At the same time, the Coast Guard Foundation overcame a challenging fundraising year while adapting our programs to help the Coast Guard to address the challenges of the global pandemic. In addition to continuing work in core areas of education and employment support, wellness and morale, and family resilience and tragedy assistance, we funded 172 projects around the country in response to the pandemic. This included 125 quarantine spaces to help Coast Guard members who were required to isolate and quarantine.

Thirty-one cutters on extended deployments due to COVID-19 received a boost to their morale funds to support new health and wellness priorities. And smaller Coast Guard units benefited from projects that considered the unique demands of their remote locations.

The mental and emotional challenges of life during the pandemic affected many and this included Coast Guard families. The Foundation met this challenge with a pilot initiative to provide counseling and resources for Coast Guard families to help them build positive, supportive relationships through a partnership with the Coast Guard Chaplain Program. Twenty-two Coast Guard chaplains and support staff trained in the Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP).

To pilot a comprehensive effort, a second program was launched in the Northeast in early 2021 to provide mental health and counseling support services to Coast Guard members serving in that area of the country.

We could not have done this without the steadfast support of our donors and sponsors. Thank you to all who help us be ready whenever and whenever Coast Guard members are in need.