Last year, the South Central Florida Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) was one of only six chapters in the nation awarded the MOAA National Military Family Initiative (MFI) grant for just 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.  This year, the chapter was awarded $5000 as part of the same grant program that saw nineteen chapters across the nation win grants.

According to retired Air Force Colonel 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 Colonel Mike Borders: “Providing these funds to some of our less fortunate veterans in the community is simply the right thing to do. We had great success with the program in the first year and will do even more with the additional funds received this time.” As an active member of the Veterans Council, the local MOAA chapter plays an integral role in the operation of the assistance fund.

MOAA is an independent, nonprofit organization of retired, active and former military officers, including the National Guard and Reserve, with over 350,000 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 more than 400 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.