USA Cares

Client Stories

These stories provide a brief glimpse into what is taking place in the lives of our clients every day. Please help us continue our mission to help them.


Spokespersons

Dennis Miller

Bryan Anderson

Mark Wills


USA Cares most recent IRS Form 990 for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011 cited our total expenses at $2,383,223.  Of that, $288,380 was spent toward administrative and fundraising costs—the remainder was disbursed among our program services which assist post 9/11 service members and their families.  Based upon this information, the percentage breakdown is 81% program and 19% administrative.


USA Cares has three primary missions, within those missions are programs that address specific issues.
For more information:

Quality of Life

Housing (Foreclosure and eviction prevention)

Combat Injuried

Proven Process

USA Cares has developed a process to quickly and efficiently handle applications for assistance as they come in from our website into our Family Resource Call Center.

Applications are first logged into our system and then forwarded to a “triage” specialist.  The triage specialist then attempts to call the applicant to assess their particular situation in a personalized way. If the agent cannot reach the applicant by phone, they will attempt contact by email. If we do not hear from an applicant within ten business days of their request, their case will be suspended but can easily be re-opened.

Once the triage specialist has made contact and discussed the applicant’s situation, the case will either be forwarded to a Family Resource Team for further follow up or the triage specialist will let the applicant know that their hardship does not fall within the guidelines of any of our programs. In this case they will be given other advice, contacts, suggestions, etc. that may be helpful.

When the case is sent to the USA Cares Family Resource Team, the applicant will receive a call and an email from the teams’ Administrative Assistant. This follow-up conversation, the Administrative Assistant gathers more information about the situation and develops an clearer understanding about urgency, etc.

The applicant is often asked to fax in current information. At times, the USA Cares team may ask the applicant to contact their service providers (e.g. the utility company, the garage working on the family automobile, the mortgage company, etc.) to give them permission to speak to us on their behalf. If the applicant is in need of mortgage assistance, they will be asked to contact our partners at Homeownership Preservation Foundation for budget counseling and guidance on what steps to take in regards to their mortgage.

Once this information is received, a USA Cares case worker will contact the applicant again to assess whether their situation has changed. They will try to assist as best as they possibly can with information and other applicable resources. When all the information has been verified, the USA Cares caseworker will send a summary to a “virtual committee”.

The virtual committee consists solely of volunteers who have some type of military background or expertise. They vote independently regarding the merits of the case and whether it fits within the guidelines of our programs. When those votes are received, the USA Cares caseworker will tally them, and if the case is approved, inform both the applicant and their service provider(s)

Payments are mailed out via the US Postal service the next morning, unless eviction, foreclosure or disconnection of service is immediately at hand. In these urgent situations, more expedient methods of sending payments are used.

All information concerning each and every case is kept in our database for one complete year before being filed away and kept for 5 years.


Combat Injured

USA Cares provides assistance in critical areas not covered by government programs. We help with essential bills while service members attend Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rehabilitative treatment. For more information on our Warrior Treatment Today Program.

We provide high level support for those wounded in combat, covering things such as rent, mortgage payments, transportation costs for hospital visits, bills and basic needs.




Donor Privacy Policy

USA Cares, Inc. (hereafter, USA Cares) respects the privacy of visitors to its website.  USA Cares will not sell, trade or share a donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.  This Privacy Policy governs the use and collection of information from this website.

When you visit our website, you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and website use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our website. This information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes but may be shared with outside agencies (unless you have indicated otherwise). If you do not want your information included in directories or shared with others, please contact USA Cares at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

In general, the information collected, whether or not personally identifiable is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video and other graphic formats you send to us. Information is retained and used in accordance with existing laws, rules, regulations, and other policies.

Cookies
Cookies are simple text files stored by your web browser that provide a method of distinguishing among visitors to the website. Cookies created on your computer by using our website do not contain personally identifiable information and do not compromise your privacy or security.
Cookies are simple text files stored by your web browser that provide a method of distinguishing among visitors to the website. Cookies created on your computer by using our website do not contain personally identifiable information and do not compromise your privacy or security.

Online Registration Information
You will provide us with information about yourself when you register for our newsletter, submit a donation or apply for assistance. This information is not used for any other purpose than to fulfill your request and is not shared with outside parties. However, visitors should be aware that information collected through the USA Care’s website may be subject to examination and inspection if such information is a public record or not otherwise protected from disclosure.

