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Welcome to the official Oregon War Veterans Association(OWVA) website!
The purpose of this site is to help OWVA carry out its charitable purposes.
OWVA is uniquely positioned to make an impact in our communities and veteran's lives in ways different from other veteran organizations. OWVA ‘s leadership has used, and will continue to use every opportunity to leverage to assist veterans and veteran organizations, as well as Active Service Members and their families in building a better future for all who have served in our country's military services.
As military family and veteran advocates, OWVA is involved in many efforts to support our clients and members. We frequently work directly with senior members of the Oregon National Guard, Reintegration Teams, Family Resource Groups, and family assistance personnel, as well as combining or efforts with other support agencies and organizations- all to make a real difference in the lives of those who serve us in the military.
Greg Warnock
Executive Director
Charitable Projects
OWVA is well known in Oregon for its very public support of our troops and vets. One of our most well known projects was the "Save Christmas Project," where we raised the funds to send 45 pallets of donated "comfort items" to Oregon Troops in Afghanistan in 2006.
We have partnered with radio and TV programs and personalities to help educate the public on military family problems in Oregon, and have raised nearly $1,000,000.00 for our charitable projects since 2002.
This month (May 2009), 3,200 Oregon Troops are being sent to Iraq, in the largest deployment of Oregon Troops since WWII. This 12-14 month deployment is particularly difficult since we are in a recession, with an unemployment rate of 12%. Our military families are truly suffering, not just from being separated with loved ones, but from financial hardships as well.
OWVA has established a fund to help our military families, and works directly with the Oregon National Guard leadership to sort out and assist families who need the most help. We frequently provide funds for funeral support, emergency health care, housing expenses, and transportation solutions.
During the past two months, OWVA received calls and requests for more than $30,000 in emergency funds, from organizations that help military families and veterans in Oregon, in preparation of the huge deployment to Iraq. We paid for house rents, so families wouldn't be evicted before the deployment. We provided resources for pediatric care for a deployed soldier's family, and financially intervened for a disabled vet who was hospitalized and couldn't pay his housing costs.
Legislation
Another important responsibility of OWVA is the development and advocacy of legislation that helps our military families and veterans. We are active lobbyists for issues that affect our clients and families. We also openly help elect officials who support our critical issues (bi-partisan assistance).
In 2007, OWVA wrote and saw passed legislation that gave incentives to health care providers who care for military families. We also passed laws giving up to $6,000.00 in tax deductions for every National Guard and Reservists, as well as for employees of the Oregon Youth Challenge Program.
This year, we just saw signed into law HB2303, which protects the federal rights of military families from predator creditors and collectors, which is just one bill of the 12 bills we wrote or helped write this session.
How can you help?
Charitable Donations
OWVA is a charitable, war veteran's membership association. Contributions to OWVA are generally tax deductible, in accordance with IRC 501(c)(19) rules. Please send your donation of any amount to:
OWVA
PO Box 8043
Salem, OR 973003
OR
Feel free to send a payment through our website's donation center. >>>Click Here
If you are interested in an alternative donation, by giving a tax creditable donation through the Oregon PAC Tax Credit Program, please check out this page for more information: >>>Click Here
Soldiers arrive home thanks to KATU's Operation Holiday Airlift
December 23, 2009 | katu.com
More than $61,000 was raised in a KATU and Family Matters telethon to bring soldiers home.
OWVA Brings Oregon Troops Home for Christmas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, December 15, 2009
www.owva.org
Greg@owva.org
Nellie@owva.org
Salem, Ore. - Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) in conjunction with KATU, Channel 2 TV raised enough money needed to bring the stranded National Guard Troops home for the holidays on Thursday, December 10, 2009.
Nearly one thousand people called into the KATU broadcast station during the OWVA “Save Christmas/Airlift” telethon last week raising more than $61,000.00. The funds purchased plane tickets for 105 stranded Oregon National Guard (ORNG) Troops, whose deployment to Afghanistan was delayed during the holidays.
The $20,000.00 over the amount actually needed for the Airlift Project will be used to send 35 disabled ORNG troops and a family member to the Paralympics in Vancouver, BC next year.
