lieurance Editorial | (757) 322-2860 Advertising | (757) 222-3990 | sales@militarynews.com

Gabby (left) and Christy Kayal show scrapbooks they made for military children to send to their deployed parents.

Every year, I share how United Way supports the important work of our local military and federal workers.

This year, with sequestration adding to everyone’s struggles, I read Mike’s “Faces of the Furlough” and realized he said it better than I ever could.

As the CFC campaign begins, we hope you see it in your heart to join us, and Mike, to support our community.

That’s how we all LIVE UNITED for a stronger South Hampton Roads.

Sincerely, Carol McCormack, President & CEO of United Way of South Hampton Roads

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By Marcy Germanotta, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast For many, scrapbooking is a passion. It is a way to record important events in one’s life. Some happy memories that will bring back a smile, but others that may cause a few tears to drop. Twin sisters Christy and Gabby Kayal from Chesapeake used scrapbooking in their Girl Scout Silver Award project that benefited military families in Hampton Roads. Silver is the highest award earned by a Girl Scout Cadette.

They created interactive scrapbooks that children of local military families could decorate and send to their parent or guardian who is away. Each page had a themed topic to help direct and inspire the young artist. Pre-cut symbols and graphics were also provided to the children to help them with the creative process.

There were special sections on each page where a loving message or note could be added.

Once decorated, the scrapbooks were sent to the deployed parent who filled out their corresponding portion and sent the book back home. A bookmark was created for the child’s photo to be attached and sent to the parent to keep with them while on their mission.

“We wanted the books to become special keepsakes for the families,” said Christy. “My sister and I love scrapbooking and this project made it possible for us to support the military and share something we love to do. We have a lot of friends from military families and my dad is a civilian dentist at the Naval Dental Center, Sewells Point, so we know about the sacrifices these families make being separated from a parent when deployed.”

The girls spent 96 hours each creating the scrapbooks that would be handled with loving care. They also used resources wisely, as any Girl Scout would, and used recyclable paper bags to make the covers of the scrapbooks! All together, the girls made 100 scrapbooks that were distributed to military families through the Family Readiness Group for the USS San Antonio (LPD 17).

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, CFC# 59158

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

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By C. Driskell, Executive Director Access Partnership, in collaboration with other community partners, provided 106 adults living with pain, infection or other oral health issues a reason to smile on May 31 and June 1.

More than 100 volunteers, including dentists from the Navy and volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps, provided free dental services at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Chesapeake.

Research demonstrates that dental care is one of the biggest health gaps in Hampton Roads.

And government insurance like Medicare and Medicaid leave most adults without routine dental coverage.

Access Partnership recruits dental, medical and lay volunteers and notifies human service agencies, hospitals and shelters about the out-

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Drs. Ezra Merritt and Jesse Lee.

reaches. Eligible people are scheduled through the dental access line: 853-8500 ext. 127. So far, more than 800 people have received services at events held in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Suffolk.

United States Navy dentists Jeffrey Hoyle, Ezra Merritt and Jesse Lee donated their expertise to provide dental care along with Dental Assistants Thomas Boyce and Christopher Cretchain. Dr. Hoyle commented following the event: “So great working with you this weekend.

I can’t say it enough. I’m just so impressed with how organized and good the event was, no small undertaking and you did it so smoothly and professionally. I’ve been telling everyone about it.�

By Teri S. Arnold, Director of Marketing and Communications Robert Epps was born with a benign heart murmur. Unbeknownst to him, this condition as a child laid the groundwork for a battle with his greatest adversary as an adult.

In his early years, Epps was a student at the physically grueling Chief Petty Officers Academy in the hills of Petaluma, Calif. Students at the academy typically ran, hiked or biked 2 - 4 miles per day. As he struggled to meet the challenges of this intense training regimen, Robert wascompletelyunawareofthetickingtimebomb inside his chest.

During a physical exam, a PHS officer onbase discovered Robert’s heart was three times its normal size and wider than a soda can. Accompanied by severe aortic dissection (tearing apart of the layers of the aortic wall) as well as an aortic aneurysm near his heart, Robert was in serious danger of losing his life.

Robert Epps, heart disease survivor and retired U.S. Coast Guard senior chief petty ofďŹ cer.

Shortly after his diagnosis, Robert had his first heart surgery. Despite his health obstacles, he persevered and became a U. S. Coast Guard senior chief petty officer. His battle with heart disease continued as he fought for our freedoms.

Two additional heart surgeries to repair his aorta were successful because of ground breaking heart disease research. Robert’s courageous fight against the number one killer of all Americans became the catalyst for his passionate desire to raise awareness.

Retired from the military, Robert is now an author on the subject and one of his life’s goals is to find a cure through heart disease research and public awareness.

The American Heart Association CFC# 62615

Access Partnership, CFC# 42283

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.

888-662-6794

AngelCaninesforWoundedWarriors.org

.2&1 g + *& b&+ ,2/ ,4+ 3,& "b -/"0"+1"/ You should take a second look at your family member, friend, or even your caregiver, because you can never take life for granted, what happened to her could happen to anyone. She lost the most important person to her at the tender age of 9 – her 27-year-old father committed suicide.

She was his only child and she wondered every day if she did something wrong. Was she the blame for his tragic death? These were the thoughts that ran through her mind then and even now. Today, her mother and her family are her greatest support system.

At 18, she was admitted as a resident to Virginia State University, there she felt alone and couldn’t fit in with anyone. So a year later, she transferred to Virginia Wesleyan College as a commuter. While there she maintained a 3.2 GPA but she was overwhelmed with work, transportation, studying, and pleasing her family. She was the only one in the family attending college. It was a huge amount of pressure.

She lost more than 25 pounds. She looked very scary. Finally, she left college.

All she did was worry and had irrational thoughts. After a month of such weird behavior, her family had her admitted to a psychi-

atric hospital and stayed there for two days.

She received a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Her family was devastated. They never experienced anything like this before. Her mother was so afraid that she would harm herself.

After leaving the hospital, she was very paranoid and couldn’t function like a normal person. This continued for two years.

At 22, she was referred to a day treatment program called Beach House. There she had help with the process of recovery and felt very independent and accepted. In 2009, she joined NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness). She was so intrigued by this wonderful volunteer program that educates advocates and supports those with mental illness and their family. In 2011, she became a trained presenter for NAMI’s In Our Own Voice program. She speaks to different audiences, locally and regionally, about her illness, her dark days and her recovery. She shares her goals and dreams.

She has chosen to be a strong advocate for her community and will continue to be an activist and public speaker for the mentally ill.

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Virginia Beach, CFC# 97788

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 5

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Do you think you know a potential Habitat for Heroes family?

Direct them to our website for selection criteria and applications, or call Habitat SHR at 640-0590.

