Press Release

Anonymous Donor Gives $2 Million For Military Families

8/10/2010

SAN ANTONIO – Operation Homefront, a military support nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors, recently received a $2 million cash donation from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

“This is great news for our military families,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of Operation Homefront.  “Many of these families have been hit hard by the economic downturn on top of experiencing challenges as a result of multiple deployments over the past several years.”

According to Operation Homefront, the charity saw a 191 percent increase in 2009 for requests for food assistance from military families. 

“Many spouses have lost their jobs, and many National Guard membersand Reservists have come home to no jobs due to businesses restructuring,” continued Knotts.  “Government statistics show veterans of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing higher rates of unemployment than their civilian counterparts.”

The Operation Homefront board of directors will decide how best to use the $2 million donation.  Existing programs focus on providing emergency financial assistance, including grants to help with rent, utilities, car payments and repairs, food assistance, and transitional family housing for wounded warriors leaving the military due to their injuries.

“Our donor went through our audited financials, reviewed our new strategic plan, read our annual reports and thoroughly analyzed our governance and our programs,” said Knotts.  “We’re proud to have been able to maintain great stewardship and increase transparency, while meeting an increase of 144 percent in needs during 2009, the worst year for philanthropic funding since the 1950s according the American Institute of Philanthropy.

“This generous donation will give Operation Homefront more flexibility to meet the changing needs of military families and expand programs in certain areas, but the need still far outstrips our resources.  Hopefully, our anonymous donor can serve as an example to others who want to help our service members but are unsure how.  Operation Homefront can be that philanthropic partner to get help where it’s needed most,” said Knotts. 

Those interested in making a contribution to Operation Homefront can call the San Antonio-based charity at (800) 722-6098.  More information is available at www.OperationHomefront.net.

About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.   A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, $.95 of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs.