National Campaign to Raise Assistance for Post 9/11 Veterans & Military Families
For Immediate Release July 2, 2008
RADCLIFF, KY – USA Cares has introduced a nationwide fundraising campaign called “Share A Minute.” Its goal is to finance the nonprofit organization’s ongoing efforts to provide post-9/11 veterans and military families with financial support and other critical resources. As a vocal advocate for military personnel and their families, comedian, talk radio host, author and actor Dennis Miller kicked off the effort on his national “Dennis Miller Show” on July 2.
It began with an on-air phone call from Command Sergeant Major Roger Stradley, U.S. Army (retired), the founder of USA Cares. Miller prefaced the call by saying “USA Cares, an organization I’m the national spokesperson for, helps the newest veterans – those who are serving in hostile places at the moment. A recent RAND study noted that there may be over 300,000 who suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over half are undiagnosed and untreated. Now the costs to America will be billions of dollars and we can do better. We will do better one person at a time.” Miller then asked Stradley to elaborate on the campaign.
“When our young men or women get on a plane to go to Iraq or Afghanistan, they are looking at roughly 525,000 minutes away from their family. And, of course, they are back home waiting that same amount of time,” Stradley said. “It costs USA Cares about $25 a minute to provide support in helping with the wounded, helping with home foreclosure issues [and] quality of life. And so what we have done is come up with a program called Share A Minute. It’s on our web site at usacares.org, and we’re asking Americans to step up to the plate, take one minute for these guys and gals and allow us to continue to help – like we’ve been doing for the last five and a half years.”
Dennis Miller, who knows a few things about kickoffs from his Monday Night Football days, concluded with this remark about USA Cares and the Share A Minute campaign, “What have I given you my highest approval on? Well, whatever it is, it’s now second because this is four stars, two thumbs up, salt of the earth people, humble people, doing the right things for our veterans. If you have it in your heart, and I know you see what Americans donate – it absolutely boggles the mind – but if you can carve out a little piece for the USACares.org people we would appreciate it.”
USA Cares currently receives more than a hundred new requests for assistance a week. Dedicated staff and volunteers work through every one of them, one at a time, with the determination and commitment to quickly resolve the issues and allow the military families to receive the assistance needed. “The only way we allow them to repay in any way is by saying thank you.” USA Cares Executive Director Bill Nelson said.
About USA Cares
USA Cares is a worldwide non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization serving U.S. military service members of all ranks and branches and their families with direction and advice along with grant assistance for quality of life issues caused by military service. Continuing into its sixth year, USA Cares has responded to requests from more than 11,000 service members and families with millions of dollars in organizational and found resources. In partnership with The Homeowners Preservation Foundation, USA Cares has also saved hundreds of military homes from foreclosure. In 2007 alone, USA Cares helped 98 wounded service members, saved 192 homes from foreclosure or eviction and provided 4,146 requests with other forms of assistance. Military families anywhere can apply for assistance through www.usacares.org or by calling 1-800-773-0387.
About Dennis Miller
Emmy award winner and four-time Writers’ Guild award winner, Dennis Miller offers his unique take on the day’s topics with comedy and satire on his daily radio show, The Dennis Miller Show, launched by Westwood One in March 2007. It’s been said that Miller is “One of the premiere comedy talents in America today…” While others are blunt assessing Miller’s comedic stature, Dennis himself makes a virtue of understatement, but there is nothing low key about his career.
Miller is a five-time Emmy award winner for his critically acclaimed half-hour, live talk show “Dennis Miller Live” which had a nine year run on HBO. He also wrote and starred in the Emmy-nominated cable comedy special “Raw Feed”, his sixth such special. He was the host and executive producer of CNBC’s “Dennis Miller”, a topical interview talk show featuring reasoned discourse, opinion and humor.
USA Cares, Inc.
562B N. Dixie Boulevard
Suite 3
Radcliff, KY 40160
Contact: John F. Revell
P: 1.800.773.0387
F: 1.866.533.0426
