An anonymous donor gifted the Yellow Ribbon Fund with a $250,000 donation, the largest individual donation in YRF’s history. The donor learned about YRF through the Combined Federal Campaign.

We are honored to put this incredibly generous donation to work for injured service members and their families — they’ve done their part, now it’s time to do ours. Every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a difference!

Make a donation today and show your support for our injured heroes.

Jacqueline Goodrich had hit the discouragement wall when she arrived in Gettysburg, Pa., for a two-day retreat with a group of women, none of whom she knew. But that didn’t matter. What she did know was that, like her, they’d all spent months, even years, putting their lives on hold while they helped someone they loved recover from a serious combat injury.

For the family caregivers of injured service members, every waking minute is filled with helping their injured loved one get ready for the day, then get through seven hours of appointments for wound care, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress support, physical and occupational therapy, dermatology, prosthetics, and adaptive sports training. After that there are more hours of rehab on their own, plus medications to manage and paperwork to fill out, meals to prepare, and in Jacqueline’s case, an infant and toddler to care for.

Now, for the first time in more than a year since Jacqueline’s husband was hit by rocket fire in eastern Afghanistan, she was taking a break. She’d come to the Yellow Ribbon Fund’s first-ever Caregiver Retreat, two full days of rest, relaxation, and mutual support at the historic Gettysburg Hotel.

Originally, ten caregivers were signed up to participate. Seven actually made it.

That didn’t surprise Jessica Allen, director of YRF’s family caregiver program. “At Walter Reed, it’s hard to even get them to go out now and then for dinner. You get so busy taking care of everybody else, you’re too tired to even think about taking care of yourself.”

Jessica, whose own husband lost both legs in Afghanistan, adds, “This is a crazy life.”

The retreat was the brainchild of Jessica and Annie McChrystal, a longtime advocate for military families and a YRF board member along with her husband, GEN Stan McChrystal. They were joined in the planning by two fellow military spouses: Ann Campbell, wife of the Army’s vice chief of staff, and Lisa Morgan, coordinator of YRF’s family caregiver program who’s also the wife and caregiver of a wounded soldier. Lisa speaks from experience when she says, “You can’t take care of your injured service member if you don’t take care of yourself.”

Annie McChrystal agrees. “That’s why we wanted the caregivers to have a couple of days of doing nothing but nurturing themselves,” she says, “with no demands being placed on them.” So she and the rest of the retreat planning team tossed out the typical jam-packed retreat agenda full of get-to-know-you exercises and self analysis drills.

Instead, they blocked out time for naps, reading, craft-making, a relaxed walking tour, and good eating. Even those meals were undemanding. Caregivers could go out together and be waited on in a cozy restaurant. Or they could order room service and eat in bed if that’s what they felt like doing. For the first time in many, many months, the only agenda was their own.

For Jacqueline, it was just what she needed. “Having this opportunity to vent and also talk about the amazing good things that are part of wounded warrior life made me feel very relaxed and yet very energized and motivated at the same time.”

Beforehand, one mother was hesitant to leave her wounded son, even for just two days. But Jessica kept encouraging her, and enlisted hospital staffers to do the same. Once the mother finally found herself in Gettysburg, she turned to Jessica and said, “Thank you for not letting up on me.” In fact, the only complaint that was heard from any of the caregivers was they wished they could have stayed another day.

Back home again, Jacqueline says, “My family has to be thinking, oh my gosh, she’s so much nicer now – that’s what a good night’s sleep will do! We should send her away more often!” She also reports that the retreat participants are all friends on Facebook now and planning to get together again soon on their own. “We’re bonded for life,” she says.

More Caregiver Retreats are planned for the future in locations around the country. As for this first one, many thanks are due to those who helped the Yellow Ribbon Fund make it happen…

…complete with goody bags designed to promote self-care:
Bank of America
Hero Miles
Country singer Maggie Rose
The Pampered Chef
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Simply Stampt by Tina Davis
Booz Allen Hamilton

In addition to golf, the event’s keynote speaker will be Colonel David W. Sutherland, co-founder and chairman of the Center for Military and Veterans Community Services (Dixon Center). Sutherland is a dynamic speaker and a vocal advocate for transformational change on behalf of our service members, military veterans, their families, and the families of our fallen. His 29 years of military service culminated in his position as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with principle focus on Warrior and Family Support. Once you’ve heard what COL Sutherland has to say, you’ll never forget him or his message!