OWVA raised nearly $20,000 within the first two hours of the telethon. KATU’s Carolyn Morgan told volunteers that “we have never seen such a tremendous response for any other cause. This is very exciting.” Anna Song, KATU reporter who was first to carry the story to the public came in during the telethon and was amazed at the level of support. She told the volunteers that she was “blessed” to be part of the solution, and was inspired by the generosity of the donors.
During the telethon OWVA’s director, Greg Warnock, told KATU viewers, “I am humbled to be involved with projects like these- to be part of the solution of such overwhelming problems. The generosity of Oregonians from all over the State affirms my belief that people really want to help our troops.” Warnock added, “Being a seasoned charity that has a great reputation of getting the job done makes a difference, I think, on how generous people are with us.”
What’s next? OWVA knows that there will be many more causes which need public attention and support, and plan to be involved as much as possible. Donations are still being taken online for OWVA’s other charitable projects. They are also trying to raise $30,000 for the OWVA/ORG emergency fund, which helps individual families who have no other resources for things like food, housing, utility payments and emergency transportation.
To make a generous donation to OWVA’s charitable projects, donors can make tax deductible contributions in the following three ways:
- Online with a credit card of check card to www.owva.org/donate
- Direct deposit to ANY US Bank branch to the Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG (account ending in #5051)
- Mail a check to PO Box 8043, Salem, OR 97303
OWVA thanks you for your continued support.
Oregon's National Guard Still Needs Our Help
News Release- For Urgent Release
Contact: Greg Warnock
www.owva.org
greg@owva.org
December 9, 2009
Salem, Ore- Many of the news organizations in Oregon have been reporting the dilemma, regarding the 105 (not 95) Oregon national Guard Troops who are stranded in Wisconsin, for the holidays, and want to come home for Christmas.
Late last week, Brigadier General Mike Caldwell called Greg Warnock, from the Oregon War Veterans Association and asked for his assistance to bring "a bunch of Soldiers from the Guard home for Christmas." Warnock agreed to go to the public for assistance, since they are a charitable organization and focus on meeting the needs of Veterans, military families and members of the military.
The service-members were mobilized to Wisconsin for training, and eventual service in Afghanistan, but the deployment was delayed until after Christmas. They were supposed to be deployed by now, but there was a problem receiving them at their forward base, so they are stuck in the States for Christmas. They want to come home to their families, since they have the opportunity before their dangerous deployment- diffusing IED's in Afghanistan.
Warnock has been reporting the status of the fundraising on air with several radio stations and TV news programs. KATU, Channel 2 will be hosting a telethon for this effort on Thursday, December 10th all day, beginning at 6:00 AM. "To date, we have raised $11,000 of the $40,000 needed," he said.
OWVA plans to raise $30,000.00 on air during the telethon to finish paying for airline tickets for the stranded troops and reimburse the families who spent their house payments and plans for Christmas on unexpected costs associated with bringing their Soldiers home.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to help the troops in this way, and have enjoyed sharing this project with the general public," reported Warnock to a local radio station earlier today. He continued by saying, "Oregonians are very generous, no matter how they feel about the war, and always find a way to help, even if it with a $5.00 donation. What better way to say 'thank you' than by bringing families together for the holidays?"
OWVA needs cash contributions for this problem. All of their efforts to use Frequent Flyer Miles or charter a private jet, or every other conceivable option have been exhausted. While frequent flyer mile (FFM) donations seemed like a great way to fix this, the charitable donation facility for them was not in place early enough to utilize them. OWVA will set up a charitable FFM program in the future- for later transportation problems.
The fastest way for people to make a tax deductible donation available to OWVA is by making a deposit directly to their bank account: USBANK, Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG, ending in #5051. Deposits can be made at ANY USBank branch.
(Email OWVA with your name, address, and amount donated, for a tax deduction receipt, if you make a direct deposit.)
Deductible contributions can also be made online at http://www.owva.org/donate , or by sending a check to:
OWVA
PO Box 8043
Salem, OR 97303
Please be generous- and quickly!
**If OWVA raises all $40,000 needed for this project, all additional funds will be used to send 35 disabled (lost limbs) Oregon National Guard Members to the Paralympics in Vancouver, WA early next year. Funds over the $20,000 needed for this project will go to the OWVA/ORNG emergency fund.
Project "Save Christmas- 09” Still Needs help!
