| In the spring of 2003, US and British
coalition soldiers in Iraq were called upon to secure the
banks in Basra, Iraq from looters. The soldiers found three
forms of currency in the banks: 1) US currency that was
ultimately used to inject into the Iraqi economy, 2) Iraqi
paper currency that was burned, and 3) Iraqi coins that were
melted down for scrap metal content....with one exception.
A group of British soldiers led by Captain
Chris McGinley & Reservist Robert Brannagan found roughly
70,000 pounds of brilliant un-circulated Iraqi coins that
were decommissioned by Saddam Hussein at the end of the
first Gulf War. Captain McGinley and his men came up with a
brilliant idea, and obtained all permissions necessary to
auction off those coins in London and use the proceeds to
rebuild an orphanage in Basra (pictured above left) that had
been destroyed during Saddam's reign of terror. Saddam's
coins were sold, the orphanage in Basra was rebuilt, and the
miraculous story of the coins was only just beginning....
In late 2004, through an unbelievable string of connections
and coincidences that can only be described as divine
intervention; the Products for Good team was offered the
opportunity to purchase the entire collection of Saddam's
coins. The team immediately acted on the opportunity and
developed a plan around utilizing these coins in accordance
with Captain McGinely's original intent....selling what had
at one time been Saddam's property to create good works for
as many people as possible.
A product line was designed that would display the coins in
a patriotic and high quality fashion. Using the coins
themselves, in a beautifully designed frame, surrounded by
pictures, memorabilia and quotes that honor and reflect the
sacrifices made by our military to protect our freedoms.
The four coin shadowbox and the Products for Good story have
been featured on several television shows and a nationally
syndicated morning radio show. Most impressive of all, the
picture on the
website shows John Borders, a wounded veteran and
Products for Good financial beneficiary, presenting
President Bush with a shadowbox. That shadowbox now hangs in
the White House and President Bush has assured us that it
will be a permanent fixture in the Bush library!
In keeping with the mission to help as many Americans as
possible with this project (and in lieu of less expensive
foreign assembly), Products for Good chose to assemble the
shadowboxes at the Cleveland Vocational Industries (CVI).
CVI is a facility which provides work opportunities for
mentally and physically challenged individuals with barriers
to entry into the traditional workforce. The workers at CVI
take tremendous pride in making a contribution and great
self-satisfaction from being able to provide for themselves
(pictured at left). Products for Good is excited and
privileged to have CVI participating in the project and is
thrilled to be able to create up to one hundred and fifty
full-time jobs at peak production.
The last piece of the puzzle was to find a national
spokesperson to represent the project in the best way
possible and Products for Good was excited to land Lee
Greenwood for the role. Lee has been committed to the
project from the beginning and has even permitted Products
for Good to use God Bless the USA for the first time in
history to support a commercial venture.
With the shadowboxes in production and retail sales being
generated, and Lee Greenwood on board,
Products For Good
put the last piece of the story in place . . . creating a
plan to donate over $20 million to the families of our
wounded heroes! A percentage of every dollar generated from
the sale of these coins (before any expenses are paid) is
sent immediately to charities such as the Aleethia
Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Project for Survivors (TAPS),
Helping a Hero and The Gerald T. Parks Memorial Foundation.
Products for Good has been fortunate to see its donation
money at work, and the help it has provided to those in
need. Monies donated so far have been utilized to help
families of wounded warriors keep their homes through
difficult times, build new homes for permanently injured
soldiers so their handicap will not diminish their ability
to live comfortably, and to help build a nursing home
facility on a VA hospital property...just to name a few.
Own a piece of history and help us raise funds for our
wounded and fallen heroes and their families! Visit our
website today. God Bless you and thank you for taking the
time to
visit us. |