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By Sheila Johnson, Communications/ Marketing Manager Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads (Habitat SHR) has been helping lowincome families realize their dream of homeownership for 25 years. Habitat SHR has built, or rehabbed and then sold, affordable homes to nearly 200 families, including several veteran and active duty homebuyers. Habitat SHR depends on a vast “army” of volunteers, often a majority of military veterans and active duty service members for their donations of labor and time on our construction sites.

In 2011, Habitat SHR officially formed its Veterans Initiative Habitat for Heroes. The initiative was formed in response to statistical data that indicates more than 160,000 veterans are at risk of becoming homeless and to serve the large population of South Hampton Roads comprised of veterans, active duty military and their families.

Habitat SHR is very excited to have multiple opportunities to partner with those families who qualify for a home, and often utilize the military and community for the labor force. Since its inception, the veterans initiative has expanded to include critical repairs for veteran family homes, with support from Home Depot, active duty families and local veteran-owned companies through philanthropic funding. More recently, Bank of America has donated several local properties to Habitat SHR for renovation and sale to qualified military, veteran and traditional Habitat families.

Our first Habitat for Heroes homebuyer family is a Navy veteran, Lydia, a widowed single mother of three who served two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her new house will be part of Kenley Commons, a six unit townhome development in Virginia Beach, where construction began in July. Lydia and her family will contribute 250 hours of “sweat equity,” helping to build their home and others in the Habitat SHR program.

Through affordable homeownership, Lydia will be able to achieve stability and independence and build a better life for her and her family.

“This is the American dream – owning your own home. These people have gone out and defended that right, so we just want to help them achieve that dream,” said retired Stanley Bryant, Habitat for Heroes Committee Chairman and member of the Habitat SHR Board.

Program qualifications are that veterans must have been honorably discharged and have a good credit rating, along with an annual income of $23,500 (family of two) to $58,100 (family of eight) and be willing to help with construction of their home or volunteer in various capacities with Habitat SHR. Selected families must also take Habitat SHR facilitated homebuyer training classes where topics range from financial management, civic engagement, basic home maintenance, tools 101 and predatory lending. The classes teach the families about the importance of budgeting for their mortgage and taking care of their home.

Habitat SHR provides a zero-interest mortgage to help qualified buyers purchase the new construction or renovated houses. Habitat SHR provides the knowledge and education these families need to become successful homebuyers in South Hampton Roads.

Habitat SHR was established in 1988 by local residents who wanted to make a difference in their community. Its unique, zero-percent mortgage program offers home-buying families a hand up and not a hand out. Those families’ mortgages pay it forward to allow Habitat SHR to build, renovate and rehabilitate homes for more families.

Your donation to Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads through CFC can be designated directly to our veterans initiative projects.

Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads, Inc., CFC# 45426

By Retired Michael J. Branck, Major, USAF, Client and Volunteer I am Mjr. Branck. I am a 23-year U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Iraq/ Iran conflict, Operation Desert Shield and Storm (first Gulf War), and Operation Enduring Freedom. My service/combat-related medical issues are multiple, including chronicpost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and residuals from three traumatic brain injuries.

Fallon is my PTSD service dog, without which 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

Service members with physical, neurological, psychiatric or emotional disabilities can receive service dogs for free.

“Fallon” has enabled me to lead a more independent life in several crucial ways. Fallon helps me perform tasks that I was otherwise not able to do and/ or would have extreme difficulty doing for myself. She has increased my personal accomplishment, self-esteem and selfconfidence.

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.

For additional information on paws4vets, visit their website at www.paws4people.org. paws4vets, CFC# 19324

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By Deanie Eldridge, VA Area Executive Director American Diabetes Association volunteer and supporter Ralph Colander served in the U.S. Navy more than 22 years.

He retired as a senior chief information systems technician on the USS Carl Vinson. Ralph currently works for Fleet Cyber Command at Little Creek in a civil service position.

Ralph is a resident of Suffolk and discovered the Association’s annual Hampton Roads Tour de Cure cycling event when it moved to the area.

“Last year, I didn’t know the Tour existed,” he said. “But once I found out about it, I took it as an opportunity to learn more about it and to get involved with the American Diabetes Association.”

Diabetes runs in Ralph’s fam-

ily and he has been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. He is taking control of his health through diet and exercise, including cycling.

Ralph served as a key route volunteer in 2012 and decided to ride in the 2013 Tour when he noticed that rider participation was lacking from two important groups – African-Americans, who have one of the highest risks of diabetes and Suffolk residents, a city with a high rate of diabetes incidence and complications, compared to many other Virginia areas.

He hopes that more people will realize that Type 2 diabetes is preventable.

“There’s an increase of young people that are overweight,” he said. “When they get my age, they’re going to have some form of high blood

Sailors volunteer for Clean the Bay Day each year.

Tour de Cure will be back in the Suffolk community on April 26, 2014, and there’s a ride for every age and ability, with distances from 10 to 100 miles. For information, call 424-6662 x3276, or visit www.diabetes.org/ hamptonroadsvatour.

pressure or diabetes. I don’t think people understand this is a disease that can be prevented or doesn’t have to be a death sentence.”

American Diabetes Association, CFC# 74975

Daniel and his adopted son, Malik

Hundreds of children across Hampton Roads are desperately in need of a safe, stable, and loving home.

Open your heart and become a foster or adoptive parent.

Be a

Information sessions available.

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By Tanner Council, Clean the Bay Day Coordinator For 25 years, the U.S. Navy has helped make the annual Clean the Bay Day shoreline cleanup a big success.

This year, the 25th Anniversary of Clean the Bay Day, more than 1,100 personnel from 11 Navy installations in Hampton Roads joined an estimated 6,000 other volunteers on June 1 to pick up approximately 135,000 pounds of litter and debris. The Navy alone boasted 22,995 pounds of debris removed from 55 miles of shoreline.

Over the years, Clean the Bay Day has engaged more than 128,000 volunteers who have removed approximately six million pounds of debris from nearly 6,000 miles of shoreline. And participating from day one, year in and year out, have been thousands of U.S. Navy personnel.

In fact, so steady and steadfast has the Navy’s participation in Clean the Bay Day been over the years that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), sponsor of the annual cleanup, this year named the Navy among its 25 Year “Clean the Bay Day Heroes.”

Then Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, now retired, accepted the award at a special ceremony earlier this year at the Navy’s Lafayette River Complex in Norfolk.

Others recognized as Clean the Bay Heroes were: the cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, as well as individual citizens Christopher and Donna Bennett and Mike Kirsch, all of Chesapeake; Steve Pahno and Charlene Ihrig of Virginia Beach; Sharon Smith of Norfolk; and Steve White of Williamsburg.

As in past Clean the Bay Days, the most common items found during this year’s clean-

up were plastic bottles, plastic bags and cigarette butts. Household appliances, automobile parts and tires, and many other large, harmful items were a significant portion of the overall yield.

