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.