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July 2011
OPERATION BRAVE KIDS announces JOB WELL DONE to
all contributors.
Following 911, OBK rallied hundreds of patriotic men, women and children to
assist the families of sudden deployments of
South Florida National
Guard and Reserve troops. By anyone’s judgment,
OBK was the first to recognize this need and
responded with over $500,000 being disbursed in
monthly gift cards to each child of a deployed
citizen soldier.
As the months and years wore on, some families endured second tours and
others had specific financial needs that were
met by OBK contributors.
With fewer call-ups, OBK is shifting its
remaining funds to help injured soldiers with
their families needs.
As can be seen at the
Mom’s say thanks page, we made a huge
difference and every person involved should take
solemn pride in their acts of kindness towards
these families.
John and Dorothy Ghee
The veterans, citizens and businesses of South Florida (Monroe,
Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties) are grateful for the
sacrifice our National Guardsmen and Reservists’ families are
making on behalf of America.
In
appreciation, Operation Brave Kids was founded in January 2003
as a Florida non-profit organization by John Ghee, a Lighthouse
Point/Port St. Lucie accountant/business appraiser.
We have
taken 250,000 National Guard and Reserve troops from their
civilian jobs and sent them to war…but we have forgotten
something…the thousands of children who are suddenly missing a
parent. We have helped over 1,500 effected kids in South Florida
and will continue until our local troops return home.
Pictured
above is SSG John Adams (FL National Guard) and his mother and
wife, Summer Adams, receiving his Purple Heart from President
Bush. We continue to support the Adams family with your help.
Summer sends her thanks at
"Moms Say Thanks."
Unlike
active duty military children, these kids are not used to a
parent leaving on short notice. Making matters worse, the
support system of a military base is non-existent for their
caregiver.
Operation
Brave Kids began as a means to provide children of a "called up"
soldier with a $25 gift certificate for every month their Mom or
Dad is off defending our country and us. These gifts may be used
to purchase toys, clothes or, in many cases, food by their
caregiver. The sad truth is that most of these families are not
able to cope with the gap between civilian pay (and expenses) to
a lesser military pay.
Operation
Brave Kids has also opened a box of needs that is growing daily.
Unable to meet monthly expenses, assets are sold, relatives are
making gifts and loans and many moms are getting second jobs.
One mother wrote, "I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the
extra money to buy diapers for our infant, or just a few things
for the household."
But perhaps
the most telling event came when a young mother of two infants
asked for her gift certificates to be changed from toys to food.
Her teary request was followed with the statement, "Thank you so
much. When my husband comes home, we will pay you back." They
would. No protests, no calls to politicians, no teary
interviews…they just accept their plight with dignity.
Operation
Brave Kids is making a difference for hundreds of families, but
we need more support. As a community, we should ask ourselves
the basic question of why the loud and angry get so much
attention and the meek and caring get so little? Perhaps it is
our job to find them and offer our help.
Generous
corporations, organizations and foundations have adopted an
entire platoon (30), company (50) or battalion (80) of Brave
Kids. To help us, please consider supporting a Brave Kid with
$300, enough to fund one child for a year deployment.
100% of your
contribution will go to these children! All operating expenses
are paid by John and Dorothy Ghee...and yes, we are qualified as
a 501c3 charity.
The Brave
Kids Thank You!
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last updated:
07/12/11 / Visitors:
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