ALCOAST 153/09
COMDTNOTE 5760
SUBJ: COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
1.  THE COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE (CGMA) FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
IS SET TO BEGIN APRIL 1ST.  CGMA IS THE COAST GUARDS OWN FINANCIAL
RELIEF ORGANIZATION.  WITH A LEGACY DATING BACK TO 1924, CGMA
CELEBRATES 85 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COAST GUARD COMMUNITY.
2.  THE CAMPAIGN THEME THIS YEAR IS "LOOKING AFTER OUR OWN".
WHETHER RESPONDING TO WIDESPREAD NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE THE
HURRICANES LAST FALL IN THE GULF COAST OR TO THE THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARISE EACH YEAR THROUGHOUT THE COAST
GUARD, CGMA HELPS US LOOK AFTER OUR OWN BY GETTING TIMELY AND
PRACTICAL FINANCIAL HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.  THANKS TO YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS, MORE THAN 5,900 COAST GUARD INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOTALING OVER 4.9 MILLION DOLLARS IN
INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND FINANCIAL GRANTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
3.  I ENCOURAGE BROAD SUPPORT FOR THIS YEARS CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN
GOAL IS ONCE AGAIN TO: (1) TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE COAST
GUARD COMMUNITY (MILITARY, CIVILIAN AND AUXILIARY) IS AWARE OF CGMA
AND THE ASSISTANCE IT CAN PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT AND (2) TO
PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WORTHWHILE
ORGANIZATION.  DURING THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, UNIT KEY WORKERS
WILL CONTACT MILITARY MEMBERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES LOCALLY.
SELECTED RESERVE MEMBERS, RETIRED MILITARY MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF
THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY WILL BE CONTACTED SEPARATELY BY DIRECT
MAIL.
4.  ADMIRAL ALLEN HAS RECENTLY STATED, "IT IS OUR DUTY TO TAKE
CARE OF THOSE CLOSE TO US...OUR FAMILIES, OUR SHIPMATES, AND OUR
COWORKERS."  CGMA HAS PROVEN ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS A PRACTICAL WAY
TO HELP ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL NEED.  PLEASE
JOIN ME IN HELPING ENSURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO PERFORM ITS VITAL
ROLE WITHIN THE COAST GUARD COMMUNITY.
5.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CGMA, TALK WITH YOUR CAMPAIGN KEY
WORKER, CONTACT A LOCAL CGMA REPRESENTATIVE OR VISIT THE CGMA WEB
SITE: WWW.CGMAHQ.ORG.
6.  RADM JODY A. BRECKENRIDGE, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN
RESOURCES, SENDS.
7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.