In order to more effectively support its mission, MCA has created and incorporated within its structure, the Marine Corps Association Foundation (“Foundation”), a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation. The achievement of this organizational status will better permit the Foundation to raise funds to support and expand the programs and activities so essential to MCA’s core mission.
The Marine Corps Association Foundation will not replace the Marine Corps Association; rather, the Foundation will enable the Association to do an even better job of supporting Marines and their readiness as these requirements continue to evolve and expand. MCA will continue to publish the Marine Corps two professional magazines: The Marine Corps Gazette and Leatherneck Magazine. Additionally, MCA will continue its commitment to the Marine Corps’ Reading List and other professional books through its retail enterprise. The Foundation will support and enable the following activities:
· Support the Marine Corps in its wartime mission by disseminating knowledge of military art and science and building esprit among Marines
o Fulfill requests from other Marine Related Organizations or Marine Corps units requesting the Commandant’s Professional Reading List Library
o With the Marine Corps’ approval give each new Marine Corps recruit a copy of Leatherneck magazine
o With the Marine Corps’ approval provide the Guidebook for Marines, compiled and published by MCA, to each Marine recruit
· Provide professional development for units and individual Marines
o Fund Professional Military Education events requested by commanders to enhance their unit’s predeployment training
o Support the awards program that was begun under MCA and enhance select awards to Marines
o Offer professional development programs including professional speakers to help with military education
o Provide funding for select Marine Corps programs needed by the Corps — but which are not financed by appropriated funds
· Educate the public on the military art and science and the value of the Marine Corps and the Naval Service to the nation
· Fund emerging requirements to support Marines from recruitment through active duty and after release to veteran Marine status.
· Provide support to wounded warriors through the provision of Leatherneck and the Marine Corps Gazette as they convalesce and through other programs that are requested.
The Marine Corps Association Foundation will also oversee all of the events previously coordinated through MCA. This includes the C4 Awards Dinner, Ground Awards Dinner, Ground Logistics Awards Dinner, the Ground Dinner, the fall and spring Combat Development Dinners – coordinated with MCCDC, and our Annual Dinner.
Foundation activities are being launched at our 3rd Annual Dinner on 30 July, which will feature General David H. Petraeus, USA, Commander, U.S. Central Command as our evening’s guest speaker. I hope you will join me there if you will be in the DC area that week!
As the President and CEO of the Marine Corps Association Foundation, I hope you will participate in supporting these programs.
You can help by:
· Responding to one of our direct mail campaigns where we have/will send out magnets, note pads, and 2010 calendars to MCA members.
· Or by making a donation online on this site or by calling 1-866-622-1775 to donate over the phone.
· Including MCAF in your will or trust
· Becoming a MCAF member – individual and corporate memberships are both available
· Utilizing matching funds from your employer for your donations
· Making an endowment to MCAF
· Making a donation to our Wounded Marine programs on your MCA annual statements
I thank you for your support of our Marines and we look forward to providing more programs as MCAF grows.
Semper Fi,
Les Palm
Major General, USMC (ret)
President & CEO