Volunteers were also surprised by many strange finds, including a reclining chair, the door to a safe, a law enforcement ankle bracelet and an antique kitchen sink.

“The Bay and its waterways work for us every single day, boosting our economy and quality of life,” said Tanner Council, CBF Clean the Bay Day coordinator. “Protecting and restoring the Bay requires everyone doing their share to reduce pollution. Clean the Bay Day is a great, practical way for individuals to give a few hours back and make a big difference.”

“But this event tackles only the visible pollution – what’s even more challenging is addressing the less obvious pollution entering our waterways all the time,” Council noted.

“If we don’t continue to make progress reducing the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution targeted by Virginia’s Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint (the state’s plan to restore the Bay and its rivers), we will continue to have dirty waters, human health hazards and an economy that cannot reap the rewards of a healthy Bay.” Local Clean the Bay Day sponsors who make the event possible include: Farm Fresh Supermarkets, SeaWorld-Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, CSX Transportation, the Virginia Port Authority, River Network/Anheuser-Busch, HelioSage, Volvo Penta, 94.9 The Point, 101.3 2WD, and WVEC-13 News. In addition, this year all of Virginia’s 20 state parks within the Chesapeake Bay watershed participated and offered cleanup sites.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, CFC# 11325

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 7

Since 1941 In War and Peace We Have Never Forgotten You

Please Remember Us At CFC Time

速

Hampton Roads Central Virginia

CFC# 29471 www.USOHRCV.COM

757.764.5232

8 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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Donations make a difference.

If you know one of the 133 million Americans facing a life-threatening health condition, disability, or disease, you know their need is urgent. Community Health Charities makes it easy to help by

Choose your cause.

connecting you to the nation’s most trusted health charities.

25.8 million people in the U.S. have diabetes.

Over

500M

$

has been invested for research, prevention and cures, thanks to help from donations through Community Health Charities.

Every dollar donated has maximum impact.

By Retired Cmdr. Mike Pettinger, USN In the spring of 2000, my wife Karin and I were wandering through a pet carnival in Hampton when our footsteps took us to the table of Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training (SEVA GRREAT). Being dog people ourselves, we wondered why would a breed of such loyal, loving and playful dogs need its own rescue group?

But our discussions with the staff at the booth intrigued us and we signed up to volunteer, initially as home evaluators for prospective adopters of rescued Golden Retrievers. It quickly became apparent that these wonderful canines needed every bit of help possible. SEVA GRREAT provided everything a Golden would need for immediate intake of a rescued dog, and a safe foster home while every effort went into locating the best possible family for each dog.

We discovered it takes an army of good people to take in a dog, get it evaluated and treated at our veterinarian, transport it to a foster home, care for and love the dog while it adjusts, and develop methods for getting the dog visible to po-

tential adopters. Then we need to handle applications from the adopters, meet with each family personally, collaborate to find possible dog and family matches, and interview the applicants with the dog before an adoption is finalized. Like any army, that team of dog rescuers has immense logistic needs, such as fundraisers, secretarial work, website maintenance, merchandising and all of the work that makes SEVA GRREAT so successful.

We’ve had some help with many of these requirements, but each effort just helps us grow as a rescue organization. Some efforts are small, one dog at a time. Over the years, my wife and I have been foster parents to 30 Golden Retrievers.

Every day, these rescued canine companions are thankful to the CFC for every dollar of help.

To date, we have funded the rescue and placement into new homes of over many hundreds of these incredible Golden Retrievers.

Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training, Inc., CFC# 88796

But it isn’t just about money – it’s about lives.

There are more than

7 million

stroke survivors in the U.S. today

5 $ 50 $

provides “HOPE: A Stroke Recovery Guide” free for survivors and caregivers. gives a stroke support group free recovery materials for those who need it most.

Cancer is the deadliest disease for children over

80%

- that’s the survival rate for childhood cancers today. Up from less than 20% in 1962 thanks in part to treatments developedby St. Jude, and funded almost entirely by donations.

Over the past five years alone, Community Health Charities has distributed more than $330 million to its member charities. By partnering with Community Health Charities, these charities spend less of their resources on fund raising, and more on the important work that saves lives.

1

healthcharities.org 800.654.0845

VPQF@ #F?OLPFP #LRKA>QFLK DBQP EB@H COLJ )>KDIBV # Great Strides is the largest national fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – more than 700 walks take place across the country each spring. There are two Great Strides walks held in Hampton Roads, one on the southside and one on the peninsula.

Registration for the event is done in teams, and one team in particular surpassed their fundraising goal significantly this year thanks in part to members of the Air Force at Langley.

Dina Varnes is the mother of 17-year-old Amanda Varnes who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Varnes has formed a team for Great Strides for more than 10 years. The goal for her team this year was to raise $7,000, not knowing that generous support-

ers would increase that goal by another $7,000.

Amanda’s father, Lee, has been in the Air Force for more than two decades and is highly respected by his peers, so much that they decided to support Cystic Fibrosis Foundation this year in their separate fundraising. In May, Langley Air Force presented the CF Foundation with a check for $7,000 for the Varnes’ Great Strides team.

The original budgeted goal for the peninsula Great Strides was $22,000, but the event raised more than $38,000. All funds went to continued research to find a cure for the underlying effects of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CFC# 54316

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 9

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By Sydney Palese, St. Mary’s Home Marketing Communications Intern In September of 2012, Lt. Chris Livingston and his wife Laura loaded up their van with suitcases, buckled in their three very young sons, squeezed in their Doberman pinscher, and left their life on the sunny West Coast to begin a cross-country road trip to Virginia Beach, where Chris was newly stationed.

Their month and a half on the road was a whirlwind of visiting family and friends. They went to Disneyland. They crammed into hotel rooms dotted across the United States. Their son Liam rode a roller coaster. Memories were made.

But in the back of their minds, they wondered what their new life would be like once they reached their destination, in a house filled with dozens of boxes and a life temporarily void of routine.

Their middle child, Liam, was a happy and energetic 7-year-old who required a lot of attention and around-the-clock care as a result of Angelman’s Syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder. He lacked a sense of safety awareness and had frequent seizures and a fast metabolism. He only slept three to four hours a night and wasn’t able to communicate verbally. “We came here and we had nothing in the house with three kids,�

Laura said. “Liam had no structure, no room to be safe in.�

So the Livingstons considered St. Mary’s Home, a Norfolk-based home for children and young adults with disabilities. Laura had toured a year earlier at the request of her best friend, who works in the mental health community as a neuropsychologist.

With the stress of moving and with

Chris having to travel right away in his new job, the Livingstons decided to place Liam in St. Mary’s for a 30-day respite stay. “It was a tough decision, but it helped that I’d already visited and knew what to expect,� she said.

