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Annual Report
Military Families Fund Annual Report
1 Apr 2007 – 31 Mar 2008
Fiscal year 2007/2008 was an exciting year. In April 2007, General Hillier created the Military Families Fund, a fund to assist military families faced with unforeseen and often immediate needs as a result of conditions of service.
Eighty families were assisted throughout the year. The assistance provided included travel assistance for family members attending funerals of military personnel killed in Afghanistan, and modest assistance with funeral expenses and headstones when the actual costs have exceeded the Treasury Board established maximum. The fund also provided assistance for grief counseling for parents and siblings of military members who have been killed in action. Living expenses for the fiancée of a member who was severely wounded in Afghanistan was provided to assist her in attending to the military member while in hospital. Family care assistance has been provided in several cases where circumstances attributable to military service have created the requirement. For example, while a member was deployed, his spouse had to be hospitalized and there was no one to look after the children. The fund assisted by providing airfare for a relative to fly in and look after the children in the short term. The fund has also assisted a military family who was transferred to another province with providing alternative temporary care measures for their severely disabled child until care could be arranged.
Financial Overview
Canadians, businesses and CANEX donated a total of $1.591M to the fund this year. A breakdown of the revenue is reflected in Figure 1.
Figure 1
The Military Families Fund dispersed $190K to military families during the year. Figure 2 shows a breakdown by case category of these expenses. The category ‘Other’ includes medical expenses, repairs, tokens of sympathy and legal expenses. Costs for administrative overhead are not reflected in Figure 2. The total overhead expenses were $8K and included costs associated with the 1-800 telephone line, office supplies, postage, and honorariums.
All cases are reviewed to determine whether there is a Public responsibility / obligation for payment. For those cases where Public reimbursement was considered warranted, a formal request was submitted. $73K was reimbursed to the fund.
Figure 2
In December 2007, Base/Wing Commanders were given the authority to access the fund, up to $5K for urgent cases. Instructions were developed and posted to the website to assist Base/Wing Commanders in this endeavor. Bank of Montreal Prepaid Mastercards were issued to bases to cover situations that occurred during weekends and holidays.
Governance
An executive committee was established to provide oversight with respect to the administration of the fund. Additional responsibilities include approval of fundraising activities and events; and identification of new short-term programs and services that would be a significant benefit to the morale and welfare of military families. The first meeting was held in December 2007. Members of the committee include: Brigadier General David Martin, Chief Executive Officer Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (chair), Mr. Max Keeping, Ms. Tammy Kleinschmidt, Lieutenant-General (retired) Bill Leach, Mr. Dave Ready, Mr. Dave Smith, Rear-Admiral Bryn Weadon and Ms. Maureen Eykelenboom.
Fundraising
In November 2007, a CDS Gala was held at the War Museum in Ottawa. This Gala raised net proceeds in the amount of $55K for the fund.
The MFF also benefited from an amazing array of third party events held throughout the year. Some examples include: golf tournaments, conferences, and the sale of red T-shirts, car magnets and ice cream. We want to express a sincere thank you to all event organizers for including the MFF in their activities.
The Way Ahead
While only one year old, the MFF has already made a difference in the lives of our military families. The Fund has provided hope to some families and has allowed the CF leadership the flexibility to help families when they need it most. The MFF also allows us to take on a preventative approach in that it allows us to recognize gaps in current policies. One of the priorities for 2008/2009 will be to identify these gaps and raise them to the appropriate level for review. Other priorities include: increasing awareness of the fund, and enhancing the website.