Yellow Ribbon Fund
{{Short description|Charity that helps returning American service men & women}}
{{Infobox organization
| formation = March 1, 2005
| type = Non-profit
| headquarters = Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| key_people = Bill Scott (Board Chairman)
Gina Harrow (Executive Director)
| website = https://yellowribbonfund.org/
}}
The Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) is a charity that primarily helps returning American service men & women, injured during active service, who are recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. The charity was founded on March 1, 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/|title=Yellow Ribbon Fund homepage|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund|access-date=2007-08-21}} and is based in Bethesda, MD.
Mission
The YRF helps recovering service members through various events and programs, arranged by staff and volunteers, aimed to help the patients and their families enjoy the community.{{cite web| url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/?page_id=5|title=About the Yellow Ribbon Fund|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund| access-date=2008-04-23}} The YRF has arranged numerous parties,{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/YRF_Winter_2009.pdf|title=First Party In The New Mologne House Courtyard A Huge Success|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund}} trips (to places like Fredericksburg,{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Spring_2008.pdf|title=Fredericksburg Civil War Trip|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund}} the carnival, etc.), and even weddings.{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.com/stories/z_Valentines08.cfm|title=Valentine's Day Wedding for Injured Service Member and His Bridge|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund|access-date=2008-04-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080401134155/http://yellowribbonfund.com/stories/z_Valentines08.cfm |archive-date = 2008-04-01}}
Support from celebrities and other organizations
Several high-profile people have supported the charity, including Mandy Moore, Marty Cordova, Dana White and Forrest Griffin.{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/live/images/2012/08/AR-2009.pdf|title=UFC Fighters Visit Walter Reed Warriors|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund|access-date=2008-04-25}} The charity has also received help from the satirical television program The Colbert Report. Stephen Colbert announced that he would donate all proceeds made by his WristStrong wrist bands and the auction of his cast would go to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=91799|title=WristStrong Bracelets|publisher=Comedy Central|date=2007-08-20|access-date=2007-08-21}} The winning bid for his cast was $17,200.[http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290153546119 ]{{dead link|date=August 2022}} As of January 23, 2008, over 30,000 WristStrong Bracelets were sold. Marie Wood, Director of Communications, was presented a gigantic novelty cheque for $171,525 on The Report that day.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=147829|title=Marie Wood|publisher=Comedy Central|date=2008-01-23|access-date=2008-01-24}}
Many companies and organizations have worked with, and donated to, the YRF to support them in their mission of helping injured service members. Those organizations include, but are not limited to Independent Benefit Services,{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/stories/z_IBF.cfm|title=IBS supports the Yellow Ribbon Fund|publisher=Yellow Ribbon Fund|access-date=2007-08-21 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094555/http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/stories/z_IBF.cfm |archive-date = 2007-09-29}} the Army Navy Country Club, American Airlines, Mary House, and Barwood Taxi.
See also
- H. Timothy "Tim" Vakoc – the first U.S. military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.yellowribbonfund.org/ Yellow Ribbon Fund website]
Category:American veterans' organizations
Category:Charities based in Maryland
Category:Organizations established in 2005
Category:2005 establishments in Maryland
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