Though having Liam away from home was difficult, the development the Livingstons saw almost immediately were difficult to ignore. Liam more than doubled the amount of sleep he got. He gained weight. And he made many friends with both staff and other children. “Every time I would come see him, he was so happy,� said Laura. “I couldn’t question if this was the right thing for him. It was the reassuring sense of coming to see him and he was never upset.�

After many discussions and meetings with St. Mary’s social workers, the Livingstons decided to keep Liam

THE BAY YOU LOVE IS IN TROUBLE. Join us in our efforts to ďŹ ght pollution and save the Bay and its rivers and streams for current and future generations.

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The Livingston family.

in the home for long-term care. “As more time passed, it made sense for our family,� said Laura.

Since their decision to extend Liam’s stay, they have seen huge changes not only in Liam, but also in their family.

A great amount of stress has also been factored out of the family’s lives. They don’t have to worry about whether Liam, who Laura playfully

calls her “Little Houdini,� will leave the house without her.

Chris can leave for lengthy deployments with a peace of mind. Ronan, 10, their oldest son, who often took on the role of “man of the house� while Chris was out on deployment, became able to explore interests like baseball and theatre. Liam is able to wander the halls of St. Mary’s in search of adventure, and make friends and blow bubbles, one of his favorite activities.

Often, Laura will pick Liam up from St. Mary’s and take him home.

There, Liam is able to swim in their backyard pool with his brothers, an activity which Laura says relaxes him.

If Chris gets off work at 8 or 9 p.m., he will stop by St. Mary’s and say goodnight to Liam. If he’s out on deployment, they will Skype. Once or twice a week, Laura brings Ronan and baby Seamus to the home to visit their brother. “I don’t know what the future will hold for us, but I feel like it’s such a good environment to have him in,�

Laura said.

St. Mary’s Home, CFC# 10064

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10 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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!ND RIGHT NOW WE RE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT US BY MAKING YOUR DONATION TO THE Virginia"EACH Beach 6IRGINIA Volunteer Rescue 2ESCUE 3QUAD Squad.

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*FIFQ>OV PMLRPB SLIRKQBBOP TFQE 0B>O@E >KA /BP@RB $OLRMP If you are a military spouse trying to find a way to fill the void of a missing mate and also benefit your community, what do you do? You could find a worthy organization to volunteer for. If you are a little more adventurous than the average citizen, you may try volunteering for a search and rescue group.

Or, if you are an over achiever like Jessica, you may try volunteering for two search and rescue groups.

Jessica, whose husband Jason is a master chief in the Navy, has been a member of Tidewater Search and Rescue (TSAR) for almost a year and a half. She also joined Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD) with her K9 partner â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nash.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nash is a lot like me,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He needs something to do, a job of some sort, or he drives

us all crazy.â&#x20AC;?

While she hopes to have Nash certified and operational by the end of the year, she is busy working with TSAR to make sure she is field-ready, learning skills such as map and compass, semi technical rope work, litter handling, first aid and CPR, and lost person behavior, just to name a few.

TSAR is an all-volunteer search and rescue group that has been in operation since 1985.

While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary response area is Tidewater, because of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state of Virginia, its members have responded to missions not only in the state of Virginia, but in neighboring states as well.

The group does not receive any money from any state or federal funding and its mem-

Jessica is a military spouse and part of Tidewater Search and Rescue.

bers pay for their own equipment. Most of them work other jobs just to pay for their search and rescue habit.

So why search and rescue?

Jessica said she felt it was a good fit for her with the skills she already had, and some she wanted to learn. She also hopes that seeing her volunteering and helping the community sets a good example for her children.

Search and rescue, much like being a military wife, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for everyone. If it was easy, anyone could do it, but like most volunteer search and rescue personnel, Jessica isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just anyone. She feels it gives her important skills that will work â&#x20AC;&#x153;wherever we go when my husband retires.â&#x20AC;?

Tidewater Search and Rescue, CFC# 76808

*FIFQ>OV LRMIBP #FKA $LAcP %B>IFKD 1LR@E After Jesus told a story about a Samaritan man who went out of hiswaytohelpahurtingneighbor.

He told his followers to â&#x20AC;&#x153;go and do likewise.â&#x20AC;? Samaritanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse is an international relief organization that strives to follow this by caring for suffering people, especially those with critical needs unnoticed by others.

In the case of American troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of their greatest un-met needs arise back on the homefront. Not only do they face steep physical and emotional challenges as individuals, but many also find their marriages stressed to the breaking point.

That is why Samaritanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse launched Operation Heal Our Patriots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to serve wounded and injured military personnel and their spousesbyhelpingthemstrengthen their marriages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be on a long deployment, and to be wounded, changes the life of a couple,â&#x20AC;? said Samaritanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse President Franklin Graham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It takes extra work, it takes prayer and it takes God to keep these marriages together.â&#x20AC;?

Capt. Matt Stuhler, USMC, was shot in the left arm by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in 2010. But the injuries that most trouble Stuhler are the ones no one can see â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the devastating

combination of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Timetogetheratthewilderness retreat in Alaska, through Operation Heal Our Patriots, gave Stuhler and his wife, Kristina, of Fairfax, Va., a cherished opportunity to focus on each other and their spiritual lives. Kristina, a Virginia Beach native, prayed to receive Christ during the retreat and was baptized on Aug. 2 in chilly Lake Clark. Her husband rededicated his life to Christ as well.

Samaritanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse CFC# 10532

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 11

12 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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*BKQ>I %B>IQE CLO >II 3FODFKF> 3BQBO>KP Chief Yeoman (SW/AW) Ryan J. Bolton, Sr. volunteering with Oasis Ministries.

During visits, we are thrilled to let people know of all resources that are available to them and their families, especially veterans that are unaware of benefits that they may still be eligible to receive. As a CPO, I believe we lead from the front ... know your people and most importantly take care of your people!

Oasis Ministries, CFC# 22652

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By YNC (SW/AW) Ryan J. Bolton, Sr. Since their highly anticipated arrival to Newport News for the ship’s five-year Refueling Complex Overhaul, the USS Abraham Lincoln’s Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Mess has been heavily engaged in community relations (COMREL) projects in Hampton Roads. You never want to say that one project is bigger or means more than another, but deep down, the Oasis Ministries served more purpose to me than picking up litter from the side of the road, or assisting with refurbishing a house.

The Oasis Ministries Foundation has been providing food services to the homeless and the less fortunate for 43 years in the Portsmouth/ Chesapeake area. This COMREL service is a gateway for our CPO Mess to give back to the community of which many of us have endured similar circumstances.

By Liesl Lipford, Program Development Coordinator Things are heating up at Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) – despite the cooler weather we’ve been experiencing. MHAV has some exciting things planned for the fall and we’re excited to let you in on the news!

MHAV is a non-profit organizationbasedoutofRichmondthat offers consumer-oriented services to Virginians who have experienced mental illness.

