ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Military Family Association is pleased to announce today that it received a grant in the amount of $30,000 from Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. This grant, coupled with grants from national sponsors The USO and Veterans Support Foundation, will aid the Association's Operation Purple® Healing Adventures program, which is a weekend long retreat for wounded service members and their families. Thanks to this funding the program is available to military families at no cost and allows them to focus on rediscovering togetherness after an injury.
It is estimated that over 50,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in recent military conflicts and another 320,000 have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. As many as 400,000 additional service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The effects from war are long from over and we are thrilled to receive this grant to continue the support our wounded service members and their families need," said Joyce Raezer, Executive Director, National Military Family Association. "With the right support, resources and care, our wounded service members are able to return from traumatic experiences and emerge stronger than ever. Our job is to help the families transition with them, allowing the entire family to focus on reconnecting after injury and learn the types of activities they can do together."
The Operation Purple Healing Adventures program combines family-focused activities with outdoor exploration to encourage each family's growth. Specially adapted communication activities developed by FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress™) ensure families return home stronger. Families are able to enjoy a 'purple' environment - active duty, National Guard and Reserve, and medically retired service members of any Service and their families are eligible for this program.
"As the WWP grant program enters its second year, we are very proud to help support such a broad spectrum of organizations that are working to meet the needs of injured service members," said Steven Nardizzi, Executive Director, WWP. "It takes the collective effort and commitment from many organizations to help ensure this generation of injured veterans is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation's history."
For more information on Operation Purple Healing Adventures, visit our website www.militaryfamily.org. These are made possible through the support of key contributors like the USO, WWP, and Veterans Support Foundation.
About the National Military Family Association
Military families serve our country with pride, honor, and quiet dedication. The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded, or fallen. We provide families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve, and offer programs that improve their lives. Our 44 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for military families and the Nation's leaders. To learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.