Security
For various services requiring online transmittal or private information, USA Cares uses the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption protocol to safeguard your sensitive personal information. Information is encrypted from your computer to the Alliance server processing your request. To further secure your privacy, do not divulge any personal identification numbers or passwords or sensitive information to anyone in a phone call or email. When finished with applications that are password protected or require the input of your personal information, it is always recommended that you close or otherwise exit all instances of your browser.

Changes to this Privacy Statement
USA Cares reserves the right to modify the Site and/or Privacy Statement at any time and users are deemed to be apprised of and bound by any such modifications. Our goal is to provide all services to customers in an accessible, efficient and friendly manner while maintaining their privacy. If you have comments or questions regarding privacy, please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).


Charity Review

http://www.independentcharities.org/

http://www.independentcharities.org/

USA Cares meets 20 of the 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance 

Read More about the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance 

USA Cares is Rated 3 out of 4 stars by Charity Navigator 

Read More about Charity Navigator’s Review 

USA Cares has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, demonstrating its commitment to transparency of programs and finances in support of its mission 

Read More about GuideStar’s Review 


USA Cares Evaluation

USA Cares received 20 out of 20 for the Better Business Bureaus’ Wise giving Alliance.


Key Staff

Bill Nelson – Executive Director  Bill is a native of North Carolina where he attended high school and college.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prior to being commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1972.  Nelson served on active duty for 20 years, retiring from the Navy in the rank of Commander in 1992.  During this time he served on a variety of ships from destroyers and frigates to aircraft carriers.  His service included combat action in Vietnam, Libya, and Beirut for which he received the Combat Action Ribbon, numerous meritorious achievement awards, and expeditionary medals.  He also was assigned to the Pentagon and the staff of the Secretary of the Navy where he worked as a Strategic Planner and later as an instructor at the Naval War College in Newport, RI.

Following active naval service, Nelson acquired several securities licenses and worked in the financial sevices industry as a financial planner.  He was the National District Manager of the Year in 2002 and remained in sales management for a number of years in both New England and Kentucky.  He culminated over 15 years in the securities field when he accepted the position of Executive Director for USA Cares, a Kentucky-based non-profit whose purpose is to aid military families in need.  He has held this position for 2 years during which time he has raised millions from individual donors and large foundations.

Mr. Nelson earned his Master’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and has been married for 33 years.  He is active in a variety of community endeavors including Boy Scouts (he and his son are both Eagles).  His two children and grandchildren reside in Kentucky.

John Miller – Director of Management  Following a 25-year career in retail management, John moved to nonprofit administration about 10 years ago.  He had previously been general manager of a retail chain, overseeing 110 units (movie theatres, video stores, cafes) before moving to a small nonprofit agency that built and/or relocated homes that were then sold to low-income, first-time homebuyers. Mr. Miller has extensive experience in human resources, financial management, information technology management, construction management, purchasing and marketing. He has 4 grown children and an extensive record of volunteerism in the community.

Bob Belknap – Director of Fund Development  Bob is the Director of Development for USA Cares.  He is married to Miriam is his wife of 26 years; he has two sons, Chris, 22 and Michael, 18.
Bob is an “Army Brat”, born at Fort Hood Texas.  His father retired at Fort Knox Kentucky.  Bob attended Western Kentucky University, and was commissioned a 2Lt in 1983.  His first duty assignment was at Fort Knox as a Quartermaster Officer.  Other assignments include: Fort Lee, Geoppingen Germany, Fort Monroe, and New Mexico Military Institute.  He served as a petroleum platoon, leader, Battalion S4, 1st Infantry Division Property Book Officer, Company Commander, Recruiting Operations Officer, and Senior ROTC Instructor.  After 11 years, Bob left the Army and moved to Elizabethtown KY, where he worked as the Director of Operations for Burger King for 9 years.  After Burger King, he worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters where he was the Branch Director for six years. 

Jennifer Robinson – Director of Assistance   Jennifer has been employed at USA Cares since 2007.  An “Army Brat” who attended 13 schools—Jennifer is a graduate of The Ohio State University and she has a Masters of Public Administration from Troy University. 
Jennifer has worked in the non-profit world for ten years in planning, fund development and programs.  In her work at USA Cares, Jennifer manages the day-to-day operations of the Assistance Division, overseeing the development and implementation of programs related to the needs of Service Members and their families; this includes the call center which handles all of the incoming requests for assistance. 


