WASHINGTON –
For more than 107 years, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society's efforts have improved the quality of life of active duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families. Their assistance has supported widows living on limited, fixed income, young parents dealing with the increase in expenses a child brings to the family, families of combat injured heroes who lack sufficient funds to fly to their bedside to accelerate the healing process, families dealing with the death and funeral of a loved one, spouses unable to pay for mandatory car repairs, and those who are simply unable to make ends meet in an unstable economy. In each case, the Sailors and Marines were served by the enthusiastic efforts of the thousands of volunteers and small paid staffs that comprise team NMCRS. Around the globe, 24/7, this private, non-profit charity has put into place an array of programs and services to render support to the Navy and Marine Corps in helping to protect our most precious resource - people. As a direct result of the society's efforts, men and women in uniform have been able to concentrate on the mission of protecting our nation, comfortable in the knowledge that there is a team of watchstanders that provides a safety net at home to care for their loved ones.
Beginning March 1, 2011, I encourage all active duty Sailors and Marines to give generously to the active duty fund drive in support of the NMCRS. At the same time, I will communicate directly with more than 500,000 retired Sailors and Marines - reminding them that they, and their families, remain eligible for financial assistance from the society and encouraging them to continue their generous financial support of this wonderful organization.
Since its founding in 1904, NMCRS offers financial assistance for those in need. The society continues to be the first organization our Sailors and Marines turn to for help. During 2010, NMCRS responded to the financial needs of 99,854 Sailors, Marines and families with nearly $50 million in assistance, up 9.2 percent from a year ago and up 75 percent cumulatively during the past four years. Those numbers are higher than any time since 1993 when the size of our Navy - Marine Corps team was significantly greater. The society saw nearly one in every five Sailors and Marines in uniform during 2010. The society's popular active duty Quick Assist Loan program, designed for Sailors and Marines who need just a little help, accounted for more than one-third of all the financial assistance provided by the society last year. The QAL program provides an alternative to high interest, predatory lenders and has been a resounding success. The Society's 46 registered visiting nurses continue to support our combat injured Marines, Sailors and their families. These nurses meet face-to-face with the injured while they are being treated in military medical facilities and then remain in close personal contact as long as needed following their recovery or discharge. They travel anywhere in the United States to make personal house calls. These nurses currently follow more than 1,100 Sailors and Marines injured in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Arabian Gulf and made 18,423 contacts with this important segment of our sea service population - more than double the number of contacts from a year ago.
NMCRS has always enjoyed a special relationship with Sailors and Marines because your contributions are the funding source that enables the society to deliver high quality services directly to your shipmates and fellow Marines. A visit to the NMCRS web site at http://www.nmcrs.org will show you the breadth and depth of assistance available, along with a complete listing of office locations, hours of operation, and more.
In 2010, your thoughtful contributions totaled $10.3 million. Given the unstable economy, that level of giving was commendable. This year, the active duty fund drive theme echoes my personal objective: I'm simply asking that more of you make a donation. Last year, across our Navy and Marine Corps, less than one-third contributed to the NMCRS campaign. Naturally, some units had a significantly higher participation rate. I would like your personal leadership in raising that percentage. Consider it an investment. Remember all of this money is returned to Sailors, Marines and their families through the valuable programs and financial assistance available from the Society.
Please continue the tradition of taking care of our own by helping make this year's campaign the most successful ever. Thank you for supporting your fellow shipmates and Marines.