The South Central Florida Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) was one of six chapters in the nation recently awarded the MOAA National Military Family Initiative (MFI) grant of over $3200.  The chapter immediately donated these funds to the Highlands County Veterans Council for its Veterans Assistance Fund.  This fund provides food and financial assistance to needy veterans in the community.

According to retired Air Force Col. Mike Turner, MOAA vice president of development and executive director of the MOAA MFI: “Through the MOAA MFI Community Outreach grant program, MOAA, one of the most respected voices speaking on behalf of military and veteran families nationwide, can rely on its robust 400-plus council and chapter network in all 50 states to help direct donor contributions where they will do the most good.”  According to local chapter president retired Army COL Mike Borders, providing these funds to some of our less fortunate veterans in the community is simply the right thing to do.

MOAA is an independent, nonprofit organization of retired, active and former military officers, including the National Guard and Reserve, with some 355,000 members worldwide. “It operates exclusively to the benefit of our nation, uniformed service personnel, their families and survivors.  It is the nation’s largest veterans group of military officers and their families,” the group said.

There are some 420 chapters at the local level, representing the seven uniformed services, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the Public Health Service and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.  Membership is open to any person who holds or has ever held a warrant or commission in any of the seven uniformed services.  Surviving spouses of deceased members qualify for auxiliary membership.

For information on the South Central Florida chapter, call chapter president, COL Mike Borders, U.S. Army, retired, at 402-8292.