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Support Our Troops Funds and Outreach Program

Saskatchewan Command of The Royal Canadian Legion 46th Biennial Convention 17 October 2011

Jennifer Rankine MFF/HC Manager

Support Our Troops Funds

• Military Families Fund (MFF) • Soldier On Fund • Hospital Comforts Fund • Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund (CFPAF) • Operation Santa Claus (program)

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Sources of Funding

• Funds exist principally through donation • Major sources of funding – Donations from individuals and Corporations – Third Party Events – CANEX levies (CFPAF only)

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Military Families Fund

• Established in 2007 • Assists military families faced with unforeseen and immediate needs that are attributed to conditions of service • MFF Executive Committee advisory to CDS • Relies on engagement by/support from the Chain of Command

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Military Families Fund Con’t

• Agile and responsive to need • Coordinated and synergized with other programs • It is not an entitlement or a benefit • Receipts must be retained • Funding only to be spent on intended purpose • Unused funding to be returned

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MFF Beneficiaries

• Beneficiary definition: – Any individual related by blood or law to a serving or former CF member or to a member of that individual’s immediate family – An individual not related by blood or law if the relationship between the CF member and individual has been of significance

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How do clients access the fund?

• Access to fund through mulitiple sources – Chain of Command, MFRCs, Padre, SISIP Financial Counsellors, VAC, the Legion, JPSUs/IPSCs etc.

• For those at the Base/Wing level – cases will be channelled back through the Chain of Command (JPSU/IPSC Chain of Command is DCSM)

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MFF Criteria

• Link to conditions of service • Financial distress or financial hardship • A grant must resolves the situation • Other (the right thing to do)

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MFF Case Examples

• Within Canada - Covered travel expenses for parents to visit their son in the hospital (member had been injured in an IED blast) • Assisted with the costs associated with behavioural therapy for a member’s six-year old autistic son • Covered the cost of counseling for a mom of a young soldier diagnosed with PTSD. Coverage under PSHCP had been maxed out.

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MFF Case Examples

• Funds to cover furniture necessities and winter clothing for three nieces. The parents had been killed in an accident.

• Member terminally ill – assistance to cover the cost of medical supplies, wheelchair rental.

• Short-term income subsidy for a spouse who had to quit her job to care for her husband who had been injured.

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Military Families Fund cont’d

• MFF / SOT overhead includes costs associated with 1-877 telephone line, postage, honorariums, Interac fees, BMO Prepaid card Admin fees and some supplies.

Average Overhead: $1.5K (avg FY 07/08-09/10):

1.3%

Comparison: United Way overhead expenses 2009: Camp Oochigeas 2009 (low std):

16% 7%

Not included above – about half of the honoraria are returned to the funds as donations Staff salaries are publicly reimbursed and not paid by the Fund

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Soldier On Fund

• Supports the Soldier On Program in improving the quality of life of injured/ill CF personnel through fitness, recreation and sport • Soldier On Fund used to satisfy needs beyond the scope/mandate of Public Funding

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Soldier On Fund Examples

• Travel costs of 4 members who participated in the Centre for the Intrepid Mini-triathlon in San Antonio, Texas • Ice time for a member to practice Sledge Hockey • A grant to purchase a adaptive ski equipment

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Soldier On Fund Examples

• Travel costs for 2 members who participated in the World Para-Triathlon in Budapest, Hungary (one member won a bronze medal in her category) • Funded members and support personnel for the Army Run • Participation in introductory skills development camps – canoe, alpine ski, sledge hockey, etc.

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Hospital Comforts Fund

• Ensures hospitalized CF members have access to toiletries, reading materiel and other basic comforts, including telephone and internet • Applies equally to injuries, accidents, surgeries, as well as addiction and mental health treatments • Since 2006, benefit has been extended to more than 1,000 members • Annual draw on the fund is @ 150 K

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Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund

• Provides financial assistance to serving and former members when warranted by distress or other qualifying circumstances – Self Improvement Loans up to $5,000 – Distress Grants up to $5,000 – Distress loans up to $25,000 – Education loans up to $4,000 per year to a maximum of $16,000 per student

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Support Our Troops Overview

Fund Balance

Military Families Fund $3.2M

Soldier On Fund $1M Hospital Comforts Fund $(-28)K CFPAF $16.3M

Avg Annual Disbursement

$305 K (FY10/11 - 816K)

Applications Approved Since 2007

765 $37 K (FY10/11 – 142K) 157 $150K (FY10/11 – 63K) $12.5M (loans) $212K (grants) 1211 15,031(loans) 591 (grants)

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OP Santa Claus

• Provides a Christmas gift to every deployed CF Member • In 2010 – received donations from 78 Canadian Corporations and other donors • 4449 CF members at 19 locations

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Outreach

• Working with the following external stakeholders to identify program/funding gaps and overlaps: True Patriot Love Foundation, Canada Company, Royal Canadian Legion, Camp Maple Leaf, Wounded Warrior, Military Casualty Support Foundation, Canadian Hero Fund, Vacation for Vets; Holidays for Heroes • Moving forward, efforts will be cooperative, integrated and harmonized

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Website

• • www.supportingourtroops.ca

www.militaryfamiliesfund.ca

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Contacts

• Sandy Gauthier – National Manager, SOT Funds & CFPAF, 613-992 4560 • Jennifer Rankine – Manager, MFF & HC, 613-947-3750 • Heather Connolly – SOT Funds Coordinator, 613- 996-5325 • Nancy Branco – Manager, Corporate Outreach & Sponsorship, 613 995-0321

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Questions?