Hopeless Holiday Turns Merrier and Brighter

It’s two weeks before Christmas and a wounded Iraq veteran with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart wonders where to turn for help.  He is losing the home he shares with his two daughters in North Carolina and the power and phone bills are dangerously behind. 
John, a former Special Forces soldier serving in Iraq, was severely injured by a booby trap that sent 400 volts through his body.  Medevaced, John was left with a myriad of injuries including PTSD, COPD, cancer, cervical spine injuries, and post concussive headaches. On top of all this, he also sustained gunshot wounds.  John is rated by the Veterans Administration as 100% disabled and was doing okay until his spouse left him and the girls—the reduced income began to eat away at his ability to maintain the home.
Through a fortunate series of events involving a general officer and a wonderful ex-naval officer, John’s plight caught the attention of USA Cares and a local North Carolina charity.  Working together, the two organizations assessed the situation.  John’s lender refused to modify his mortgage loan—ironically ending the refusal letter with “thanks for banking with us”. 
USA Cares stepped in and began working with John to sort out his immediate needs.  Over $4,000 went to to bring the mortgage current, as well as payments to insurance and utility companies.  In all, USA Cares assisted John and his daughters with over $5,000 in direct financial support.  Attorney’s fees and medical bills for his daughter still need attention, and other organizations are stepping up to assist.
Christmas 2010 arrived looking a whole lot better than it had just a few weeks earlier.  John’s struggles continue—both with his disabilities and his finances—but he has friends who care.  His heroic and selfless service should merit something better than a foreclosure notice.


If you have a question that is not answered below, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will respond as soon as we can.

  1. Do you help everyone that comes to USA Cares for help?
  2. What happens to those who you can’t help?
  3. How much do your clients pay back to USA Cares?
  4. Do you sell or offer your client list to anyone else?
  5. Are you able to answer any questions in any other language than English?
  6. If a family is approved for help, how fast do they get the money?
  7. Does USA Cares have a “walk in” process?
  1. Do you pay your spokespersons?
  2. Can I schedule an event with your spokespersons?
  3. I know someone who I think would be a great spokesperson for USA Cares, what do I do?
  1. How much of my donation or contribution actually goes to assist military families?
  2. What kind of grants do you receive?
  3. Are you audited by an independent agency?
  4. Is that audit available to the public?
  5. Can I view your annual report?

 



USA Cares has deep roots in our nation’s military service. We are the parents, spouses and friends of those who wear the uniform. Our success is not based on how much funds we have raised, or how many families we have touched, it is about taking care of one family at a time, maintaining their privacy and dignity. We have done that with a strong Board of Directors, a compassionate staff and National Spokespersons who tell our story and assist us in raising funds.


Corporate Friends

Over the past six years, USA Cares has worked with many businesses across the nation to both help raise awareness, funds and support of our organization. If you belong to a business or corporation that would like more information about USA Cares, or would like to schedule a guest speaker to a large audience, please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

This is just a small sampling of the almost 2,000 corporations we have on file as Friends of USA Cares.


2010 Client Map

Each map point represents a city where USA Cares has provided clients with direct financial assistance

Each map point represents a city where USA Cares has provided clients with direct financial assistance


USA Cares IRS Form 990


Partners in Assistance

USA Cares has from the very start made efforts to work with other organizations, corporations and individuals to solve the family’s problem as quickly as possible. We are extremely proud of our association with them, and strive to maintain a responsive and be a good teammate with their efforts, always being mindful that it is the Veteran and family that comes first.


Grassroots Assistance Efforts

USA Cares recieves a number of offers to help military members through our organization by companies, groups and individuals. Some of them have exceeded even the most optomistic results. Some have been very touching. Here are some that are outside “fund raising” but contributed to the well-being of those who come to us for assistance.

LAPWRAP

This campaign started in 2005 when we were asked by someone working in a military hospital if we had any “little blankets” for some of the wounded so they could cover themselves when in a wheelchair without getting caught up in the wheels. A volunteer who was then working with USA Cares took it upon herself to contact local quilting clubs and other sewing clubs and the response exploded!

