We would use the $1,000 to further our outreach efforts so that we can recruit new cleaning services to join us which will help us serve more disabled and elderly veterans who need our help.

to send the boxes to the troops ---each flat rate box must go post office at a 14.95 charge per box

Funds provided will be used for creating sufficient materials (brochures and other literature) to be provided to students at schools where veterans (VFP members) will speak on the truths about signing up for a branch of the armed services and going off to war. Students will learn about the treatment of the people in villages where war is waged, physical and psychological effects on soldiers (PTSD, losing limbs, etc), after effects of war on the countries engaged in war, how much the U.S. spends on war efforts (versus education, infrastructure, etc.) and more. Military recruiters paint a very different picture than the reality soldiers experience. Veterans have seen first hand effects and can share their knowledge and experience.

These special dogs are provided at no cost to the veteran or first-responder. Your support would go directly to help support the cost of training a skilled companion or service dog.

Military Dog Handlers contact us through our website to ask for equipment and to provide us an address for shipment. Many of the requests that we receive are from handlers who pass our name onto fellow K9 handlers in the field. We have also had the opportunity to visit military bases personally and deliver this specialized equipment to the handlers and their MWD's in-person. Each "kit" of equipment we send out per MWD handler, cost approx. $400.00. This grant money would provide for 2-3 deploying K9 teams.

We are collecting donations of LifeSavers and Ziploc Bags throughout the community. We will also use money from the grant to purchase the candies and bags. Once we have all the supplies collected we will put a notice out to the community looking for volunteers to stuff bags, label the bags, and package into boxes for shipping. $1000 Lifesavers: $250 Ziploc Bags: $200 Labels: $50 Shipping: $500

All funds from this opportunity will go to supplies for troops and shipping of the boxes.

The $1,000.00 would be directly applied to our postage costs. It costs about $11.00/box, and unit boxes are much more expensive but they depend on the weight of each box.

Deployed servicemen and women can to to OTA's website and complete a "Troop Request" form. The request is sent to OTA officers and board members, many of whom are active or retired military. An OTA POC works with the service member to refine and prioritize the list. Often we work with the supply sergeant or CO to see if the items can and should be provided by the military. Once a month, OTA volunteers purchase and ship the requested items. The $1,000 would be used to purchase snack, hygiene and tactical gear, and postage.

Our request for this grant would greatly help in covering shipping costs. Operation Gratitude collects in-kind donations from corporate sponsors. Operation Gratitude volunteers receive and itemize all of the product donations after which they assemble the packages with these items. The GOOD grant would enable us to send 300 care packages to Veterans and Wounded Warriors in VA hospitals.

The $1000.00 will go towards training material and equipment to outfit volunteers on the Emergency Response Team. The veterans build on their military skills by taking classes in Search and Rescue, Incident Command, Basic First Aid, HazMat, CPR, Urban Rescue Operations and more. Each team member is also equipped with the proper clothing and safety equipment to use during operations, as well as the rescue and medical supplies needed to help the injured. The Emergency Response Team is a volunteer team that operates under the Lone Star Veterans Association, which is a non-profit veteran group that assists veterans with transition from military to civilian life.

We want to respond to the requests of veterans for a bigger and better fishing experience to include salt water fishing. To date, we have only gone fishing to local, fresh water sources. Our plan includes enhancing and expanding our Reel Retreat to include salt water trips for our vets to experience a day out on the ocean reeling in the “big one!” The $1,000 would be used to participate in Fishing Derbies for Veterans sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Money would be used for transportation costs and to cover the $65 per person fee.

As previously stated there would never be a fee for anyone wanting to participate. Monies raised (awarded) would be strictly for writing tools, perhaps an extra 1 or 2 laptops, printing expenses. I want their words to be printed so they have a valid place to reside.

The critical infrastructure for this event has already been established. The Gold Star Museum will serve as the location, amidst relics of WWI and more recent wars. Cast members from War Horse have agreed to participate as book readers, musicians and performers. Paws & Effect will help promote the event within its membership and assist in coordinating the actual event. The $1,000 will help offset the costs associated with the acquisition of books to be read as well as transportation for the cast members of War Horse. The additional funds will be utilized to substantially reduce the cost of tickets to the matinee performance of War Horse from $75 to $25 per ticket.

WAO 365 agrees to launch a new program in support of financial literacy for veterans. We will raise money for the books by requesting donations from previous donors. To target potential donors, our organization will continue its outreach through newsletters, email correspondence, and events similar to those held by WAO 365 in the past. To further publicize our cause to promote soldiers' financial literacy, we will feature LDR and “The Soldier’s Financial Leadership Guide,” on our website and on additional social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. If granted the money, WAO 365 would use the $1000 to start the program by purchasing the first ninety-five books at our discounted rate.

Partner with local VA and Vet Centers to screen qualified veterans. Once screened, the process of procuring an animal will begin. The animals will be found at local animal shelters in Southern Nevada. Training of the animals will be provided by certified instructors that can facilitate necessary requirements in order for service animal status. The $1,000 will go towards the adoption of the service animal, booster shots if needed, a starter kit, and training of the animal. The starter kit would include a bag of dog food, a collar, leash, and a dog toy.

Home for the Holidays has already established the infrastructure for accepting award applications through a simple on-line process, followed by telephone interviews including confirmation of needs with the applicant’s supervisor. As determined by our Awards Committee, we support some or all chosen award recipients’ travel needs, including transportation and lodging. Since beginning our operation in 2009, we have been able to triple the number of military families united over the 2010 and 2011 holiday seasons. Yet our capacity does not allow us to assist even a fraction of those in need. We would devote the total grant amount of $1,000 to travel awards to reunite active duty service members with loved ones during the 2012 holiday season.

We are just about complete with our website. We now need funds to market our idea and get the word out to military families. We need to print our pamphlet and purchase more promotional materials for military events that we have been attending. We would also like to purchase some advertising such as google adwords and car decals. We have also participated in a "Welcome Home" care pack project with the 9th ESB stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where we provided little gifts (toothbrushes, toothpaste, water bottles, pens and candy) to 500 marines returning from deployment. We would like to do more welcome home packs with other returning heroes.

We purchase individual serving size bags of gourmet popcorn from a local popcorn shop, attach a poker chip with a message written on it to each bag, and ship 50-75 bags per box to deployed Troops. $1000 would enable us to send popcorn to at least 650 men and women currently deployed in the Middle East.

We are so grateful we just received our 501C3! This funding will go DIRECTLY to the services we offer unemployed and homeless troops get jobs. 1,000 dollars provides about 50 troops 8 hours of service! The opportunities with this funding is amazing!