December 3 is Giving Tuesday, and I’d like to make a personal appeal.  A wise person once told me the no. 1 reason why donors stop giving is they stop thinking they (or their gift) matter to your organization. I can say without reservation, that is not the case with MOAA’s charities. 

What makes the MOAA Foundation and Scholarship Fund unique? By focusing on areas of urgent need within the military community.

MOAA’s Indian River Chapter, just one of dozens of examples, received MOAA Foundation funds to help veterans in need in Florida. Past projects they’ve supported include building a wheelchair ramp in the home of a Vietnam veteran father and his Iraq/Afghanistan veteran son, both struggling with accessibility; replacing the air conditioning system for a 28-year Navy veteran as he convalesced from a bone marrow transplant; and removing mold from the home of a Vietnam Veteran suffering the effects of Agent Orange and living with one lung.

The MOAA Scholarship Fund provides more than $8 million in educational assistance to more than 1,300 students, all children of our nation’s officer and enlisted military and veteran families. The fund has been helping military families for more than 70 years.

You can donate to either charity by visiting www.MOAA.org/Donate or by calling 1-800-234-6622. Donation envelopes for the Scholarship Fund were provided in your November edition of Military Officer magazine and Foundation envelopes were provided in the December edition.

During this past Veterans Day, I heard someone in the crowd thank a veteran for their service—the veteran’s reply was “you were worth it.”  Please make a donation to the MOAA Foundation or MOAA Scholarship Fund as part of your charitable efforts today for Giving Tuesday. I think you would agree our service members, veterans and their families are worth it.

Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret), is MOAA's President and CEO.