We have now sent over 3,000 of these “little blankets” (We call them Lapwraps) to military hospitals and VA centers across the nation and some to Landstuhl Germany to the military hospital there. The have been featured on the “Today Show” on NBC as well as in numerous press articles. If you would like more information about our Lapwrap program or want to help, please contact us at LAPWRAP and someone will contact you very soon. MORE about the USA Cares Lapwrap Campaign.

BRAVE BOXER

Brave Boxer started in 2005 when we were asked by someone working in a military hospital if we had any “little blankets” for some of the wounded so they could cover themselves when in a wheelchair without getting caught up in the wheels. A volunteer who was then working with USA Cares took it upon herself to contact local quilting clubs and other sewing clubs and the response exploded! If you are interested in how you might conduct a “Brave Boxer” campaign, please contact VOLUNTEER.


Basic Needs

The USA Cares Basic Needs Program offers Service Members who need assistance with an unexpected car repair or higher than usual utility bill.  It is not unusual for a National Guardsman or Reservist to take a significant loss of income when being called to active duty.  Additionally, some return home from their tour and must face the daunting task of finding a new job and still have bills to pay.

For some families, an error in the pay system or delays in processing have caused them to not receive income, a situation that may not be corrected for weeks.  The Quality of Life program ensures that the basic needs of the family are met until they are able to provide for themselves.  Funding from the Quality of Life program provides assistance for critical needs such as:  utilities, auto payments, insurance, auto repair and food.  The continued ability to meet the needs of military families during temporary financial strains is critical to our mission.


Warrior Treatment Today

Bridging Gaps to PTSD/TBI Treatment for Veterans

Warrior Treatment Today is a USA Cares program designed to bridge the gap between personal financial demands and the need to receive treatment.  Specifically, our program seeks to remove the financial barrier that exists for many service members who suffer from PTSD and/or TBI, but cannot afford to leave their employment for treatment.  National Guard and Reserve personnel are particularly vulnerable to this barrier as they resume their civilian lives upon return from deployment.  Should they be referred for treatment of a significant duration, they have to not only keep their jobs, but also acquire the dollars necessary to continue to meet their financial obligations.

USA Cares will take on the responsibility for paying essential household bills (rent/mortgage/utilities/car payment) while the service member is attending residential type PTSD/TBI treatment.  In so doing, USA Cares will facilitate attendance to mandated/recommended treatment programs by removing the financial obstacles many face today.  The recent Rand study suggests over 300,000 suffer from PTSD/TBI, with fewer than half of these cases actually identified.  Thus, the magnitude of the problem is significant.  We believe any program that will help diagnosed service members attend necessary treatment is of great value and deserves our full support.

Due to the potential size of the PTSD/TBI treatment problem, no one sector can be expected to adequately cope with the problem.  A public – private sector partnership is essential if this problem is to be resolved.  Military treatment facilities, the VA hospitals and clinics, and respected civilian hospitals must all work together to even begin to make a dent in the caseload.  USA Cares has teamed up with a Houston hospital, TIRR Memorial Herman, a leading rehabilitation facility, to provide care to TBI-type sufferers.  A fellow member of the Coalition for Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans, TIRR Foundation collaborated with TIRR Memorial Hermann to create the Project Victory program.  Project Victory provides treatment for military personnel, and veterans of recent military service, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, and who have screened positively for, or have been diagnosed with, post concussive symptoms or traumatic brain injury while in combat or stateside.  As good as the Project Victory program is, a financial barrier to an 8 to 10 week treatment program remains for many would-be attendees.  University Behavioral Health of El Paso, Texas has also joined with USA Cares as a provider of PTSD/TBI treatment to the military.  The basic structure of the Warrior Treatment Today Program is outlined below:

Stage 1: Identification and Verification

Scenario ONE:  Service members seeking support will come to USA Cares in our traditional manner via the World Wide Web and complete a simple application that details how we can contact them, and the nature of the problem or issue. The client will be contacted by our Staff, who will discuss the requirements and needs of the family.  Should the issue of PTSD/TBI be revealed by the client, the case will be passed to our Advocacy Center who will suggest screening (if it has not been done) and provide references to locate screening facilities.  The goal is to not let the family plunge into financial crisis.