Sponsorships are available!

Click here for the downloadable, printable brochure with information about the event, sponsorships, and the registration form.

Return completed forms by email, fax (248-652-2625), or US mail:
1235 N. Main St.
Rochester MI 48307

Questions? Call Karen Head, 248-652-2000.

The visitor watched, fascinated, as Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills demonstrated his high-tech prosthetic arm at Walter Reed’s Military Advanced Training Center (MATC). Travis told his man-made hand to turn to the left, and it did. Turn to the right — it did that, too. He encouraged his visitor to try talking to the hand to make it move. Nothing happened.

“It’s too loud in here,” Travis said, and he shouted for silence. The big, busy room, packed with staff and injured service members undergoing therapy, went still. Travis directed his visitor to try again — loudly.

“TURN RIGHT!” the visitor shouted at Travis’s prosthetic hand. The hand STILL didn’t move.

“Actually,” said Travis, “that’s not how it works.”

The room exploded in laughter, the visitor, too, because being a comedian, Stephen Colbert is always up for a good joke.

Without any fanfare, the down-to-earth star of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” had come down from New York to spend time visiting with the wounded warriors at MATC. Then he made his way to the hospital to visit with inpatients.

It was the latest celebrity visit arranged by the Yellow Ribbon Fund. “These visits serve two purposes,” explains YRF’s events and volunteers director, Ashley Keene, who shepherded Colbert through the Walter Reed visit. “First of all, it brightens your day to meet famous people. But more importantly, when someone successful puts everything else on hold to come spend time with you, it sends the message that you’re the one who’s really important. It says to our injured service members and their families: YOU are the ones who really deserve to be honored. And it’s important for them to hear that because it’s true.”

Other celebrities who’ve had the honor of spending time with injured warfighters, thanks to YRF, include country singer Maggie Rose, the famous boat captains of the hit reality TV show “Deadliest Catch”, Washington Redskins football stars, and members of the Washington Capitals hockey team. Click here to watch a video of the Caps’ visit to Walter Reed.

The event was sponsored by management and technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, represented by the former director of YRF’s family caregiver program, Eliza Palmer, pictured here with the program’s current director, Jessica Allen (right). As the spouses of wounded warriors, both Eliza and Jessica know the challenges of caregiving firsthand.

Injured service members, hospital staffers, and more than 50 caregivers visited the information booths set up in the lobby of Building 62, where recovering outpatients live with their caregivers on the Walter Reed campus.

“They’d walk up and say, ‘I need help, where do I go?’ And we could take them to the appropriate booth,” said Ashley Keene, YRF’s director of events and volunteers. “When one caregiver needed financial aid assistance, we took her to 3 different booths.” Each caregiver received a reusable shopping bag (a necessary item in the DC area, where many stores are now required to charge for bags), and a business card holder to help organize all their crucial contacts.

But the hottest item was the CAREGIVER RESOURCE LIST developed by YRF, which described all 25 participating non-profits, including contact information. Hospital staffers stopped by just for the list, as did caregivers and others. Even if you missed the Resource Fair, you can still get your own copy of the Resource List — it’s now permanently available on the Yellow Ribbon Fund website homepage under the “Vets & Families” tab:
http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/?page_id=3642

But have no fear! The Yellow Ribbon Fund is here! For the 5th consecutive year, YRF will field a charity MCM team. Preparations begin now!

Your first step is to click here for the registration form. Fill it out and return it to YRF’s Amanda Basek (contact info below) along with your $99 registration fee as soon as possible. There are only 25 spots available and they have already begun filling up!

The YRF MCM team’s fundraising goal is $20,000. Each of our 25 runners is required to raise a minimum of $500. Fundraising tips and ideas will be provided, along with safe and effective training schedules and discounts on athletic equipment, shoes, and clothing.

All runners must be 14 years of age or older on October 27, 2013. If you are already pre-registered for the MCM, you can still be a part of our team. Simply send Amanda your birth date and email address and she’ll connect you with the YRF team.

