NOTRE DAME SENIOR ALUMNI (NDSA)
GOD, COUNTRY, NOTRE DAME INITIATIVE
Veterans Health Administration
Clinic/Hospital Assistance Program
Military Clinic/Hospital Assistance Program
Military Support Programs
God, Country, Notre Dame Endowed Scholarship Fund
“Serving Those Who Serve”
Background:
After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the NDSA developed the God, Country, Notre Dame (GCND) Initiative to unite and engage Senior Alumni (55 and over) and the extended Notre Dame family in prayer and support of those serving to protect the freedom of the American people. Through this initiative, Notre Dame Clubs, Classes, Alumni, Students and Friends of Notre Dame are called upon to render assistance and support to the Military and their families through four (4) programs:
- Veterans Health Administration Clinic and Hospital Assistance Program
- Military Clinic and Hospital Assistance Program
- Military/Troop Support Program
- God, Country, Notre Dame Endowed Scholarship
Benefits of the Programs to Military Personnel, the Club and Individual Club Member:
VA and Military Medical Facilities: The GCND initiatives and programs are designed to support the facility in its mission of care to hospitalized service members and to provide a brief pause, in a personal way, from their daily routines
Military/Troop Support Program: Designed to give direct support to deployed service members in the form of gift packages containing necessities and comfort items that may be in short supply in forward areas. There are many variations of this program.
GCND Endowed Scholarship Fund: Provides financial assistance to attend Notre Dame for Military Personnel and Veterans who have served in combat and qualified dependents, spouses and children of service members that have lost their lives in Combat.
Supporting Club and its Members: Provides an opportunity to “give back” one’s knowledge, talents and experience, in the spirit of Civil War Chaplin Father William
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Corby, CSC, and the vision of Fr. Louis J. Putz, CSC, to those men and women who have given so much of themselves in the defense of freedom.
Veterans Health Administration Clinic and Hospital Assistance Program (VA):
Under the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA is supported by VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, Community Service Programs, Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Veteran (VET) Centers.
Health care services are provided nationwide to in excess of 70 million eligible veterans, family members or survivors of veterans in all the contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
In order to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion, the VA actively seeks volunteers and operates the largest volunteer program in the Federal Government, supplementing staff and resources in all areas of patient care and administration. Virtually all VA facilities have “Volunteer Coordinators” that will provide detailed information on volunteer opportunities and assist individual and/or groups to begin a VA Volunteer Assistance Program. (www.va.gov).
Military (Army, Navy/Marines and Air Force Clinic and Hospital Assistance Program:
Under the Department of Defense, the Army, Navy and Air Force operate hospitals and medical clinics in the United States and at many overseas locations. For security and other reasons, volunteer opportunities may be somewhat limited at on base facilities but are still plentiful. Club members who are Retired Military with a United States Uniformed Service Identification card (DD2) will have no trouble entering these facilities. And there are several off base clinics/hospitals, similar to a VA facility, located in many areas.
The ND Club of San Diego (www.ndsandiego.org) has programs in place at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base Naval Hospital) and at the off base San Diego (Balboa) Naval Medical Center. As an example of providing an educational activity, the Club made presentations on Credit Card abuse at a class of wounded Marines and staff at the Balboa Naval Medical Center.
Other Typical VA and Military Clinic and Hospital Volunteer Assistance Programs and Resources:
VA and Military Volunteer Hospital Assistance Programs include a variety of services and activities based upon the needs of a particular facility. Typical volunteer opportunities and programs that could be incorporated into a Club program include:
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- Regular patient visitation.
- Patient transportation.
- Staffing information desk.
- Performing clerical functions.
- Donation of personal hygiene and comfort items.
- Facility maintenance.
- Organizing and providing entertainment.
- Professional services, i.e. accounting, data processing, library, etc.
- Organizing and leading educational activities.
- Fisher Houses, a “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at VA and Military Medical Centers. (www.fisherhouse.org/aboutUs ) and (www.militaryliving.com).
- Wounded Warrior Centers located at several VA and Military Hospitals (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
- Operation Helping Hand (OHH) located in Tampa, FL (www.moaa.org).
- VA Seamless Transition Program (www.seamlesstransition.va.com).
- Location of Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Corps/Coast Guard bases in the United States and Puerto Rico and around the world. (Temporary Military Lodging Around the World, available from www.militaryliving.com and Military Exchanges, www.milexch.com, or catalog@milexch.com (Military ID Required).
The Military/Troop Support Program:
Through the efforts of Club Members and friends of Notre Dame, the Military/Troop Support Program provides troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and offshore locations, with the “extras”, even basic needs, that may be in short supply in the desert and remote locations. Items are shipped as individual “Gift Packages” and include toiletries, white sox, canned meats, dried fruit, snacks and magazines, etc. These needs are met by product and monetary donations. Club volunteers meet periodically to prepare the packages for shipping. These packages transmit to the troops the love and gratitude of family and friends at home while bringing maybe a little joy into their day.
The Notre Dame Clubs of Fort Lauderdale (www.ndfortlauderdale.com) and Southwest Florida (www.ndswfl.com) are two (2) Clubs that have been active in this program. There are many variations of the Military/Troop Support Program and Clubs are encouraged to use their imagination.
Other Typical Volunteer Programs and Services that could be incorporated into a GCND Military/Troop Support Program:
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- USO locations at commercial airports and Air Mobility Command passenger
terminals (www.uso.org).
