National Non-Profit Reaches out to Families of Military Personnel Deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan

May 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Loveland, CO, May 8, 2010:  Carry the Flame Across America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Black Hills have partnered in a ground breaking effort to help families affected by deployment, disability or loss of one or both parents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  With the decline of corporate donations due to the stressed economy and the growing number of families in need, philanthropic contributions have diminished requiring charitable causes to stretch the dollar even farther.  Colorado businessman, King Cavalier, founder and chairman of Carry the Flame, Inc. believes that by partnering with proven mentoring programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters with systems already in place for screening and training mentors, we will be able to keep up with the demand and everyone wins.  CTF and BBBS have created a new innovative program at the Douglas Schools on Ellsworth Air Force base in South Dakota providing a mentoring program for children of deployed military personnel to be matched with a mentor who enjoys time in the outdoors through the South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures program.  Not only Children will have the opportunity to spend quality time with a seasoned friend in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota but also will be trained by avid outdoorsmen and women to respect nature and the environment.  This is the pilot program that we hope to implement across the nation to help stabilize the disrupted lives of our military families and their children.  Our goal is to match screened qualified adults with children who would enjoy having an adult mentor them in various outdoor experiences.  

In 2009 Carry the Flame donated $10,000 dollars to the National Military Families Association’s, Camp Purple, paying for an entire summer camp for children of deployed military members free of charge. The camps provide military children of all ranks and services, including active duty and reserve components, a carefree, fun environment while learning coping skills to deal with war-related stress and fostering relationships with other kids in similar situations.  El Reno Oklahoma, our largest fundraising event, has dedicated this years proceeds to the Camp Purple Project.  
Carry the Flame Across America is raising money to fund projects like Camp Purple and the Douglas Schools mentoring program on our annual ride from Barstow, CA to Washington DC to honor those who sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedom as part of the Rolling Thunder Memorial Day weekend. For more information, please visit our website at www.carrytheflame.org.
   
Carry the Flame Across America provides financial and educational support for military families and the children of American Armed Forces personnel both veteran and active duty that may be or have been affected by deployment, disability or loss while serving on our orders.  We pay no salaries and our entire staff donates their time so you can be sure that all donations go directly to those who need  it most, the children. Carry the Flame has no political agenda or affiliation.  Your donations can be targeted directly to the programs that we support by specifying where you would like the funds to go or allow us to disperse it evenly between all or our programs.  If you would like to make a donation send it to:
Carry the Flame
PO Box 2167
Tulsa, OK 74101
Or call Barbara Porter at 918-557-7163

Contact: George Hyatt at 703-731-7665 or e-mail ghyatt@sasquatch.tv

Carry the Flame Across America Schedule
May 17 - 29, 2010
Ride from Barstow, California to Washington, D.C.
Monday May 17
VFW Post 2141 Barstow, CA

Wednesday/Thursday May 19-20
Navajo/Hopi “Honor Run” Arizona & New Mexico
Saturday May 22
America Supports You – Texas Amarillo, TX
Sunday May 23
VFW Post 382 & Sunset ABATE El Reno, OK
Monday May 24
VFW Post 2256 Conway, AK
Tuesday May 25
Little Rock Chamber of Commerce & Landers Harley Davidson Little Rock, AR
Wednesday May 26
Knoxville Harley Davidson Knoxville, TN
Thursday May 27
Shenandoah Harley Davidson Staunton, VA
Saturday May 29
World War II Memorial Washington DC
Gold Star Mothers reading of the names of those lost in Iraq and Afghanistan 9:00-11:00am
Sunday May 30
Rolling Thunder® Ride for Freedom Washington  DC

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About Carry the Flame Inc. 501 (c) 3 Charitable Cause provides financial and educational support for military families and the children of American Armed Forces personnel both veteran and active duty that may be or have been affected by deployment, disability or loss while serving on our orders. We pay no salaries and our entire staff donates their time so you can be sure that all donations go directly to those who need it most, the children. Carry the Flame has no political agenda or affiliation. Your donations can be targeted directly to the programs that we support by specifying where you would like the funds to go or allow us to disperse it evenly between all or our programs.