2020 Recipients

Our main reason for forming this foundation is to give back to our brave Veterans. 

Our Recipient Committee members meet, review, and discuss recommendations.
We look to God to guide us in this process.

The definition of Veteran, as defined by the government, is complicated, full of red tape, and is quite
the bureaucracy. Many Veterans fall through the cracks and qualify for little or no benefits at all. That
is where OAG comes in. Working with Wisconsin Veterans Network, we find out what is needed for a
Veteran and we follow through with helping in any way we can.

"100% of your donation is on its way to a Veteran."
We thank all of these Veterans for their service.

 

A few weeks ago, VetsNet put the word out that they are short on funds due to the COVID virus. Donations are down and their emergency assistance fund is at a critically low point. Their needs are overwhelmingly focused on housing and food. We always help out VetsNet with funds going to individual Veterans in need, so we decided to answer this “umbrella” call too, and help a number of Veterans.

With our donation I included a note with just one question "Could half of this check be used for Christmas presents for the children of Veterans?" When I received the answer, yes, I felt complete joy. I am told that some "Elves" from VetsNet purchased all sorts of children's gifts and since my note, 9 Veterans and their families have come to VetsNet with compelling financial needs, and all went home with presents for their children.

Thank you OAG members for your donations which helps with needed assistance for our Veterans and has allowed some children of Veterans to still have a Merry Christmas in these bizarre times we are living in.
 

We've helped out Custom Canines in the past and we're here for them again. They are dedicated to raising, training, and giving service dogs to individuals with disabilities, free of charge. From military Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, children with autism, people who are visually impaired or wheelchair bound, they enable people to live fuller lives with their canine partners by their side. OAG is very proud to donate to help those who have difficulties managing everyday tasks that you and I might take for granted. Thank you OAG members for your donations. We all are making in difference.

 

Well isn't this a fine Merry Christmas! US Navy Veteran Boyce, served 4 years in some out of the way places. One week ago, his landlord notified him that he sold the property and that he had to vacate the premises by December 14th. Wow! So he found another place to live but at this time, did not have enough for the security deposit. If OAG did not come through, he would be on the streets. Well, OAG did come through and paid for his security deposit, so Veteran Boyce will have a Merry Christmas after all. This is why OAG was founded. To give back to those who have sacrificed so much for us. Thanks OAG members! We'll keep doing the small stuff that means so much to our Veterans.

 

We were asked to help out VetsNet with some much needed Pick & Save gift cards for our Veterans. These gift cards are given to our Veterans when they pass through VetsNet to find jobs or housing. With them, they purchase personal hygiene products, laundry detergent, paper & pens, food, etc.

 

We were able to purchase enough gift cards to help out quite a few Veterans. I received a call from VetsNet today saying that a Veteran they were helping, just lost it when presented with a gift card. He said “You just don’t know how much this means to me!!” He had been homeless for just over a year when he found out about VetsNet. They found him housing but he needed more to get on his feet. With our gift card, he will be able to set himself up with all the little stuff that means so much.

 

As always, we are so proud to help out this Veteran and the many more that will come in the days and months ahead. Thank you all for your support of the One Act of Giving foundation. Know that your help means so much to our Veterans.

 

After the September 11th attacks, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Mario D. felt a calling to serve our nation. He served in three deployments: Afghanistan in 2003 - 2004, and two tours in Iraq in 2005 - 2006 and 2008 - 2009. It was in 2009 when his unit's vehicle was hit with an IED (improvised explosive device) and he suffered a massive hit to his head. 

In 2010, Sergeant Davis began to show signs of loss of balance, strength, and movement on his left side. At just 28 years-old, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which doctors believe was a direct result of the traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder he endured while in service to our country. He medically retired in 2013 after 11 years of service. Davis received numerous medals and commendations during his time in the Army, including the Combat Infantryman Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

Sergeant Mario is married with 3 children. His wife serves as his full time care giver. The VA covers many of his medical bills but not all and they are adding up. So much so that they were behind on their rent. Facing eviction, the One Act of Giving foundation stepped in and paid that bill removing that burden from their lives. Moving forward, with the help of other resources, their income now is such that they can live comfortably.

We are so proud to help our Sergeant Mario and his family. We thank him for his service to our country. He has sacrificed so much to protect us. Thank you all for your donations to OAG. We do the small stuff that means so much to our brave Veterans.

 

Thousands of service men and women in the military, and their spouses, put their trust and hope in God. Frequent relocation, separation, and other unexpected changes make it especially important for service members and their families to look to God as their rock.  

Today OAG donated to The Word Among Us. They support our military men and women in uniform by giving them free global access to their monthly pamphlet of complete Catholic Mass and Daily Meditation. This pamphlet brings faith to service men and women who lack access to the sacraments. 

OAG members, with your help, we are able to help The Word Among Us bring God closer to our military service men and women. Thank you all for supporting OAG to help our military where needed. Blessings.

 

I received notice that Private First Class Carolyn P. needed some help so the One Act of Giving foundation jumped in. Carolyn spent 3 years in the United States Army stationed in some pretty dicey places. She is 60% service connected disabled. When her landlord decided to raise her rent by $160.00 per month, she just couldn’t afford that. VetsNet stepped in and found her a larger place to live, at the rent she was paying before this latest raise in rent. But she didn’t have enough for the security deposit so we took care of that and took care of her first month’s rent. This burden was thrown at her and we all helped to lighten the load on her shoulders. 