Establishing a GCND, VA/Military Hospital Assistance Program or a Military/Troop Support Program:
- Establish a Senior Alumni Coordinator (SAC) position to focus on the four (4) NDSA Initiatives, God, Country, Notre Dame (GCND), Hospital Support (HS), Catholic Community Professional Assistance Program (CCPAP) and Cancer Awareness Program (CAP)_Please Consider making the SAC a member of the Club Board of Directors.
- Recruit a Chairperson for each of the GCND Programs.
- Contact the Volunteer Coordinator in a facility convenient to your Club. In the case of the VA (www.va.gov), 800-827-1000 or Military Hospitals and Medical Centers. (www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Military.htm ). They will be happy to talk to you.
- Build your Team by announcing the start-up of the new program to Club Members. Invite their participation.
- Once your Team is in place, contact the Volunteer Coordinator to arrange a meeting at the facility. It will help your Team Members to better understand their needs and to identify individual areas of interest. If allowed by the facility, have Team Members wear Club shirts etc. Use your presence to build your Club.
- With Team Members, plan a program that responds to the needs of the Facility and to the interests and availability of your team.
- Whenever possible and particularly at the onset of the program, volunteers should work in pairs to facilitate interaction and communications with the patient. Functions such as accounting, however, are best performed by individuals
- To facilitate scheduling patient visitations, consider establishing a regular schedule, i.e. the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm.
- Periodically meet with the Team to give praise, offer encouragement, review the program and make adjustments.
God, Country, Notre Dame (GCND) Endowed Scholarship Fund:
The NDSA Board of Directors has joined with the University of Notre Dame, Director of Development, (574-631-7164) and the Director, Student Financial Strategies, (574-631-6436) to establish the NDSA, GCND Endowed Scholarship Fund. This Scholarship provides financial assistance to Military Personnel, Veterans and their Dependents. Military Personnel and Veterans qualify by having voluntarily served their country in a combat environment in the Middle East or elsewhere. Included are those that have suffered disabling injuries while serving in combat, those who have served and become a casualty due to special Operations or terrorist attacks. Also included is the spouse and children of those service members that have lost their lives in combat.
Applying for the GCND Scholarship:
Students applying for Undergraduate Admission (574-631-7505) to the University of Notre Dame, who wish to be considered for the GCND Scholarship, must submit a copy of the following documents to the Director, Student Financial Strategies; (574-631-6436.
- The applicants or qualifying parent’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation From Active Duty)
- A cover letter to the Director, Student Financial Strategies from the qualifying individual stating that the service connected disabling injuries were sustained
While serving in a combat environment beyond the continental Limits of the
United States (location), or as a result of terrorist activity while deployed to
(location).
OR
- A cover letter to the Director of Student Financial Strategies from the surviving dependant of a service member who lost his/her life, or who went missing, while serving in a combat environment beyond the Continental Limits of the United states (location) or as a result of terrorist activity while deployed (location).
The selection of students to receive the CGND Scholarship “will be made by the University from among those undergraduates who have shown outstanding performance or bring special qualities or abilities to the University, with special consideration being given to academic achievement, financial need, character and qualities of leadership”. In addition, preference for the GCND Scholarship will be provided in accordance with the following Detailed Summary of Qualifications.
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Detailed Summary of Qualifications:
Dependents of those active duty service men and women who have lost their lives in combat action, wounded and or disabled due to wounds received on active duty with
The Armed Forces of the United State. A preference shall be given in the selection process to dependents of a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, then
- Veterans with disabling injuries (loss of limb, blind, etc.) sustained while serving on active duty as described above, then
- Dependents of those missing in action, then
- Disabled service men and women serving on active duty, then
- Disabled, active duty and retired members of the armed services and their dependents to include those active duty members eligible to retire, then
- Veterans (with priority given to those listed above).
Dependents are defined as the spouse, children or stepchildren, of the service personnel set forth above. To be eligible for consideration award of the scholarship, the spouse, children or stepchildren, must be no older than 26 years of age, except for the spouse who has no age limitation.
Eligibility/Definitions.
For the purpose of clarity in determining the eligibility for the award of the NDSA GCND Scholarship, the following defines those active duty personnel and veterans. The source for qualifying a service Member is a DD form 214, (Report of Separation From Active Duty.
Eligibility for award of the Scholarship through Active Duty Service is any of the following:
- The Armed Services of the United States, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and Reserve components thereof whose members have served in a combat environment during times of armed conflict.
- The National Guard, only if sustained injury or death occurred while serving in a combat environment during times of armed conflict.
- The Coast Guard, only if in a combat environment during times of armed conflict. (Although often listed as a branch of service under the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard actually falls under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, the Coast guard may be placed under the Department of the Navy.
- The Merchant Marine if placed under the Department of the Navy during war or periods of armed conflict and in a combat environment.
You may support the GCND Scholarship Fund by clicking on the Make a Gift link.
Questions and Resources.
If you have questions related to the NDSA GCND Initiatives, including the Scholarship, please contact the following:
- Charles A. (Chuck) Bennett ‘55, Coordinator, GCND, 239-454-7083; 239-980-1610 (cell); 239-454-8629 (fax); cabennND55@aol.com, www.ndsenioralumni.org .
- Frank H. Whitton ’56, Senior Advisor to GCND, 760-438-9400; fhwnd56@roadrunner.com.
- Craig J. Horvath ’88, Director, Reunion Giving and Volunteers, University of Notre Dame, 574-631-7566, chorvat1@nd.edu (For the GCND Scholarship Fund).
Revised 7-26-11
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