News & Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       CONTACT: John Grady, 703-250-4869

                  “GIVE-BACK-24” EVENTS TO BATTLE “INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR”

Code of Support Foundation Announces June 9-10 Fundraiser to Help Troops Suffering from PTSD and TBI, Issues Nationwide Call for Participating Events

MCLEAN, VA Apr 23, 2012—The Code of Support Foundation (COSF) announced today a nationwide call for participating events to be part of a June 9-10 “Flag Day Give-Back-24 Challenge”  fundraising weekend to help our troops, veterans and military families battle the “Invisible Wounds of War,” including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) .   The goal of Give-Back-24 is to significantly increase the private-sector support resources available to the troops and their families and to actively engage the public in giving back by making pledges to support the less-than-1 percent who selflessly serve and sacrifice.

According to Major General (Ret.) Alan Salisbury, Chairman and CEO of Code of Support Foundation, now more than ever, every American needs to do their part in supporting the troops. “In this time of declining resources, the need for private-sector help is actually increasing,” Salisbury said, “especially in areas like PTSD and TBI where government resources are insufficient, and the troops are often reluctant to use them.”

The anchor Give-Back-24 event is a “Ride Around the Clock” motorcycle ride, organized by Patriot Guard Rider Lisa Markle, that will see a dedicated group of bikers cover a nearly 1000-mile circuit from Arlington, VA through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and back to Arlington in a 24-hour period beginning at 9 am on Saturday, June 9, and ending at 9 am on Sunday, June 10.

“We’re inviting Americans all over the country to create events for that weekend to generate pledges, Salisbury continued.  “Events can be anything from riding, walking, dancing, to Scrabble playing and beyond.  They can be just a few hours long or last all weekend.  Our only requirement is that they run some time during the June 9-10 weekend. Groups and individuals can use their imaginations to create interesting and exciting activities that the public will support.” Full details can be found on the web at www.giveback24.org .

COSF Executive Director Kristina Kaufmann, herself a military spouse, said: “We have vetted five outstanding non-profit organizations as our beneficiaries for Give-Back-24, all dedicated to the mental health of service members and their families.  These include Give an Hour, Not Alone, Project Sanctuary, Family of a Vet, and the Thomas Jerome House.  One hundred percent of the funds pledged will go to these organizations with no administrative deductions of any kind.”

Pledges may be made in advance through the www.giveback24.org  web site, and those who organize participating events may register their events at the same site.  Each participating event has its own web page for receiving pledges. Questions may be sent to gb24@codeofsupport.org.

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CONTACT: John Grady, 703-250-4869, oDava Guerin, 215-262-0

ENCOURAGING YOUNG AMERICANS TO VALUE THE MILITARY

Code of Support Foundation is Launching a New Program to Encourage the Nation’s Youth to Appreciate Military Service.

MCLEAN, VA Feb. 13, 2012—In an effort to help young people become aware of the sacrifices that military members and their families make on a daily basis, The Code of Support Foundation (COSF) is launching a series of nationwide design contests for students with the theme of “Service, Sacrifice and Support.”   The goal of the program is to increase awareness among young Americans of the service and sacrifices of the nation’s armed forces, military families, and veterans, and to help the public understand the need to support them during wartime and beyond.

According to Major General (Ret.) Alan Salisbury, founder, Chairman and CEO of Code of Support Foundation, now more than ever, every American needs to reach out to military members and their families. “In this time of declining resources, and with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down, the need is even greater to make sure that those who have sacrificed so much can still be supported by the American people, especially the younger generation, Salisbury said. “With this contest, we hope to motivate young people to become part of the solution, involved in programs like this that give them an insight into what serving  your country really means.”

“Students will be asked to design a single poster, or a series of from one to four posters around the theme of service, sacrifice and support,” Salisbury added.

Executive director of COSF, Kristina Kaufmann, and a military spouse said: “We hope to convey a message that helps young Americans, especially those who have no connection with the military, to understand the sacrifices that our military service members, family members and veterans make on behalf of the rest of us, and their needs for public support. We also hope to instill the value of service, and hope that young people grow up with that as a core value.

The Service, Sacrifice and Support Contest series will kick- off on Valentine’s Day, with a poster design contest as the first of four that are planned over the next two years.