To sign up or get more info: 973-810-2595 / email Amanda

The MCM is the third largest marathon in the United States and voted “Best Marathon in the Mid Atlantic”, “Best Marathon for Charities”, “Best DC Race”, and “Best Race to be a Spectator”. The MCM honors the dedication, sportsmanship, and patriotism of its participants. Known as “The People’s Marathon,” runners from all walks of life participate in the MCM.

Still not sure you want to commit? This 7-minute video from last year’s race will inspire you:
http://www.marinemarathon.com/Community/MCM_TV.htm

When Stan and Annie McChrystal returned to civilian life, they wanted to continue to serve.

The four-star general’s service had included command of American and international forces in Afghanistan as well as Joint Special Operations Command, while Annie had taught at schools and universities. So after leaving the military community in 2010, they researched non-profits that help the injured. They chose the Yellow Ribbon Fund because of its support programs’ reputation for making a difference.

In one of the newest videos on the YRF YouTube Channel, Stan McChrystal explains in his own words why he and his wife Annie have been active YRF supporters for several years now. Click here to watch the video.

The Yellow Ribbon Fund partnered with Stone Ridge School to help injured service members and their families escape the rigors of hospital life — for a day, at least.

The school, which is next door to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., hosted 30 wounded warrior kids for a day of games and facepainting. Their parents, meanwhile, took free shuttles to downtown Bethesda, where they relaxed with lunches on the house and free movie tickets.

Events like these are an important part of the recovery process, nurturing relationships that must endure the stress of life-changing injuries.

Click here for more photos and details in Bethesda Magazine.

Taco John’s says, “Thank you!” to injured service members and their families with a $50,000 donation to support the work of the Yellow Ribbon Fund! The quick-service Mexican restaurant chain raised the funds through their annual Nachos Navidad holiday promotion.

In addition to the cash donation, Taco John’s provided a 13-foot banner filled with words of support for the wounded troops. The supportive messages were digitally signed or texted-in by Taco John’s customers. The oversized greeting card was delivered to the Yellow Ribbon Fund and shared with injured service member outpatients and their families recovering near Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital on Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for our service men and women. We all have friends, neighbors and loyal customers who serve in the military. In some cases, they are the families receiving support from the Yellow Ribbon Fund,” says Renée Middleton, Vice President of Marketing at Taco John’s. “This year, it was a privilege to partner with the Yellow Ribbon Fund.”

America’s businesses support the work of the Yellow Ribbon Fund in many ways. To find out how your business can help, contact Mark Robbins at 240-223-1180 or by email.

The Yellow Ribbon Fund got its start when two local businessmen learned about the predicament of a mother whose son had been wounded and medevaced to Walter Reed. She’d just arrived, she was exhausted and worried about her son, and she had nowhere to stay and no way to get around. So they got her a hotel room and rented a car for her, making free hotels and free rental cars YRF’s first services.

Eight years later, they’re still among the most needed and appreciated services we provide. A car gives stressed-out family members some independence and control over their daily lives at a time when they control very little. It also simplifies logistics — between helping their injured loved one with daily tasks and managing medical appointments and the military bureaucracy, their days are already complicated enough. Plus, a car makes it possible to just escape for a quick mental health break.

“The car was a huge improvement in our situation,” explains the mother of a wounded soldier. “It allowed us to shop for clothing for Sam once he was able to get out and about. We bought groceries. We met people at restaurants occasionally. I was able to get my hair done. And we could shuttle family between the hotel and Walter Reed when they were in town.”

To date, more than 1,800 rental cars have been used for nearly 70,000 days by the families of injured service members and occasionally the service members themselves. Whether they’re being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., or Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in northern Virginia, they and their families can access a free car during their stay.

All this is possible thanks to the generosity of Jack and Dottie Fitzgerald and their FitzMall Organization, including NextCar Auto Rentals. The “in kind” portion of their contribution now adds up to more than $1,000,000. (That’s the NextCar team receiving a plaque of appreciation, below, from YRF’s Transporation & Housing director Diane Shoemaker.)

The families we help tell us that the cars solve problems they don’t even know they have yet. “Your fund made our stay here much easier and much nicer,” that grateful mother told us. “Your unexpected assistance opened possibilities we might not otherwise have explored, and the result was overwhelmingly positive.”

YRF services like free rental cars make it possible for our supporters to show, in practical ways, how grateful THEY are for the service and sacrifice of all the families and service members recovering from the wounds of war.