Whenitcomestomentalhealth on the list of priorities for returningveterans,weareacutelyaware of the lack of resources for mental wellness, and how difficult it

can be to return to a culture and society that is now strange and unfamiliar.

Our veterans are in a unique situation, so MHAV developed Pathfinders, a conference solely for veterans who have experienced mental illness during deployment and are now expected to deal with it.

Our three-day conference focuses on issues specific to veterans, while providing a safe space to learn more about themselves and their journey.

At Pathfinders, we seek to cultivate surroundings in which veterans can experience safety and trust among peers upon returning home.

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By Debra L. Moore, USDA Coordinator Have you thought about switching to a career that lets you become an independent businessperson? A job that requires the wisdom of a parent, the knowledge of a social worker, the skill of a pediatrician, the tact of a mediator and the savvy of an entrepreneur running a small business? A job that allows you to stay at home with your own children and avoid the commuter rush?

Many military spouses find that being a family child care provider is an ideal job and they can benefit from the reimbursement of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Providers who live off-base and want to care for five or fewer children, not including their own, can obtain voluntary registration, which is a state program. If you have more than six full-time children in care at one time, not including your own living in your home, you are

At MHAV, the name of the game is empowerment. It’s amazing what one person can do when they realize their potential and have the knowledge and self-awareness that truly sets them apart and makes her or him great.

If you are interested in finding out more about our mission and our services, please visit mhav.org, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. We can be reached by phone through our Warm Line at (866) 4006428, or our office line at (804) 257-5591.

Mental Health America of Virginia, CFC# 97281

required to be licensed by the Department of Social Services.

Once you have a voluntary registration certificate, or state license, you are eligible for the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This is a free federal program designed to improve the nutrition of children. The CACFP reimburses you for nutritious meals served to children in your care from infants through the age 13, or older if a child is handicapped. The program also provides free training in nutrition, menu planning, early education and record keeping for tax purposes. For more information, call (757) 397-2984.

Children’s Harbor CFC# 93914

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 13

14 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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By Holly Drake, Content Producer When George suddenly lost his sales job due to the economy, it was a shock to his family.

And with three young children to feed, it wasn’t long before he and his wife Becca found themselves unable to pay their bills and put food on the table.

Thankfully, George and Becca turned to an Operation Blessing-supported food pantry near their home for help with groceries and other household items.

The food supplies were enough to ensure their children wouldn’t go hungry.

“Your first thought is always, I’ll go without before I let my kids go without,” Becca said.

“So knowing that they were taken care of and that they had the things they needed makes

you sleep better at night. It was a relief to know that we had Operation Blessing there to help us when we were in the trenches.”

To help provide for his family long-term, however, George had a plan to get back into the trenches – this time with the U.S. Army.

George entered the Army and was soon deployed to Afghanistan. With his steady income, Becca and the kids no longer need help from Operation Blessing or the local food pantry, but they still go there regularly – now volunteering to serve others in need.

“Becca and her family just had some struggles in their lives for a period of time,” said Gary Bellis, who directs the food pantry. “And the beauty of this is

Operation Blessing has been partnering with the food pantry that helped George and Becca for more than seven years, currently reaching around 1,500 families every month.

Across the nation, Operation Blessing’s Hunger Strike Force trucks deliver an average of two million pounds of food and product to a network of more than 120 community-based partners in dozens of cities including: New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Tampa; Nashville; Asheville; Buffalo and many more.

The products are then distributed by the partner organizations to roughly 4,400 local food pantries, where it is given to families in need.

Since its inception, Operation Blessing International has distributed 1.3 billion pounds of food and relief aid, supplemented more than 865 million meals, and transported some 35,000 truckloads that have driven more than 28 million miles.

To learn more about Operation Blessing’s relief efforts and how you can support OBI through the Combined Federal Campaign, please, visit www. operationblessing.org/CFC.

By Susan Reid, Financial Support Services, VCU Health System It’s a good thing that I had a slow growing lymphoma or I wouldn’t be telling this story today. I found the first lump on Christmas Eve 2003 while I was pacing around my mother’s hospital room. About six hours later she passed away. She had a long illness.

Blaming my own symptoms on grief and exhaustion, I chose to ignore them. Of course, not having a doctor and being a huge medical weenie didn’t help. After a few months and more lumps, I found a doctor.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get to the root of the problem until a year later when I received a call after an MRI, telling me I needed to find an oncologist and if I had one in mind…what?

By then my kidneys were starting to shut down. They still had to do a biopsy to know exactly what we were dealing with. Being really sick allowed me to get through all of the procedures.

It was February 2005. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 nonHodgkin lymphoma and soon to have my first chemo treatment. Yikes! How on earth did this happen? I am in an unfamiliar world with everything moving way too fast – new terms, needle sticks, CT scans, MRIs, bone marrow biopsy, and chemotherapy.

When all the treatments were over I was called a survivor. I guess it’s because I survived the diagnosis, the needle sticks, the bone marrow biopsy, and the chemo. I was feeling pretty confident.

Five months later, the follow-up CT scan showed I was no longer in remission. I was told that my lymphoma is incurable.

The only guarantee I have is that it will return. So, here we go again in January 2006 with more chemo and tests.

Today, I am in remission, still a survivor, with no sign of the cancer. I’m convinced that without the research efforts of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the discovery of the drug Rituxan® which they supported, my outcome wouldn’t be what it is today. Because of this, I decided to get involved with LLS. My experience with LLS has been terrific! Over the years, I have volunteered for the Leukemia Cup Regatta; formed a team for the Light The Night Walk; participated in and WON the LLS Woman of the Year title in 2010; and in the Spring of 2011, signed up for the Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach.

Fast forward to today. Since that first half marathon, I have completed three more in cities like Nashville, San Francisco and Washington, DC. I’m not in it for the race—I’m in it for the journey. I’m in it for the relationships. I’m in it for the teamwork. I’m in it for the hope. Hope.

I dread knowing that one day I will hear that my disease is active again, but I know that day will come. I just need for it to hold off until LLS finds something new, less toxic, and something that will mean cure to me.

Consider making a difference for all the thousands of folks like me. Get involved with LLS – volunteer, make a donation, and even consider joining me in walking (or running) a half marathon! Your efforts will pay off in hope and even cures.

Operation Blessing International, CFC# 10530

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Virginia Chapter, CFC# 51527

George and Becca turned to an Operation Blessing-supported food pantry for groceries when they needed help the most.

we were able to help them until they could get back on their feet. So you see that full circle where we gave them a hand up and now they’re giving back.”

“Thanks just doesn’t even cover it,” Becca said.

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 15

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By Lynda Nance In August of 2012, when Elizabeth emailed her husband, Scott, she needed him to respond quickly. Their young son, Aaron, had just been found to suffer from a brain tumor and he needed to undergo brain surgery immediately. Elizabeth’s email to Scott was simple: Call me.