Three student  divisions have been established, including: elementary/middle School, high School, and college (undergraduate and full-time) students.  Each division will award cash prizes for first, second and third- place winners, with prizes ranging from $200 to $1000.  Entries may be submitted by individuals or classes.

Contest  submissions may focus on a single aspect of this theme (e.g., military children or veterans), or the broad spectrum, or anything in between.

Entries may be submitted beginning on February 14, and must be received not later than April 13^th, 2012.  Finalists will be announced and posted on the web on April 27, at which time web voting will begin.  Winners will be announced on May 11^th, 2012.  Full details of the contest are available on the contest web site, www.codeofsupport.org/contest, which is also the site where entries must be submitted and web voting will take place.

Background: The Code of Support Foundation is dedicated to bridging the gap between the American people and our Armed Forces.  It’s mission is to ensure that America’s military communities (including our troops, wounded warriors, military families and veterans) have the necessary support resources available to them so that they can fulfill their commitment to serve our nation and defend our freedom.  The foundation, a 501(C3), was established in 2010, and helps identify, vet and support other non-profit organizations that support military communities.. The foundation has also created a “Code of Support” for our troops intended to help all Americans give meaning to the words “Support Our Troops.”  The Code of Support parallels the military “Code of Conduct” which guides all service members.  In the first article of the Code of Conduct, our troops pledge that they are prepared to give their lives in our defense.  The Code of Support is a simple set of promises that all Americans can make to our armed forces (less than 1%) in return.

The foundation’s charter sponsors include: NASCAR; Noblis, Inc; Pragmatics, Inc. and By Light Professional IT Services.

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COSF Executive Director, Kristina Kaufmann, is the subject of a feature story in today’s Martha’s Vineyard Times (mvtimes.com).  The story covers her experiences as an Army wife, how she became an advocate for military families, and her expanded role as executive director of the Code of Support Foundation.

eWomenNetwork Foundation has launched a campaign to generate a million letters of gratitude to veterans on 11/11/11.  After you have signed the Code of Support, we suggest you go to their pledge site and pledge to send your letter.  This is one more way you can get involved in supporting our troops!

CNN’s Headline News (HLN) network aired a nice segment tonight on the Relay and the Code of Support.  Watch it at this link:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/09/12/jvm-campaign-99.hln

MCLEAN, Va. – August 24, 2011–More than 25 special events will take place during the Code of Support Foundation’s “Patriots & Heroes: Pacific to Potomac Relay” that will enlist thousands of Americans across the nation. As part of “Campaign 99” which puts meaning to the phrase “Support Our Troops”, these events will recognize a number of individuals in the local areas for their contributions to members of the armed services, veterans and their families.

Maj. Gen. Alan Salisbury, USA, Ret., founder of the Code of Support Foundation, said, “We will be presenting certificates of appreciation from the Foundation to individuals chosen by event organizers and local community groups, civic organizations and clubs for their contributions to our effort.  These “Home Town Heroes” are representatives of the thousands who have served their country quietly and proudly for generations.”

“Campaign 99” stands for the 99 percent of Americans who have no connection to the armed forces but want to reach out to the 1 percent, our men and women in uniform, who have pledged their lives, if necessary, to defend the nation.

The “Patriots & Heroes: Pacific to Potomac Relay,” begins September 3, 2011 in Oceanside, CA, with a rally that includes a “drop-in” by the United States Parachute Association. Nine days later, on September 11, 2011, the relay will conclude at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA.

The Patriot Guard Riders will ride in escort of the capsule holding the Code of Support during the Relay, which will be delivered to the Riders by the United States Parachute Association. At the end of the Relay, Foundation officials will present the capsule, representing thousands of signatures pledged during the stops along the relay, to Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

One of the largest local events will be in Richmond, Virginia, September 9 and 10 at the Richmond International Raceway (RIR). During the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, officials from NASCAR and the raceway will sign the Code of Support and encourage the 100,000 fans in attendance and visitors to the event’s Fan Fest to sign the Code of Support. NASCAR is a partner and a sponsor of the “Patriots & Heroes Pacific-to-Potomac Relay”, and RIR is a sponsor of the Code of Support Foundation.

