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Annual Report
Military Families Fund Annual Report
1 Apr 2008 – 31 Mar 2009
Fiscal year 2008/2009 was a busy year, with one hundred and forty six applications to the fund being approved. Some of the common themes this year included: assistance with grief counseling expenses for family members; travel and accommodations assistance for family members to visit an ill/injured member or child in the hospital; travel expenses for a family member to fly in to assist with childcare; special needs relocation expenses such as special camps and/or home modifications as well as incidental funeral expenses.
Other types of cases included assistance with accommodation and moving expenses for domestic situations, Wonderland tickets for CF families displaced in a explosion in Toronto, and reimbursement of travel expenses for a terminally ill CF member to visit family and hometown one last time.
Financial Overview
The Fund received $821K in donations this year. A breakdown of the revenue is reflected in Figure 1. In addition to the revenue portrayed in Figure 1, the Fund did receive less than 1% of revenue in the form of investment interest.
The Military Families Fund dispersed a total of $252K to military families this year.
Figure 1
The Military Families Fund dispersed a total of $252K to military families this year. Figure 2 shows a breakdown by case category of these expenses. The category “Other” includes clothing, legal expenses. Costs for administrative overhead are not reflected in Figure 2. Overhead expenses totaled $16K and included costs associated with the 1-800 telephone line, BMO Prepaid Card Administration Fees, Chase Fees and Honorariums.
Fundraising
In June 2008, a MFF Gala was held in Calgary at the Hyatt. Net proceeds of $196K were raised for the Fund.
The MFF was fortunate to benefit from a variety of third party events held across Canada. Some of the events just to name a few have included: the OGHA Charity Café, various hockey games and golf tournaments, a Shooting Match Challenge at the Smith Falls Fish & Game Club, a Labatts Blue Bottle Drive, a Smile Cookie Campaign, the selling of ribbons at Christmas in Cardinal, an indoor volleyball and basketball tournament, proceeds from the sale of “candle of courage” as well as an Annual Bike Ride in New Norway.
We would like to offer a special thanks to all donors and the third party organizers that supported the MFF this past year. Without all of you, we could not do what we do.
The Way Ahead
For 2009/2010, the focus will be to continue a proactive approach of identifying gaps in public policy, increase awareness and education across the Bases/Wings and develop a better link between the various resources/organizations for clients. In terms of internal fundraising, a Support Our Troops Gala is planned for September 2009 in Edmonton at the Northlands AgriCom. Proceeds from this event will go towards the Military Famillies Fund, Soldier On Fund and Hospital Comforts Fund as well as the five Alberta Military Family Resource Centers.
Figure 2
2008-2009 Executive Committee Members
BGen (retired) David Martin (chair)
Ms. Maureen Eykelenboom
Mr. Max Keeping
Ms. Tammy Kleinschmidt
Lt-Gen (retired) Bill Leach
Mr. David Ready
Mr. David Smith
Rear-Admiral Bryn Weadon
Military Families Fund Staff
Sandy Gauthier, Senior Manager Military Families Fund
Heather Connolly, Administrative Assistant
Website Updates
Amendments were made to the Base Wing Instructions this year. The most current documents are dated November 2008 and are available on the website. As well, in response to feedback from donors, the ability to make regular bank deductions was added as a donation feature.