When Scott received her email, he was stationed on the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the middle of the Persian Gulf.

A lieutenant commander in the Navy, Scott has been in the military for 23 years. Being separated from family was routine.

But this situation was not.

Scott contacted his commanding officer immediately and things happened quickly after that. Within 41 hours of learning Aaron had a brain tu-

mor, Scott was at his bedside in a Virginia hospital. He hadn’t seen Aaron for six months.

“He was hooked up to tubes and his face was swollen,” Scott recalled. “He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk.”

But the moment Scott said his name, Aaron opened his eyes.

A biopsy of the tumor revealed it to be a medulloblastoma, a rare brain tumor that arises in the posterior fossa region of the brain. Elizabeth searched the Internet for the best place for Aaron’s continuing treatment and care.

Everything Elizabeth found pointed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. St. Jude’s brain tumor science and technology are at the cutting edge worldwide, and St. Jude has the largest research-based pediatric

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Aaron and his father Scott.

brain tumor research program in the country.

Aaron and his family arrived at St. Jude in September of 2012.

Aaron’s treatment has included a second brain surgery and 31 rounds of radiation therapy. He will also receive four rounds of chemotherapy.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital CFC# 10560

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By Holly Christopher, Marketing and Communications Manager Family is important. Keeping your family together is vital. At least that is how Jose and Gloria Cabrera of Newport News feel. High school sweethearts in their 35th year of marriage, the couple has opened their hearts and home to 10 children throughout their journey together.

Living in Virginia since 1996 with three children of their own, they first fostered and adopted twin adolescent boys, Ryan and Justin, in 2007.

Five years later, they contacted The Up Center once again to open their door to five brothers, William (7), Montrell (6), Tony (5), Michael (4) and Abraham (3). Now part of the family, the siblings are in the process of being adopted by Jose and Gloria. Jose and his wife “saw it as a calling … to keep these boys,” and to keep them together.

Jose, who retired after 26 years in the U.S. Army, now working for MasterCorp Inc., gives the credit to his wife, Gloria.

“If it were up to her, we would have been doing this a lot sooner,” he said.

But with his military career keeping him on

the move, he thought it was important that they wait until he could be at home regularly to provide his parental support.

That team effort has proven valuable to the challenges along the way. The twins, both bi-polar with ADHD, are doing well, with Justin currently enrolled at Thomas Nelson College. The five brothers, who Jose describes as “high energy,” all have developmental delays in language, maturity and others skills, and four of them are hearingimpaired. Through the love and encouragement found in the Cabrera home, plus help from The Up Center’s foster care and adoption staff, they are progressing well and Jose is proud of them all.

“They are all smart kids … they’ve come a long way with us,” he said.

As I talk with Jose, he tells me how excited they all are to spend the upcoming weekend with even more family members, the elder Cabrera children, a nephew, three grandchildren (another is on the way). There will be some hiking, games and what promises to be great memories.

The Up Center, CFC# 43922

By Amanda Panuline, Volunteer/ Community Outreach Director For the past 40 years, the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VBSPCA) has been participating in pet therapy in many facets across Hampton Roads.

Pet therapy consists of one to two hour long volunteer-assisted animal visits with patients at hospitals, children in schools or in healthspecific homes, and patrons of nursing homes.

So frequently our volunteers and four-legged critters are the only visitors many of these patients, children, or patrons have, and therefore we find this program invaluable. We have and will continue to search the Hampton Roads area for additional opportunities and interested facilities in addition to the current 22 facilities we serve.

We were approached by the Navy Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) located at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth regarding pet therapy. Needless to say, our volunteer and critter visits were an immediate hit with the patients with SARP. We expanded our schedule and created a consistent vol-

unteer team who visit the facility four to five times a month with animals.

This past March, we were contacted by the SARP coordinator, Ashley Parker, about onsite volunteer opportunities for their patients, and were praised for our current participation at their facility. We have since created an ongoing relationship with the SARP teams, in which they visit our facility for a few hours, to assist us with various projects, both in the shelter and across our grounds.

They come into the facility excited and remain diligent and focused while working. They have become an irreplaceable part of our volunteer community and each on-site session brings a new group of volunteers.

Since March, we have seen close to 80 new SARP volunteers and occasionally see the group volunteers return to the shelter on their own time to volunteer or to adopt a critter. We are thrilled with the SARP partnership and are eager to continue the alliance.

Virginia Beach SPCA CFC# 18191

16 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

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By Nancy Chapman Pediatric surgeon Dr. Robert Obermeyer had planned to be off Sept.15, 2011, to attend a coaching workshop for his son’s hockey team. Instead, he came to work. “I couldn’t stay away,” he said. “I was very worried about that little girl.”

The little girl is 9-year-old Emily Gargiulo. Why she nearly died of a mysterious inflammatory reaction is a frightening reminder that every pediatric surgery, even surgeries often considered “routine,” should be done by pediatric specialists at facilities equipped for children.

Emily’s close call was set in motion on a Sunday morning. “She threw up that morning,” said her mom, Sheila.

“At first I thought it was a stomach virus. But by 10 p.m. that night, she could hardly stand up.”

First thing Monday morning, Sheila rushed Emily to her pediatrician, Dr. Robert Lehman, who diagnosed appen-

dicitis and sent them right to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. Within hours, Obermeyer had removed Emily’s ruptured appendix.

On Tuesday, Emily was recovering so well, there was talk of her going home.

“But I wasn’t comfortable with that,” he said. “Something didn’t look right to me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.”

On Wednesday, Emily seemed worse.

“She didn’t have a fever or anything else specific,” the surgeon said. “She just appeared to be a little sicker.”

On Thursday, with his surgical partners up to speed on Emily’s situation, Obermeyer was about to leave home for the coaching workshop when the phone rang.

“One of my partners said Emily was vomiting and her white count had skyrocketed,” he recalled.

They suspected peritonitis, a dangerous intra-abdominal infection of the membrane that lines the abdominal wall.

Obermeyer hurried to the hospital and

took Emily back into surgery with his partner Dr. Michelle Lombardo.

“There was some fluid, which we drained, but no sign of infection. Everything looked pretty normal,” said Obermeyer.

As he finished the operation, Emily was doing so well that they considered taking her off the ventilator – standard procedure after successful surgery. No one knew the worst was yet to come.

Parents keep bedside vigil As with many young families, life at the Gargiulo home in Chesapeake can be hectic. Sheila is a speech pathologist with her own practice, and her husband, Joe, is a captain in the U.S. Merchant Marine, which takes him away from home for weeks at a time.

Emily’s family was eager to bring her home when the bottom fell out. The second day after her second surgery, Emily’s platelet count plummeted, putting her at risk for internal bleeding. She went

into septic shock, then kidney failure.

