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Group Honors Wounded Warriors, Families of Fallen
(October 10, 2009) |
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| WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2009 – In 2005, David Dominguez of San
Diego noticed casualty reports in Iraq and Afghanistan were
barely making news. After several years of war, the American
public had settled back into its routine.
Dominguez set up a nonprofit organization to remind people
of the sacrifices being made on their behalf. He called it
“Freedom is Not Free.” The name Dominguez chose gave
expression to his sentiment that the brave men and women
serving in the military, and their families, were
shouldering the price for the freedoms that all Americans
enjoy.
Dominguez brought his long-time friend and Vietnam veteran
Carl Frank on board, and together, they began to develop the
organization's framework. They wanted to create a safe
environment where Freedom is Not Free's supporters would
feel confident their donations were actually going to help
those most in need.
Jay Kopelman, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and the
company's executive director, said the duo intentionally
created a lean organization with a special emphasis on
financial checks and balances.
“I am the only paid employee of the organization, taking a
very small salary, ... with one volunteer who works three days
a week, and a college intern who is a former sailor and
whose husband is a naval officer,” he said. “We keep the
overhead low so that we can direct as much money as possible
to programs and the individuals and organizations who come
to us for support.”
Transparency in regard to the allocation of funds to the
most worthy recipients was of utmost important to the
co-founders. This led to the establishment of the Purple
Heart Board, a group of carefully selected, highly committed
veteran and active duty Purple Heart recipients and their
relatives.
“It gives us transparency in awarding grants,” Kopelman
said. “The Patriot Advisory Board members help me raise
money, and the [Purple Heart Board], without knowing where
the money is coming from, helps us decide who gets it.
“They get a summary of each applicant's individual case from
us and then review all the information,” he added.
“Sometimes they'll recommend more money for an applicant,
and sometimes they'll recommend less.”
The Patriot Advisory Board was established in a similar vein
to advise management and assist in promoting programs and
fundraising initiatives. This board is made up of a diverse
group of individuals who all share the “passion for the
mission and the will to make a difference,” Kopelman said.
Freedom is Not Free has assisted with travel expenses for
wounded servicemembers' families and helped with living
expenses, among other things.
“Primarily, we provide financial assistance when these
heroes find themselves in a situation ... that has become
critical and they have nowhere else to turn,” Kopelman said.
“For example, many times a spouse becomes the primary
caregiver for her husband, who's been medically retired from
the military, but whose benefits and pay have not yet
begun.”
The organization also works with what Kopelman calls
“nonconforming relatives.” If a wounded servicemember has no
traditional next of kin, Freedom is Not Free will help the
person the servicemember considers next of kin. They'll help
to defray travel expenses for a fianc�e, for example.
“We'll assist with air fare, hotel bills and meals while
that hero's 'next of kin' is by his side,” Kopelman said.
“We also run programs for the children of our military
families.”
In August, the organization hosted 70 children of military
families at Little Warriors Surf Camp in San Diego. The
children learned to surf, and they each got a surfboard to
take home.
“We feel it's especially important to recognize the
sacrifices these children make, not only when a parent is
wounded or killed, but also when a parent is deployed for
seven months to a year at a time,” Kopelman said. “It can be
very difficult for these kids. They already know they're
different from other kids whose parents work 9-to-5 jobs and
are home for every birthday and holiday, and we want to do
everything to show them they're appreciated.”
The organization will show its appreciation in a slightly
different way next month. It's hosting a movie night aboard
the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on Veteran's Day. The
movie will be “The Hurt Locker,” Kopelman said, adding that
he's arranged for some Marine Corps explosives ordnance
disposal personnel to attend the screening and share their
experiences with the audience. It's possible that some of
the movie's stars and its director may be in attendance as
well, he added.
Information on Freedom is Not Free and its programs can be
found on the
organization's Web site. The group also uses
social media outlets such as Facebook, where there's a
Freedom is Not Free fan page, and Twitter, where people can
look for @HelpingVeterans to connect with its audience. | |
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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