“We see these local events as crucial in energizing the public to sign the Code of Support, which is patterned after the services’ Code of Conduct, and energizing them to become members of the Corps of Support for Our Troops by pledging to volunteer for or donate to organizations that help service members, veterans and their families,” says General Salisbury.

Foundation officials said the goal is to have 1 million Americans sign the Code of Support at events along the way or online at www.codeofsupport.org between now and Memorial Day, 2012. A Relay schedule that is being continually updated is also available on the Code of Support website.  All events are free.

Cross-Country Motorcycle Relay to Put Meaning Into Phrase ‘Support Our Troops.’

MCLEAN, Va. — The Code of Support Foundation kicks off its “Campaign 99”on September 3rd  with a nine-day cross-country motorcycle relay, the “Patriots & Heroes Pacific-to-Potomac Relay,” accumulating pledges from thousands of Americans who want to put meaning into the phrase, “Support Our Troops.”

The relay by the Patriot Guard Riders rolls from Oceanside, Calif., near Camp Pendleton, to the Pentagon where the signed pledges to the Code of Support will be delivered personally to Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sunday, Sept. 11, the 10^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The relay will run through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, stopping for pledge events in communities and near military installations along the way.

On the West Coast, the event will start with a skydiving team from the United States Parachute Association (USPA) dropping in to Oceanside and handing off the special scroll to the motorcyclists.

A highlight on the East Coast will be a special presentation of the Code at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on the evening of Sept. 10 at the Richmond International Raceway before an expected crowd of more than 100,000.

The campaign by the not-for-profit educational association draws its name from the 99 percent of Americans who have no direct connection with the armed services, but are protected by the 1 percent who have pledged their lives, if necessary, to defend the United States.

Maj. Gen. Alan Salisbury, USA, Ret., and the foundation’s chief executive officer, said, “The Code of Support is modeled on the Code of Conduct that every service member swears to live by. What we are trying to do is build a Corps of Support for service members, veterans and their families. This is a goal of First Lady Michelle Obama’s and Doctor Jill Biden’s ‘Joining Forces’ initiatives.”

“The Code of Support Foundation is providing a mechanism where people who want to help can find selected organizations – some large, some small – to either contribute to or volunteer their time and talent.”

Principal partners in the campaign include the United States Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross and the USO. Sponsors include NASCAR and the Richmond International Raceway.

For more information on the foundation and to sign up in the “Campaign 99” program, go to www.codeofsupport.org. The foundation’s mailing address is: P.O. Box 1154, McLean, VA 22101.

Follow us online at facebook.com/CodeofSupport and twitter.com/CodeofSupport

AUGUST 14, 2011–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORGANIZATION OFFERS “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA TO THANK FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN

Americans have long wanted to express their gratitude and their sympathies to the friends and families of fallen service members. Now they can.

A series of tragedies in Afghanistan over the last week has left forty families grieving the loss of a service member, and as the stories have played out on the news, Americans with no military connection have wondered how to express their deep condolences and sincere gratitude to the service members’ families and friends who have lost so much – not just over the last week, but over the last decade.

When people have thoughts or feelings too powerful or difficult to express to another individual, they sometimes write them down on paper, tuck them inside a bottle, and toss them into sea as a way of releasing them into the world – and possibly into the hands of someone who finds the bottle and becomes the recipient of the deepest heart of a stranger.

“‘Like’ it for TIME” (LIFT) (http://likeitfortime.com), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the military family experience in a decade of war, offers Americans something far better than a message in a bottle, because all messages will be received: LIFT invites the public to share their heartfelt messages with the loved ones of military by writing a message on a strip of paper and – rather than tossing it out to sea – mailing it to LIFT, where it will become a meaningful link in a global paper chain serving as a lasting tribute to military families.

“I think there are things people want to say to the families of the fallen, even if it’s just ‘I’m so sorry for your loss,’ or ‘Thank you for your sacrifice,’ but saying that to a stranger can feel awkward,” says LIFT founder Kristen Tsetsi (Conn.). “And how do you find the families? Do you track them down through a series of online searches? That would feel somehow wrong. And yet, people – even fellow military family members – really, really want to let the friends and family of fallen service members know they’re out there, that they care, and that they’re aware of the effects of these long wars.”

