The holiday season is here and we wish you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday! Special thanks to our brave men and women serving overseas and separated from their families this season. As we wind down the year, we'd like to take the opportunity to review and reflect on some of the MFO highlights of 2009.
The National Military Family Association launched Operation Purple Family Retreats. These free, four-day
retreats are set in National Parks, using nature's classroom, where military families have opportunities to strengthen and renew relationships, explore the natural surroundings and participate in fun family-focused activities. Click here to read about upcoming retreats (applications will be available Dec. 28).
We hosted the Camp Pendleton Red Carpet Premiere of our DVD, "Red, White & Green." Click here to see a promo of the film and contact us if you'd like us to send you a copy.
Armed Services YMCA hosted the first camp of its kind for Exceptional Family Members. Kansas military
families with children who have physical and emotional disabilities came together for a weekend of fun at Rock Springs. Check out a short video of testimonials from family members about what the camping experience meant to them.
Summer of Service kickoff – The Sierra Club and the National Military Family Association joined with the President and First Lady at a service event to benefit military children and kickoff the "Summer of Service Initiative". Over 400 congressional families joined the First Family to help us stuff 10,000 care packages sent to Operation Purple campers at camps across the country.
Many additional new and exciting adventures were added to the list of Outward Bound's wilderness courses for Veterans. Click here to check them out and sign up for a course today!
Just last month, on Veterans Day, Sierra Club President Allison Chin (she's the one behind Dr. Biden in the photo to the left) and representatives from each of our partner organizations joined First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in the launch of ServiceNation's Mission Serve. The project unites dedicated civilian and military public servants across America to more closely bond our service and military communities.
Whew! What a great year! We are so proud to be working with our partners at Armed Services YMCA, National Military Family Association, and Outward Bound to ensure that those veterans and military families making the greatest sacrifices for our country get to enjoy the benefits of its natural wonders. Just two years into the program, we have already connected 25,000 veterans and military family members with meaningful outdoor experiences.
Thank you for all your support in 2009.
Happy Holidays and Cheers to a terrific 2010!
Brittany
