Special Ops Warrior Foundation Receives $1 Million Gift

Jan. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- The Special Operations Warrior Foundation announced its largest single donation since 2001, a $1 million contribution from Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund, to support the families of fallen and wounded special operations personnel. The gift will provide funding for the foundation’s two programs – college educations for the children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel; and immediate financial grants to the families of severely wounded special operations personnel.

The $1 million gift was made at the recommendation of Gordon Dyal, Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Goldman Sachs.  The contribution is part of a $20 million Goldman Sachs Gives initiative to provide a comprehensive set of services and family assistance to veterans.

“I was looking for a charitable organization that provides support to the men and women in the military and their families,” said Dyal.  “The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is a top-rated organization that provides support to those military personnel who are at the highest risk-- America’s elite special operators.”
 
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation was founded in 1980 to support the military’s 60,000 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel.  Today there are more than 800 children in the foundation’s program.  Some 160 students are currently attending colleges and universities across the country on SOWF scholarships, which provide tuition, books, fees, room and board, computer and printer.

“This generous gift will provide a college education for many deserving young men and women for years to come,” said John T. Carney, Jr., SOWF President/CEO. “One of the sad realities is that many of the children in our program are at a very young age, often toddlers, and we have a commitment to provide a college education for every child of a fallen warrior.  With more than 500 children in our program who have yet to reach college age, this gift helps us assure those widows or widowers that the foundation will be around when that young girl or boy reaches college age.”

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been awarded a four-star rating for its fifth consecutive year by Charity Navigator for its financial efficiency.  In 2009, the foundation’s administrative overhead was less than 8 percent.

“I can think of no greater way to honor the sacrifices of our men and women in the military than to provide their surviving children with a college education and the opportunities that come with it,” said Dyal.

About the Special Operations Warrior Foundation
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support and assistance to the families of wounded and fallen military special operations personnel.  Founded in 1980, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides college educations to the surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel.  The Special Operations Warrior Foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to the families of severely wounded special operations personnel so they can be bedside when needed most.  For more information, visit www.specialops.org

About Goldman Sachs Gives
Goldman Sachs Gives is a donor-advised fund—a public charity that maintains individual accounts for donors who recommend grants to qualified non-profit organizations from their accounts. Established in 2007, Goldman Sachs Gives enables Goldman Sachs and its people to leverage their donations to charities in the communities where they live and work, or elsewhere around the globe. The focus of this contribution is on those areas that have been proven to be fundamental to creating jobs and economic growth, building and stabilizing communities, honoring service and veterans and increasing educational opportunities.

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The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is a top-rated charity that provides college educations to surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel as well as financial assistance for severely wounded.