Since the launch of the COVID-19 Relief Fund in April 2020, The MOAA Foundation received almost $300,000 from more than 2,000 supporters. Donations came from all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Guam, and from as far as France, Thailand, Norway, and Germany.
With your generous donations, The MOAA Foundation was able to quickly convert our free, in-person career transition career fairs, webinars, and benefits education classes to all virtual events. We also were able to fund COVID-relief programs offered by MOAA Chapters located all around the country, as well as offer immediate financial relief to those who needed it most.
More than a year later, as vaccines become more readily available and businesses begin to reopen, we’ve seen a significant decrease in the number of Emergency Relief Grant applications. Therefore, we are no longer accepting donations to the COVID-19 Relief Fund but will continue to accept Emergency Relief Grant applications until available funds are exhausted.
We could not have responded to requests for assistance as quickly as we did without support of our generous donors. The MOAA Foundation was able to fill gaps in support that came about during the pandemic, specifically for veterans who didn’t serve a full career, caregivers, and survivors.
"Not all military families, both active and retired, have historically had enough wealth to save for their children's educations; pay for unforseen medical costs; and pay for exorbitant transportation, purchase, and maintenance costs."
-- Col. Arville Hickerson, USA (Ret)In April 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, Colonel Hickerson, a MOAA LIFE member, challenged The MOAA Foundation to raise $25,000 by May 5, 2020, to jump-start The MOAA Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund campaign by offering matching funds. Within the first day, donors surpassed that goal. He then donated an additional $25,000 to the fund. Thank you again, Colonel Hickerson, for your support during this critical time of need.
To continue assisting those in the uniformed services and veteran community who need it most, The MOAA Foundation hopes to launch an enduring emergency relief fund near the end of 2021.
Since the onset of COVID-19, The MOAA Foundation disbursed grants to support veteran housing, food assistance, employment, family support, (including behavioral health), and more. Check out the map below (Not loading? Click here) for where these grants have made a difference:
Grants include Community Outreach Grants (shown in blue) and COVID-19 Chapter Grants (red/maroon), which are disbursed to MOAA councils and chapters across the country. Emergency Financial Relief Grants (yellow) are awarded to currently serving, veterans with honorable discharges or caregivers of the same, and surviving spouses who prove negative financial impact from the COVID-19 crisis. Scholarship Senior Grant Awardees are marked in green; locations with multiple grant types have markings incorporating the applicable grant colors.