LIFT LINK LOVE (http://likeitfortime.com/lift-link-love/) will loop together the individual links mailed in by people from around the globe until they form one very long paper chain. The completed chain will be used in a special project to be announced at a later date.

“We just want to give people the opportunity to say what they’ve always wanted to say, and to know their words will be ‘heard,’ even if they don’t want to include their names on the links,” Tsetsi says. “We also want military friends and family to know these people are out there. I have a feeling there are more of them than we can possibly imagine, and I know the messages will mean far more than can be put into words.”

Those interested in mailing their messages to friends and families of the fallen should write their note on a piece of paper (about an inch wide, and the length of the end of a standard sheet of paper) and mail the flat, un-taped strip to

LIFT LINK LOVE
9435 Lorton Market St #206
Lorton VA 22079

For more information about LIFT LINK LOVE, please visit

LIFT LINK LOVE at http://liketifortime.com/lift-link-love

LIFT website: http://likeitfortime.com
LIFT on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LIFTNOW

Contact:
Kristen Tsetsi

http://www.kristentsetsi.com

ktsetsi@gmail.com
likeitfortime@gmail.com

The Code of Support (and the Corps of Support Campaign) recently received endorsements from both Business Executives for National Security (BENS) and the Council on Competitiveness.  GEN Montgomery Meigs, President and CEO of BENS, said that “BENS is pleased to add our endorsement to the Code of Support.”  BENS applies pro bono, best business practice solutions to the most difficult national security management challenges.  In endorsing the Code of Support, Council on Competitiveness President & CEO Deborah Wince-Smith commented, “The Council on Competitiveness is pleased to endorse this powerful initiative.”   The council is a non-partisan and non-governmental organization whose membership includes CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders who are working to ensure U.S. prosperity.

At a recent meeting at the White House, the Corps of Support “Campaign 99″ was welcomed as a partner under the recently announced “Joining Forces” initiative led by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President.  The objectives of Campaign 99 align perfectly with the objectives of Joining Forces and the Corps of Support will play a significant role in furthering the Joining Forces initiative.

GEN (Ret) Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the latest addition to our growing list of honorary National Campaign Committee members.  General Pace continues to be extremely active in supporting our troops and military families.  With his participation, the committee now includes senior membership from all five of our Armed Forces services.

Mike Krzyzewski, known to many as simply “Coach K”, head basketball coach at Duke University, has added his name to the growing list of members of the Corps of Support honorary National Campaign Committee.  The legendary coach commented, “The Code of Support lets our Men & Women in our Armed Forces know that we are committed to them and support them.  The care we pledge is forever!  What a great idea!”

Vice Admiral (Ret) Dan Cooper has joined the honorary National Campaign Committee for the Corps of Support for our troops.  Cooper recently stepped down from his position as Under Secretary of the Veterans Administration.

Jan Scruggs, president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, has joined the honorary National Campaign Committee for the Corps of Support.  Scruggs is widely credited with being the driving force behind “The Wall” on the Mall in Washington, DC, honoring the thousands of service members who gave their lives during the Vietnam War.

Detailed planning is underway for a “Creative Media Design Contest” in conjunction with the upcoming Corps of Support “Campaign 99.”  The contest will feature multiple categories such as Best Video, Best Essay and Best Poster, with cash prizes to be awarded for each category.  Preliminary information is now available on the web site (www.corpsofsupport.org). Campaign 99 gets its name from its target audience, the 99% of Americans who are NOT in our Armed Forces (who represent less than 1% of the population).

Brigadier General  (Ret) Jack Nicholson, former Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), has joined the honorary National Campaign Committee for the Corps of Support campaign.  The ABMC was established by Congress in 1923 to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law. The ABMC commemorative mission is reflected in 24 overseas military cemeteries that serve as resting places for almost 125,000 American war dead; on Tablets of the Missing that memorialize more than 94,000 U.S. servicemen and women; and through 25 memorials, monuments and markers.

Admiral (Ret) Tom Hayward, former Chief of Naval Operations, has joined the honorary National Campaign Committee for the Corps of Support.  As the highest ranking naval officer, the CNO is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Vince Patton, Ed.D., former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, is the most recent addition to the COS National Campaign Committee.  The MCPOCG is the highest ranking (E-10) enlisted member of the Coast Guard.  We are honored to have him support our campaign.