OAG could not do this without your continued help. I never know how to say thank you in a way that conveys how much we appreciate you so I’ll just say, thank you so much for being a part of this foundation. 100% of your donations will reach a Veteran this year.

 

Thanks to all our members, we were able to donate to the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Relief Fund to help our in need Veterans. WVCC supports and promotes nonprofit organizations serving the needs of Veterans and military service members in Wisconsin. Everyone is hurting during this COVID-19 outbreak, and that includes our Veterans.  

Whether it's housing service providers forced to shut down shelters, food pantries being shut down or scaled back, employment resources overwhelmed by increased demand, or the disruption of services for mental health care and treatment, Veterans across Wisconsin are being impacted because these organizations are not able to meet their needs. 

All proceeds will go to nonprofit social services providing housing, health and wellness, and economic empowerment services to Veterans, and to service members and their families. Thank you OAG members for making this donation possible. We’re all doing what we can do to help.

 

Everyone is struggling with this Corona Virus and our local Veterans are not excluded. On Thursday, I received a call from VetsNet asking if we could help out with purchasing grocery gift cards for our Veterans. So, on behalf of all of us, I said of course. Their food bank is nearly depleted so they’re going the gift card route for awhile. We were able to purchase 2 weeks of grocery gift cards for 12 Veterans, or 6 Veterans and their families depending on who comes in for these gift cards. I agreed to help out again if they can’t get enough organizations to pitch in. Usually they do pretty well with donations. Thank you OAG members once again for your continued support of our local Veterans. This means so much to them.

 

Corporal Robert W. is a 33 year old Veteran who moved back to his home town of Milwaukee, with his service dog, from Texas for a job at the Milwaukee VA. VetsNet found him housing and the Veteran was able to pay his security deposit and first month’s rent (February) but his service dog became ill and the veterinary bills set him back. He is now a month behind in rent (March) and won’t be able to pay April’s rent. The dog is recuperating but it really took a toll on his budget. He served 6 years in the Army and medically retired as a Corporal after deploying to Afghanistan for 1 year. 

VetsNet reached out to donors to help cover the cost of March and April’s rent at which point he will be able to cover the cost himself from that point on.

OAG understands that veterinary costs can add up quickly and a Veteran needing a service dog is naturally essential to their well being. We were able to pay his back rent and we understand that another donor was able to make sure his April rent was paid.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Robert and we hope your service dog and you spend many, many years together. And thank you OAG members for helping out another Veteran needing a hand up.

 

Veteran Marie L. spent 6 years in the Army during Desert Storm and left with an honorable discharge. She’s 60% disability rated, caused by service to our country, and works for Impact 2-1-1, the emergency line in Milwaukee for people in crisis. Often, her disability makes it hard for her to go to work. She could work from home if she had a laptop. When OAG heard this we went to work and were able to find a really great deal on a used laptop with lots of bells and whistles. Talk about putting a smile on someone's face! She was elated. Now when she is unable to physically get to work, she doesn't miss a beat, or a paycheck. Thanks to all OAG members for making this happen for Marie who sacrificed 6 years of her life for us. Thank you Marie for your service!

 

I attended a meeting the other night regarding how OAG can help our Veterans. After the meeting a Veteran (Norm) approached me with a sad story of how he is housing an Army Veteran who served in Afghanistan (Arnie). Norm is on a fixed income and really doesn't have extra money to support another person, but told me "I'll do anything to help another Veteran". Norm is a class act and it was an honor meeting him. He asked if I could help out with some groceries. Naturally I said yes but then I said "I'll do you one better!" His eyes lit up. I asked if he had ever heard of VetsNet and the answer was no. I told him to take Arnie there and both of you will benefit from their help. Long story short, I just found out that VetsNet found Arnie housing, a part time job, and is helping him with receiving VA benefits and medical help. VetsNet does some remarkable work and we are proud to be partnered with them to do whatever OAG can do to help our Veterans. So Norm doesn't have to worry any longer about his fellow Veteran and Arnie is on the road to a better life. Quite an evening to be part of. Thanks to VetsNet, thanks to you OAG members, and many thanks to Norm and Arnie for their service to our country.

 

AMVETS Post 37......
We were able to donate to Post 37 again this year to help with the many kind things they do for our Veterans. They coordinate with the VA and take Veterans out for pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, out to county area parks, movies, or maybe just a drive down Lake Drive. These Veterans are mostly WWII and Korean War Veteran’s between the age of 85 years old to 97 years old. They do not get out of the VA often enough and we’re honored to be able to give them some time away from the VA. Among the many events planned that OAG is helping out with this year is a trip to Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc. Gentlemen, enjoy the planned events for you this year and thank you for your service to our country.

 

Army Private 1st Class Keenan M. is currently under going cancer treatment. The veteran lives off $360 a month. Hudvash pays the majority of his rent, leaving the veteran responsible for the rest. Due to an error in VA pay, the veteran only received $200 for the month of January. VetsNet covered 1 month of his rent and provided a $20 bus card and a couple local food gift cards. Once this bus card runs out, the veteran will not have funds for bus travel to his cancer treatments. The veteran also doesn’t have any money left for the month. So OAG stepped in and provided 3 months worth of bus passes (it goes on a card) 3 months rent and a gift card for 1 month worth of groceries and some walking around money. We hope the VA gets his benefits straightened out soon and we hope and pray his cancer goes into remission. Thank you for your service Keenan and may God bless you.

 

We pray for all our Veterans.

 

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