Emily’s grave condition mystified Obermeyer, his partners and the halfdozen other CHKD pediatric specialists he met with. There was no good reason to explain why this normally healthy girl was having a life-threatening inflammatory reaction to an ordinary case of appendicitis.

“We were truly concerned that she wouldn’t make it,” said Obermeyer.

Because Emily’s surgeries had been done at CHKD, pediatric kidney specialist Reem Raafat was right down the hall. She quickly put Emily on an intensive form of dialysis known as continuous renal replacement therapy.

“That’s when the dialysis machine runs 24 hours a day,” Raafat explained.

“So specially trained pediatric dialysis nurses had to be available at all times.

And her labs had to be checked every four hours.”

As the dialysis stretched out for more than a week, Joe and Sheila rarely left

Emily is living proof that children need pediatric specialists ready for anything.

their daughter’s side.

“I know this was a terrifying experience for the parents,” said Obermeyer.

“But I was impressed with how thoughtful and grounded they were.”

Finally, lab tests showed some improvement.

“The doctors said our daughter was coming back to us,” Sheila remembered.

When all was said and done, Emily’s seemingly “routine” appendicitis required 24 days of lifesaving treatment in the PICU and eight days of rehab care before she could go home. Read more of Emily’s story at http://goo.gl/Qh9qMb. Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, CFC# 68517

SOME OF OUR MEMBERS 12037 American Family Association www.afa.net 10983 Care Net www.care-net.org 10989 Mission Aviation Fellowship www.maf.org

See complete member listing at www.christianservicecharities.org/charities.php

Charities you know and trust

CFC #10171

CFC #10171 Christian Service Charities • (888) 728-2762 www.christianservicecharities.org

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 17

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By Krystal Comiskey and Cahli Carothers DOGS-East search and rescue is a professional volunteer wilderness search and rescue organization that serves primarily the Mid-Atlantic Region, but also responds to disasters in the continental United States. For more than 30 years, its members have worked diligently to uphold a standard of excellence, remaining on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and working through any and all weather conditions.

DOGS-East members have served their country as members of our Armed Forces or have spouses and family members who have served. The skills learned in service with our military translates easily when joining the search and rescue community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Coast Guard equipped me with problem solving skills, as well as a self-motivating commitment to serve others,â&#x20AC;? said Cahli Carothers, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Marine Investigator, whose husband is an active duty Coast Guard pilot. Cahli is one of the newest members and her Belgian Malinois, Juno, is training as a human remains detection dog.

Several seasoned team members have supported their military spouses through their long Navy

Operational K-9 Hugo picks a path across debris to the subject hidden beneath the rubble.

Hugo is one of a long line of search and rescue Border Collies trained by Sharon Jones.

careers, or grew up learning the Army tradition of dedication to hard work and sacrifice for the greater good. Having team members with military experience has been integral to the long-term success of DOGS-East, including members with special operations forces expertise in wilderness survival.

In addition to offering canines to assist law enforcement in the search and location of clandestine graves and other forensic clues, DOGS-East K9 teams respond to requests from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to wilderness searches for missing persons, such as lost children, hikers, hunters and elderly patients. Responding to these requests, regardless of weather or terrain, is only possible because of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to their task and extensive training regime.

Along with statewide capabilities, team members also promote emergency prevention through public demonstrations and teaching programs to

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help children avoid becoming lost. These programs emphasize what to do if you become lost, as well as important items to take on hikes. Public education of the importance of being prepared, knowing your surroundings and having a plan is an important preventative measure. DOGS-East strives to prevent emergencies, rather than just respond to them.

Team members hail from all over Virginia, from Chesapeake to Chantilly, driving hours to and from training each week. In addition to the hours spent training as a team, DOGS-East also participates in joint training exercises with other K9 teams, ground search and rescue teams, Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices, EMT and first responders, and fire and rescue personnel.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia (EFVA) reached out to the Virginia Association of School Nurses (VASN) after a school nurse felt she could not administer Diastat, an emergency therapy which stops cluster seizures. School nurse and epilepsy mother JoAnna Payne trained many school nurses throughout Virginia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 231 nurse were trained this year alone. Epilepsy hero Courtney Payne, who helped with the trainings, has a seizure alert dog who warns her to sit down when he smells that she will have a seizure.

In order to entice school nurses to do the entire training, we offered them a chance to win a free membership to the VASN and a certificate for health-related purposes. That way we received VASN support to train as many nurses as possible. EFVA can do this as our management and fundraising costs are around 1.5 percent of total income which gives us room for many programs.

DOGS-East Search and Rescue Team CFC# 84908

Epilepsy Foundation of VA CFC# 45453

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18 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013

%BIMFKD QELPB TFQE )0 After I retired, we said we were going to do all of these things, but then he got hit with this. ~Carol Sherman The ALS chapter has been supportive beyond what anyone could expect. ~Kevin Sherman through his iPad app “Speak It.” Kevin Sherman’s words mean more than anything to us and should give a warm feeling to any of the chapter’s supporters. As the only national organization whose mission is to provide care services for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS), we strive to help people like Kevin and his wife Carol navigate the disease and help them get the support that they need.

Carol describes the experience of working with the chapter as the “feeling like you belong to a family.” That is especially important with a disease that many PALS don’t know anything about until they are diagnosed. A regular to our Resource support groups, Carol said the newly diagnosed often arrive with “fear and stress on their face,” but in hearing from their fellow support group attendees, they realize, “It isn’t like going down a dark road. They aren’t alone.”

Besides the emotional and informational support offered at the support group, Carol also said, “Without the support group, I wouldn’t be so aware of what Kevin feels.”

For a while Kevin was able to get around using a walker from our loan closet, but now that his legs are weaker, he uses a power wheelchair that we were also able to provide. We also provide Kevin with transportation to our Certified ALS Center where he can see a host of ALS experts and get top-notch medical care. After he was no longer able to speak, we loaned him an iPad that can give his written words a voice.

It is our pleasure and our purpose to serve Kevin and Carol, and help them as much as we can as they undertake a journey that nobody expects.

ALS Association DCMDVA Chapter CFC# 67013

Kéraba Wallou supervises a Senegalese literacy program that is supported

by Wycliffe.

he pushed for Manjak literacy classes to be in his school because he saw the positive impact they had.

“The fact that they had the [Manjak] book, they could read the book, and they could understand what the book said ... gives you greater self-confidence,” he said. “The book becomes your friend.”

Because of literacy classes in their language, Manjak speaking students are learning new skills, gaining more confidence, and improving their ability to learn French and other subjects. They don’t have to be ashamed of their language, like Kéraba was once made to be. Now an adult, Kéraba is a project supervisor for the Wycliffe-funded Manjak literacy program in southern Senegal. The literacy program is being coordinated by SIL International, Wycliffe’s primary strategic partner. Keraba has taken the class himself and taught the class for several years before becoming supervisor. He’s also proud to be teaching his four kids to read and write Manjak.

