Let’s do a little boogie…

I’ve been waiting for years, months, days to write this post.

The results are in. The final numbers are here. This is the hour… the moment we’ve all been waiting for. I could say the hour for which we’ve all been waiting, but I like ending my sentences with prepositions. It’s a walk on the grammatical wild side.

Yes! It’s the final totals for the Project Valour-IT Campaign Fundraiser of 2009.

Total — $113,124.90
Air Force — $15,662.17
Army — $32,758.80
Marines — $43,060.89
Navy — $19,108.04
General — $2,535.00

That’s 188 voice-activated laptops for wounded warriors. Of course, we’re talking laptops, Wii video game systems and personal GPS.

From our Soldiers’ Angels representative at Walter Reed…

Last night, during my weekly visits, I was greeted by SGM S, our latest laptop recipient, with a quick little dance.  I think he even clicked his heels!  He is so terribly happy to have received a laptop and is really looking forward to having Joe show him all the ins and outs.  You made this SGM, who has served faithfully for 40 years and is as crusty as they come, do a happy dance in the lobby – PRICELESS!

So I’m saying Thank You. Thank you to everyone who came over and clicked that Donate Here button for TEAM AIR FORCE. The button that sat at the top of the sidebar from the 26th of October through November 11th. Thank you to all who donated by mail or supported the Army, the Navy, those sauce of awesome Marines — dammit! That was hard to say.

All monies raised will go to support the wounded across all the military branches.

A huge, gigantic, enormous THANK YOU to my regular readers for letting me commandeer this blog for a project close to my heart. I’m not a Milblogger, though they are fierce. That’s not what this blog is about. What I am is a Soldiers’ Angel, and this is just one of many projects they support.

I support Adopt-a-Soldier, which gives individualized support to our own throughout deployment. Currently, there are 1,363 soldiers waiting for adoption. Check it out.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled blog.

Elen

With deep and abiding gratitude…

Veterans Day

… to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month

We give thanks for their service.

Elen

(Quote from the History of Veterans Day, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

And the winner is…

Congratulations to No Sheeples Here!, winner of the first annual Valour-IT video contest. This lst place winner receives a voice-activated laptop donated in his name to Project Valour-IT and a $75 gift certificate to the Soldiers’ Angels store.

To learn about the other winners and find links to their videos, please click here.

While I’m yammering, I’ll just mention that you have only three days left to make a donation to this worthwhile campaign. Zoom on up and click that Donate Here button in the sidebar. It is waiting for you!

Good Valour-IT Monday Morning!

Elen

Twelve days in…

That’s right, folks. Project Valour-IT campaign is twelve days in. Thanks to supporters everywhere, we’ve raised $62,672. Here you can see Team Marines is still in the lead, with Team Army hot on their tail. It is my sad duty to report that Team Air Force is currently getting their butt kicked by Team Navy. I suspect it may have something to do with today’s Valour-IT Post of the Day. Just sayin’!

While we are enjoying the friendly competition between military branches, I remind you that monies raised go to support wounded warriors across all the branches. We’d just like you to donate to my team — Team Air Force –  here. You can do that by clicking on the donate here button in the sidebar at the very top of this blog.

The overall goal is $140,000 by Veterans Day. This is what your hard-earned dollars are going for (via Soldiers’ Angels):

Voice-controlled Laptops – Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems – Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

Personal GPS – Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

Make this the best TGIF ever. Please consider donating to Project Valour-IT. Won’t you?

Elen

The images in this post are copyrighted and used, with permission, for the Valour-IT campaign.

Don’t look now, but…

A little over a week in and the Project Valour-IT campaign has raised $44,857, as of the writing of this post. Team Marines is out in front at $16,291, followed closely by Team Army at $15,305. Team Air Force — ahem, my team — is zooming along at $7,495 with Team Navy on their tail at $5,766. At $600 a pop, that’s 74 laptops for wounded vets. But it’s not just laptops. It’s Wii Video Game Systems and Personal GPS, too.

How do these pieces of technological wonder help? Here’s what Soldiers’ Angels has to say:

Each of the devices Valour-IT supplies helps restore confidence and independence. Voice-activated laptops reconnect the wounded with the world and develop self-confidence by showing soldiers they can continue to be engaged and productive despite their injuries. Wounded service members also use the laptops for education about their medical care or preparation for post-military career. Physical therapists report Wii Sports and similar programs are extremely motivational and beneficial when used in physical therapy settings, though they are not standard equipment in military hospitals. And wounded personnel with short-term memory loss due to TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and severe PTSD use GPS systems to keep from getting lost or disoriented when they move on to more independent living.

I can’t think of a better way to give back to those who have given so much. Each and every dollar donated to Valour-IT goes towards the purchase of these technologies.

To donate simply scroll to the top of this blog and click on the donate button in the sidebar. You may also send checks or money orders to: Soldiers’ Angels, Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104.

Whatever team you’re playing for, whether it be the Air Force, Army, Marines or Navy, donations go to support wounded warriors across all branches of the military.

Image courtesy of Cox and Forkum and Soldiers’ Angels.

Please consider a donation today.

Tomorrow — Let’s just say Golden Pup made a lasting first impression at the meet and greet with her away sitter. Oh yes, she did.

Elen