CGFO kicks off 2011 Scholarship Fund Drive

In 2009, CGFO awarded its first academic scholarship to a spouse of an active duty Coast Guard member. That fortunate first year's winner was Tracy F. a well deserving, altruistic spouse stationed, at the time, in Puerto Rico. In 2010, CGFO awarded its the second scholarship to highly motivated and charitable spouse Kimberly G. of Virginia. In 2011, we hope to award even more in scholarship funds to yet another CG spouse.

RANDOM Giveaway-Donations made November 28th through December 10th (in any denomination) will be entered in a special holiday random giveway for a Coast Guard CAMOSOCK generously donated by our friends at Terk Designs, LLC, for this fundraising drive.

CGFO is a Massachusetts and Oregon nonprofit corporation. All donations are done as a gift and considered to be the free will and act of the donor. Pursuant to Section 6113 of the Internal Revenue Code, please note that donations/gifts are not tax deductible at this time as CGFO is not yet a 501(c)(3) organization. However, CGFO encourages you to discuss any and all donations you make each year with your tax advisor for information on how to address your charitable donations. CGFO is a corporation run by a Board of volunteers and is not officially endorsed, supported or sanctioned by the USCG, DHS or any other federal entity. In appreciation and for transparency, donors names may be listed on a donor list annually, however, donors can choose to remain anonymous, please ensure to note that you wish to remain anonymous when making your donation, if that is your choosing. We respect the privacy of our donors and will not share information relating to address, phone numbers or payment method with the public or any third party unless it is required for CGFO tax purposes. CGFO will only list the donors names on our donation list.

Coast Guard families

Coast Guard families have a lot on their plate. Whether you are a couple without children or a family of 10, you know what I am talking about. All too often, Coast Guard families feel as though they are the forgotten ones—the branch that supposedly is not really “military”. You and I know that could not be further from the truth. The United States Coast Guard is in fact a military service and is one of the five branches of the US Armed Forces.

In 1915, the deal was sealed, even though the Coast Guard had been around for a long, long time before that. That is neither here nor there though because some naysayers will continue to disagree with you. Well, show them this and tell them to stick it in their hat: Coast Guard Authorization Act 

If you don’t feel like reading the White House release, know this, that on October 15, 2010, President Obama stated “[t]oday I have signed into law H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. This Act strengthens the Coast Guard as a military service and branch of the Armed Forces in the Department of Homeland Security by providing organizational flexibility for the Coast Guard and allowing for improvements to its military housing. Additionally, the Act materially enhances the marine safety and maritime security missions of the Coast Guard, and it includes language to implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001.”

There you have it folks, a reiteration of the Coast Guard being a military service.

Know this too: Coast Guard Family Organization, Inc. (CGFO) is working hard to get more recognition and programs for Coast Guard families. However, they cannot do it without your feedback. Write them, and also write your Congress reps, and keep yourself informed and be proactive. There are always going to be uninformed people, but we know you are working hard day to day and enduring your own sacrifices and trials just as the millions of other military families throughout the world. So, keep on keepin’ on and give a shout out to CGFO and let them know your needs and thoughts. You have a voice--let it be heard! Write CGFO at admin@coastguardfamily.org