News Release-Urgent
Contact: Greg Warnock
greg@owva.org
www.owva.org
Salem, Ore- Last Friday, Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) went to the public via the news media asking people to help get 94 Oregon National Guard Soldiers home for Christmas. The Soldier’s deployment to Afghanistan has been delayed and the base they are at is shutting down for the holidays, so they have an unusual opportunity to come home for Christmas.
“Since this project didn’t start until late Friday afternoon, we have not raised much money yet. Only $2,500.00 of the $40,000.00 asked for came in over the weekend, reported Greg Warnock OWVA’s director. “Our treasurer will transfer money from website donations later today, so we’ll know then how much money has been raised online.“
Several people have contacted OWVA, after Anna Song reported the story on KATU Channel 2 News last night, to see if they can donate frequent flyer miles or airline “buddy tickets” to the group. “We are looking at all options, and will have our plan ready by Wednesday this week, “said Warnock to a donor earlier today.
OWVA is asking people who have frequent flyer miles to donate, to contact them via email with their contact information. They will then contact the donors by Wednesday afternoon, if they can put together a program for the Soldiers using these miles. *Please login to OWVA’s site at www.owva.org to notify them if you have miles to donate, or to see what other ways to help get the Soldiers home.
As of late Sunday evening, all but 25 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) members had been able to find a ride home. But, many of them with young families spent their house and utility payments, or Christmas budgets to fly their Soldiers home for this unexpected leave. OWVA has set up a triage plan with the General Staff of the ORNG and their Commander to try to get the remaining Soldiers home, and help relieve the costs of the tickets that the others purchased. Soldiers who simply cannot afford to get their own tickets will be covered first, with the lower ranking personnel with families getting second priority for possible reimbursement assistance.
Warnock told a group of families today, “believe me, we are trying to do everything we can- from buying remaining tickets outright, to hiring a charter, to adding cars to Amtrak, to using FF Miles, etc. Whatever we do is going to cost money in the end, so we are still asking for donations for this project. Our options are running out, though, and the cost of available tickets is going up by the hour.” He also reminded them that, “We are relying on the generosity of Oregonians to help us.”
There three ways to make a charitable donation for this project:
- Go online to www.OWVA.org, and click on the donate button at the top of the page.
- Deposit at any branch at US Bank to Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG account ending in 5051.
- Mail a check to OWVA, PO Box 8043, Salem, OR 97303 (memo: “save Christmas”)
*If you have access to a large amount of Frequent Flyer Miles, please send OWVA an email with your contact info- to greg@OWVA.org
OWVA Needs Your Help to Save Christmas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2009
Information:
Greg Warnock
greg@owva.org
Oregon National Guard Soldiers Stranded for Christmas
Salem, Ore. - Brigadier General Mike Caldwell, the deputy director of the Oregon Military Department/Oregon National Guard (ORNG) asked the Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) to help provide transportation for 94 members of the ORNG, from Dallas, Oregon who will be stranded in Wisconsin for the holidays.
“OWVA has proven to be a valuable resource to the Oregon National Guard, providing goods and services to help to eliminate stress to our soldiers and their families by always offering a helping hand wherever and whenever possible," said BG Caldwell during a media conference today. “I asked for their help because the public knows them and supports their efforts to help our troops.”
With gigantic budget cuts affecting ORNG they simply do not have the funds to bring these veterans home for the holidays. The unit is currently at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin for explosive disarming and disposal training. They deploy to Afghanistan right after Christmas for more than a year of the dangerous duty of defusing explosive devices.
Fort McCoy will be shutting down operations from December 22-27, leaving Oregon troops stranded during the holidays. Now that the troops have the opportunity they wish to return home one last time before their deployment.
With your support, OWVA needs to locate and pay for a charter plane to help with this project. OWVA is also asking several of the organizations in Oregon who have their own airplanes to assist in this effort, but fuel and expenses still need funding.
There are only a few days remaining to raise the $40,000 required to fly our troops home for Christmas before their deployment.
Please find it in your hearts to help OWVA bring Oregon’s veterans home.
Three ways to make a charitable donation for this project:
- Go online to www.OWVA.org, and click on the donate button.
- Deposit at any branch at US Bank to Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG account ending in 5051.
- Mail a check to OWVA, PO Box 8043, Salem, OR 97303 (memo: “save Christmas”)
**All funds over the amount needed will be used toward sending Oregon’s veterans who have lost limbs and want to compete in the Para-Olympics in January to Vancouver, BC in January.
