Supporting the U.S. Coast Guard

The Foundation sponsors several on-going programs and special projects tailored to meet the ever-pressing needs of Coast Guard people. Here’s a look at some of our most recent projects, made possible through our donors.

Morale Support For Enlisted Members:

In 2009, the Coast Guard Foundation has:

• Launched a year-long celebration in honor of the Coast Guard Foundation’s 40th anniversary;

• Kicked-off a new public relations campaign, “Are You One in a Million?”, which invites those who have been rescued to tell their story about the Coast Guard, primarily through our web portal, one-in-a-million-rescued.org;

• Set up an e-commerce site at shopcoastguardfoundation.com to offer high-quality gear and gifts highlighting the Foundation; this project also generates income that will help support the Foundation’s programs;

• Continued to collaborate with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to serve as its fundraising arm;

• Hosted seven special events in cities around the country, honoring the Coast Guard and its accomplishments, as well as raising important funds for our programs and projects to support the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Academy.  Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano served as the keynote speaker for the 5th Annual Tribute to the Coast Guard in our Nation’s Capital;

• Provided important assistance to families that lost a Coast Guard member in the line of duty through the Family Disaster Relief Fund;

• Assisted approximately 1,000 enlisted members through the Enlisted Education Grant and the Vander Putten Grant programs;

• Awarded 16 new scholarships to dependents of Coast Guard members, including the first award of the CDR Daniel J. Christovich Scholarships.  In total, the Foundation provides scholarships to 73 students who are enrolled in higher education;

• Enhanced the morale and wellness of Coast Guard units around the country through the Evergreen Fund;

• Provided Coast Guard cutters with funds to participate in the “Books for Boats” program, which provides books to ships for their onboard libraries.

 In 2008, the Coast Guard Foundation supported dozens of projects through the Evergreen Fund, which provides education, recreation, fitness and morale equipment for the men and women of the Coast Guard and their families.  Some highlights of the projects include:

Integrated Support Command Boston received funding to purchase College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exam materials.  Coast Guard personnel and their spouses from all units throughout the First Coast Guard District are able to sign out these materials to help prepare for exams, leading to earned college credit by testing.

Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City received an Evergreen Grant to upgrade and modernize its training room, which sits in a converted garage on the air station.   The grant provided for improved seating, improved information displays with state of the art audio/video capabilities and a laptop computer.  Through the update to the facilities, the unit was able to not only increase the aesthetics and functionality of the space, but also boost the pride and morale of the crew.

Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville received funds to establish a Learning Center in order to upgrade technology and curriculum support to include advancement, professional development and personal development material.  A laptop, computer projector system, sets of headsets, a scientific calculator and five Rosetta Stone language software sets rounded out the learning center.

Coast Guard Air Station Washington (DC) sports a brand new portable basketball system, thanks to the Evergreen Fund.  As Station Washington currently occupies a temporary facility, space is limited for training, working and operating.  The portable basketball system plays an important role in the unit’s physical fitness level and crew’s morale.

Coast Guard Station Los Angeles/Long Beach refurbished its crew lounge with new furniture, and upgraded its television system.

The Foundation supported several large projects across the country in 2008.  These initiatives include:
•    A learning center at Integrated Support Command in Honolulu, HI
•    A newly renovated weight room at Coast Guard Station Jones Beach, NY
•    A new playground at the Capeheart Housing complex near Coast Guard Group North Bend, OR
•    Resurfacing of a multi-use recreational court near Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor, WA
•    A new playground at Circle F Housing near Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, PR
•    Outdoor lighting for the sector’s basketball court in San Diego, CA
•    Resurfacing of a multi-use recreational court at Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck, NY
•    Post-hurricane project support for Coast Guard District Eight in New Orleans, LA

Calling Cards
The Foundation distributed calling cards to Coast Guard personnel deployed to the Middle East in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.  These calling cards were provided by gifts from generous individual supporters of the Foundation.  In one case, Mrs. Robin Smith, while attending a training seminar for the National Classification Management Society (NCMS), was selected to designate a branch of the military to present prepaid phone cards to be distributed to those serving overseas.  Mrs. Smith was chosen because she has a child currently serving; her son Lt. Jerry Smith is an instructor at the US Coast Guard Academy. 

In acknowledging the gift, the captain of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia remarked, “It was an extremely thoughtful and generous donation, one which our shipmates were very pleased to receive.  It is the expressions and actions of patriotic American organizations such as yours that bolster our sprits while we service in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and the Arabian Gulf.  The men and women of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia are very proud to serve the American people and sincerely appreciate your support.”

Books for Boats
The Books for Boats program- among the Foundation’s most successful and popular efforts- provided 89 cutters with gift cards to add to their ship library.  This project gives each cutter and its crew the opportunity to individually select titles and manuals to fit their needs. 

“Here is the info for the books purchased.  We got 19 books!  They range from ASVAB study guides to writing toots, to pleasure reading and professional development.”  USCGC MIDGETT

“We made good use of the gift card to expand our professional reading library.  Even in today’s age of satellite television and radio, many of our sailors still prefer to run to a book that they can enjoy in the little privacy that their rack provides them.  Thank you on behalf of the officers and crew.”  USCGC TORNADO

Bertholf Commissioning
With the commissioning and dedication of the Coast Guard’s newest high endurance cutter, USCGC BERTHOLF, the Foundation was proud to support receptions aboard in Miami, FL and Baltimore, MD.

District 13 Competitive Writing Contest
In cooperation with Coast Guard District 13, the Foundation sponsored a competitive writing contest for enlisted members.

Scholarships:

Scholarship winners have high hopes for the future — “A gift from heaven,” is how one family described the Foundation’s scholarship programs benefiting the children of over 50 enlisted men and women.

The Foundation sponsors eight college scholarship programs.

For dependents of enlisted Coast Guard members:

• The Vander Putten Family Scholarships (national)
• Enlisted Education Grants (national)
• Captain Ernest Fox Perpetual Scholarship (local)

Click here for scholarship guidelines/eligibility parameters.