“Some people thought being a Manjak teacher is a waste of time. Then they realized that it’s important because learning Manjak literacy is part of their development,” he said. “Reading and writing – there’s nothing more important than that.”

By Adrienne Soroka, Manager of Communications The thought of aging can be scary. There are questions about how your health will hold up, whether you’ll have enough money to last through retirement, and anxiety about who’s going to care for you. Combine that with concerns about your aging parents who are living longer than ever before, and you’ve got a lot to keep you tossing and turning all night!

It’s a fact that adults over age 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population – most will spend years depending on others for their most basic needs. But what happens when older adults in declining health do not have any responsible family members to care for them?

This was the situation facing Fannie and her husband James, a military veteran who served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years. He retired with a modest pension that allowed the couple to purchase a house in Portsmouth. After retirement, James’ health declined rapidly and the couple, who did not have children or close family, discovered that they could no longer maintain their home and financial affairs by themselves. Fortunately, they heard about the Guardianship Program offered by Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia (CCEVA) that provides on-going case management and assistance for people (18 years old or older) who are unable to manage their medical, personal or financial needs.

Under the Guardianship Program, a Catholic Charities caseworker acts on the client’s behalf. In James’ situation, the caseworker made sure James got proper medical attention, that his wife Fannie was taken care of properly, that bills were paid and their property was cared for. After James died of heart problems, the guardianship caseworker continued to assist Fannie and eventually moved her to a medical facility where she lives today. Her wide grin and positive attitude lets you know that she is happy and in capable hands.

Wycliffe Bible Translators CFC# 11737

Catholic Charities of Eastern VA, CFC# 50253

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By Katie Kuykendall Kéraba Wallou, a young boy in the Sototo village of Senegal, stood humiliated in front of his classmates.

He’d been playing a game with his friends in the schoolyard when a boy asked him if his father had returned yet from a recent trip. He responded without thinking.

“A bándi tákal,” he said in his language, Manjak. “Yes, he came back yesterday.”

Kéraba had committed a grave mistake by speaking his first language during school hours. He was forced to wear a symbol of shame – a bull skull and horns – while the other students laughed and teased him. He’d have to keep it on until the end of the day, or until another child spoke in their own language.

If you had to wear the bull bones, chances are at the end of the day you’d be further harassed while students threw stones at you.

Historically throughout Senegal, the classroom has been no place for minority languages. Children are taught in the national language of French, and are expected to speak, read and write it – or be punished.

Several schools still employ these humiliation tactics today, but many others are allowing students to be taught in their first language. Arfang Goudiaby, head teacher of one such primary school, said

CFC# 11737

More Ways to Get Involved.

More Ways to Make a Difference.

More Reasons to Join!

Designate your gift to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CFC #59158

www.wycliffe.org/cfc

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gsccc.org

2013 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 19

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By 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.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, DSF was able to award 115 renewable scholarships in the amount of $3,400 per student for four years of undergraduate college education for the past two years. In the 2013-2014 academic year, DSF was able to provide 30 new scholarships to well deserving high school and college students. Our goal over the next few years is to provide 140 scholarships of $4,000 each to students in need of financial support. With the continued support of our current donors and the support of other caring people like you, we may be able to meet our goal.

DSF awarded its first scholarship of $350 in June of 1961.

Since then, more than $8 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to more than 1,100 scholars. Throughout its history, the Foundation has supported the Submarine Force through Dol-

phin 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 crew members.

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 who are located all over the world. In the past, the Foundation has administered scholarships on

behalf of the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion Memorial Funds, as well as U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. Though donations from submarine spouse fundraising, corporate and memorial events such as our DSF annual Golf Tournaments held in Virginia Beach and Groton, Conn. remain a significant portion of our income. DSF depends heavily on the generosity of our CFC donations. We receive constant feedback from our scholars, grateful for the opportunity to attend college and achieve their dreams.

Our Dolphin Scholars have become physicians, teachers, biochemists, foreign service officers, attorneys, librarians, zookeepers, medical researchers, college professors, engineers, military officers, veterinarians and dentists – to name just a few professions.

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By Wendy Childers, President The LCpl. Cody S. Childers Memorial Fund was formed to honor 19-year-old Marine, Lance Cpl. Cody S. Childers who was killed in action in Marjah, Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 2010.

Childers was living his dream as a United States Marine and serving his country. He had a big heart and was always helping others, and loved receiving and sharing his care packages that he received in Afghanistan

while deployed.

In his honor, we ship care packages to deployed troops and include his story, snacks, books and more. We feel it is important that while deployed they realize we care and are thinking of them. We ship care packages weekly, and we are an all volunteer organization.

Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads (ASYMCA) CFC# 73565, 757-363-1884 www.asymcahr.org Mercy Ships, CFC# 94744, 1-800-772-7447, mercyships.org Prison Fellowship Ministries CFC# 11272, 1-877-478-0100 www.prisonfellowship.org

Dolphin Scholarship awardees.

Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, CFC# 10102

Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation, CFC# 12394 1-800-238-6479 childrenscancerrecovery.org American Kidney Fund CFC# 11404, 1-800-638-8299 www.kidneyfund.org Public Radio International CFC# 11088, 1-612-338-5000 www.pri.org The Voice of the Martyrs CFC# 10993, 1-877-337-0458 www.persecution.com National Multiple Sclerosis Society CFC# 11409, 1-800-344-4867 www.nationalmssociety.org

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By Leslie Lewis, Marketing Director During the 2012-2013 school year, Langley Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Hospital volunteers had more than 670 volunteer hours in more than 26 schools in Hampton Roads. Our military partnerships have made a commitment to helping local students. Through volunteer lead sessions they have successfully mentored our new leaders, voters and business leaders.

Here is what a teacher from York Middle School had to say about the U.S. Coast Guard volunteers that delivered a Junior Achievement (JA) program this year: “What a wonderful program! This was our first involvement with JA and the children LOVED it. It was full of relevant information and engaging activities. I hope we can have JA come every year! Mr. King, Mr. Chilco and Mr. Dunn, who presented were very knowledgeable, prepared and professional. Thank you for your patience with organizing this date – it was well worth the benefit the students received!”

Thanks to this commitment to inspiring young people to own their economic success, students in these JA programs were able to get their certificates of achievement and gain confidence in their abilities to reach for their dreams. JA provides economic education programs to schools that teach about financial literacy, workplace readiness and entrepreneurship.

Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, CFC# 19848

paws4vets places Service Dogs with Active Duty and Veterans Suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries and Military Sexual Assaults

VISIT US ONLINE TODAY!

LCpl. Cody S. Childers Memorial Fund CFC# 67012

Learn More About Volunteering, Donating or Applying for a Service Dog! We Placed 24 Service Dogs in 2012

paws4people.org

CFC # 19324

20 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 2013