Scenario TWO:  A service member is referred for residential PTSD/TBI treatment by competent medical authority (VA in the case of veterans, Title 32 Guard, and inactive Reserve).  He may have gone for screening as a result of Scenario ONE, or any other number of ways.  At the time of referral to residential treatment, the service member must be made aware of USA Cares and our program to help with finances while at treatment.  (Lacking the ability to support the family due to absence from work for an extended period, the referral will likely not be accepted/executed).  The service member applies to USA Cares under our Warrior Treatment Today program which includes the below general guidelines:

Qualifying Elements:

  • Injury is connected to service in Iraq or Afghanistan
  • Service member has been diagnosed by competent medical authorities, either military or civilian
  • Employment and income loss is not covered by medical or unemployment insurance
  • Family will be in danger of losing their home if they don’t receive assistance
  • Service member has been accepted into qualifying treatment center for recovery and rehabilitation

Stage II: Determining Requirements & Gaining Approval

  • USA Cares will assist in housing, food, utilities and transportation related costs as require
  • USA Cares will require documentation that supports the need
  • Food costs will be developed along the required amounts from the USDA, which an example says that a family of four requires about $518 a month
  • Case will be reviewed and approved by a USA Cares Virtual Committee

Stage III: Implementation and Assistance

  • Approved cases are moved to accounting where each month the approved amounts are paid directly to the provider
  • Incremental assistance can be extended out over the period of treatment not to exceed 180 days.
  • The Family Resource Coordinator will maintain contact with the client throughout the case length

In the future, USA Cares is working to involve other top flight civilian hospitals in the program.  Working with our partner, Mercy Flights, we can transport an invisibly wounded warrior anywhere in the US at no cost to the service member.  We envision a network of such hospitals all working to treat the enormous caseload that PTSD and TBI represent from today’s war.  Bound together by information technology that can quickly handle referrals and locate treatment centers, this program is exportable to any state.  We believe that a number of states will consider this opportunity to give their state’s military the treatment they deserve while not endangering their financial future.  This program is being initiated in Texas using facilities in Houston, El Paso, and, hopefully, Dallas.  The Texas program will serve as a model for other states.  No American service member and their family should have to choose between paying the bills and getting treatment.  USA Cares plans to see that they don’t.


USA Cares provides financial and advocacy assistance to post 9/11 active duty US military service personnel, veterans and their families. We assist all branches of service, all ranks and components and treat all with privacy and dignity in appreciation for their service and sacrifice. We never charge fees nor accept repayment and rely on donations from private citizens, businesses and foundations for all funding.

Our Goal:

Our goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency by giving “a hand up not a hand out.” We strive to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families.


For our donors, our goal is to give the American people an effective and trusted means of Sharing in the Sacrifice of our service members and their families who are giving so much for our nation.

Operational Philosophy:

Services are free to service men and women and their families without obligation to repay. Financial assistance is not given directly to service members or their families; instead, payments are made to mortgage lenders, utility companies, and other vendors. Each family accepted for assistance is assigned an advocate from our family resource center who assures that assistance is timely and effective. These advocates often mobilize additional support for families from other military assistance groups, and the service member’s community of local organizations, stores and church groups.

Our History:

Kentuckiana Cares was an idea brought to life by the management of one TV station in Louisville, Kentucky, WAVE-3 (TV) (NBC). Through their efforts, they teamed with the Mid-South Division of the Kroger Food Stores and the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army.

This team of media, retail and professional organizations demonstrated that a difference can be made with the simplest of ideas and efforts. The efforts of Kentuckiana Cares are provided under our History, but suffice it to say that the nearly $121,000 that was raised was well spent. The folks who helped by buying a yard sign can know that they made an impact on that young trooper who, when he called home, learned that his community wrapped their arms around his wife and child, and that nobody went hungry. Simple things like that mean a lot to anyone wearing our nation’s uniform.

We can’t quit on our young men and women, or their families. The call up of our reserve components continues to increase and the demands on our active duty forces are at the highest levels since the Vietnam War. It is not our desire to be part of any dialogue on the correctness of what we are doing in Iraq or elsewhere. It is our desire to continue to make sure that our families know they are not alone.


USA Cares, Inc.

PO Box 759, Radcliff, Kentucky 40159

(800) 773-0387

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to email us.



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