In 2007, the Wine Country Marines: Board of Directors unanimously voted to support the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. In fact, the Wine Country Marine Corps Birthday Ball is now a major fundraiser for this very much needed Marine Corps related non-profit organization.
CURRENT SITUATION
Today, Marines fight enemies abroad, supporting America in her time of need, as they have so often done since November 10, 1775. Their bravery and dedication have had a price. Many have been wounded, some seriously, and some resulting in lifelong disabilities.Because of medical advances, Marines are now surviving injuries that were not survivable in past wars. They face extended hospital stays and months if not years of recovery and rehabilitation.
THE NEED
When a Marine or other service member assigned to Marine forces is wounded or injured, their entire family shares the pain and the burden or recovery. Normal life is put on hold as loved ones travel great distances, at a moment's notice, to be at his hospital bedside, often for weeks or months. They take leave from their jobs, often without pay, and incur additional expenses for child care, lodging, travel, and other necessities. Few families are prepared for the expenses they face. They need help, and they need it quickly. The Injured Marine Semper Fi fund was created to meet this need.
THE MISSION
The overall mission is to alleviate the financial burden placed on the family so that their focus can be on their loved one's recovery. If the mother of a wounded Marine needs help with travel expenses to be with her son or daughter, the Semper Fi Fund is there. If the wife of an injured Marine falls temporarily behind on a mortgage payment because she left work to be with her husband in the hospital, the Semper Fi Fund is there. If a wounded Marine who has lost his eye sight from combat needs a special magnifier, or special computer, the Semper Fi Fund is there. Whatever the legitimate need, the Semper Fi Fund is ready to help. As every Marine knows, "Semper Fi" means "Always Faithful" and that is the pledge of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund to the heroic Marines who have been wounded or injured while protecting this nation.
THE FUND
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was established in May 2004. A nurse at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, whose husband was deployed to Iraq, saw first hand the needs of those returing from battle. She brought together a group of Marine Corps spouses with diverse backgrounds to implement a plan to provide financial grants to injured Marines, service members inured while assigned to Marine forces, and thier families during their difficult road to recovery. This assistance is in the form of a grant with no expectation of repayment. Grants may help with immediate financial needs such as travel, childcare, lodging or problems resulting from lost wages. Assistance is also given for long term needs such as modified homes and vans. The Fund workds closely with the Marine Corps, the Navy, and hospitals nationwide to identify and assess the needs of specific families.To date, the Fund has provided over $7 million in assistance to injured Mairnes and their families.
Devil Pups, Inc.
DEVIL PUPS YOUTH-CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:
Each year the Wine Country Marines looks for a few good young men and women for the Devil Pups program. The group seeks applications from local teenagers to attend the 10-day youth citizenship development program held each summer at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California.
The 10-day program is very physically challenging. Activities include conditioning exercises, first-aid instruction, leadership classes, organized recreation, a camp-out and swimming. The Pups also attend educational lectures on the importance of self-confidence, teamwork, drug and alcohol abuse and the importance of establishing goals in life. Participants will observe various training exercises by active-duty Marines and will be special guests at a boot camp graduation ceremony and parade held at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
To qualify for a scholarship, an applicant must be 14 to 17 years of age, live in the Sonoma or Napa valleys, have a strong desire to attend the program, be in excellent physical shape and have excellent health. No asthma. No prescription medications of any kind will be allowed at the Devil Pups camp. All local boys and girls interested in qualifying for the program are strongly encouraged to atttend a special orientation with their parents during the month of May at the Schell-Vista Fire Station in Sonoma. The actual date will be posted on this Web page and it will also appear within the "Sonoma Index-Tribune." Following this orientation, a physical fitness test will be administered to all qualified applicants at the Sonoma Valley High School.
2007 marks the 53rd anniversary of the Devil Pups Inc. The non-profit program was started in 1954 by retired Marine Corps officers in response to a group of teenagers who burned an American flag at a southern California high school. Although the program takes place at Camp Pendleton, it is not a Marine Corps sponsored program. The program is mostly run by former and retired Marine Corps officers and NCOs. Active duty or Reserve Marines are not part of the Devil Pups staff. Since it began, more than 43,000 young teenagers have graduated from the Devil Pups program. In 1998, the program started accepting girls. High profile graduates of the Devil Pups program include:
- Heisman Trophy Winner and USC football legend Mike Garrett - Television and movie actor Tom Selleck. - U.S. Congressman Elton Gallegly.
The name "Devil Pups" was conceived from the name "Devil Dog" given to U.S. Marines by German troops during the First World War in recognition to their valor under fire.
For more information regarding the program qualifications and local scholarships, please contact our Devil Pups Liason Representation: Fred Unsworth at 707-996-6512.
Toys For Tots Foundation
U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM:
The Wine Country Marines are planning to take a very active and high profile role supporting the Toys for Tots program within the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. More information regarding specifics will be posted to this Web page and information will also appear within the "Sonoma Index-Tribune."
PROGRAM HISTORY:
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Corps Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5, 000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys of Tots in 1948 and expended it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located. Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. The initial objective that remains the hallmark of the program today is to "bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children." Bill Hendricks, a Marine Reserve Officer on weekends, was in civilian life, the Director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio. This enabled him to convince a vast array of celebrities to support Toys for Tots. In 1948, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo, which is still used today. Disney also designed the first Toys for Tots poster used to promote the nationwide program. Bob Hope, John Wayne, Doris Day, Tim Allen, Kenny Rogers and Billy Ray Cyrus are but a few of the long list of celebrities who have given their time and talent to promote Toys for Tots. First Lady Nancy Reagan served as the national spokesperson in 1983. First Lady Barbara Bush served as the national spokesperson in 1992 and in her autobiography named Toys for Tots as one of her favorite charities.
In the late 1980s, the Marine Corps determined that a non-profit charity was needed as an integral part of the overall national Toys for Tots program. Based on this need, the Secretary of Defense, in August 1991, authorized the Marine Corps to recognize and work with a charity committed to supporting Toys for Tots. Based on this approval, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation became an operational organization in September 1991 and has been the fund raising and support organiztion for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program since that date.
In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
In 1996, the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve expanded Toys for Tots to cover all 50 states by authorizing selected Marine Corps League Detachments and selected local community organizations (generally veteran Marines), located in communities as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
In 1997, the Marine Corps celebrated the 50th anniversary of Toys for Tots.
Over the 57 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 332.5 million toys to 158.7 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas. Over its 14 year lifespan, the Marine Toys for Tots foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 55.5 million toys valued at more than $284 million: plus has provided promotion and support materials valued at over $3.2 million.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is directed by the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, with the assistance of his staff, from the Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana.
THE OVERALL MISSION, GOAL, OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAM TODAY:
MISSION: The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
GOAL: The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas: to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable natural resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.
ACTIVITIES: The principal Toys for Tots activities which take place each year are the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located and in communities without a Reserve Unit that has a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women, generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign. Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other purely voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toy and monetary donations.
