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US Army Staff Sergeant Kaylan Jennings started our year off with a wonderful message of thanks to Spirit of America and our donors for supporting her Playground Project during her recent tour in Iraq. Though the timing wasn't right for us to send the actual playground equipment, we were able to send her hundreds of toys, school kits, hygiene kits at her request for distribution to families who visited detainees at a Southern Iraq prison.

SSG Jennings created a You Tube tribute and wrote, "This video is a thank you to everyone, especially Spirit of America, who allowed me to help these children in need. Thank you again."

Please take a minute to view the video here. We are grateful for the getting to know SSG Jennings and supporting her efforts and especially grateful to our wonderful donors who made our support possible.

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Thanks so much to our initial anonymous donor who got the ball rolling, the other generous donors who matched his challenge, and also to the many, many individuals who contributed over the past few days to meet the challenge and raise the additional $20,000.

The strength of Spirit of America is you, our donors, who recognize the innovative qualities of our mission and support our troops in their efforts to bring peace, stability and freedom to Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. They contact us frequently to let us know how your gifts translated into life-changing projects. Their messages overflow with praise and gratitude. So, on their behalf, we at Spirit of America thank each and every one of you for your ongoing generosity.

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Thank you for your interest in our 72-Hour Holiday Matching Fund Campaign!

Several very generous Spirit of America donors have joined forces to create a pool of $20,000 to match your donations. Our goal is to raise at least $40,000 within 72 hours. In our 72-Hour Holiday Matching Fund Campaign, which runs from December 17th through the 19th, every dollar donated will be matched with a dollar from the $20,000 pool until we reach the $40,000 goal. Wouldn’t it send a terrific message of support to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines?  Think of the many things we could accomplish to start the New Year with an additional $40,000 to assist their efforts on behalf of those in need in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.

You may click here to make your donation online, or you may send us a check. Checks dated during the match period will be applied to the campaign. You are welcome to designate your donation to a certain project, or simply make it unrestricted so that we can apply the funds where they are needed most. Let us know how you would like your donation applied and we’ll make sure it happens.

If you have any questions please call me. I have found that there is nothing I like more than conversing with Spirit of America donors. Each one has an inspirational story about why they’re connected to us, and it typically involves a lost patriot, a currently-deployed friend or family member, a longing to support our troops, or simply a great love for our country. Please, never hesitate to call me to ask questions, make comments or suggestions, or simply to talk about the great work in which we are all involved.

Let’s see if we can once again exhaust the entire matching grant. This past Memorial Day we started with a $10,000 match and within 4 hours met the goal of $20,000. We went on to raise $61,000 in only three days, and we are hoping for a comparable effort this time around. We realize the economy has weakened considerably since the spring, and wish to thank in advance all of those who can participate. Thanks also to those of you who choose not to participate at this time, but give to us in other ways throughout the year. On behalf of the brave American men and women fighting for freedom and democracy on foreign soil, a heartfelt thanks and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and prosperous New Year!

Dennis Norris
Executive Director
dennis@spiritofamerica.net">dennis@spiritofamerica.net
(317) 518-8825

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Thanks to a request from Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Kevin Albrecht serving at Camp Adder Tallil base in Iraq, we have a new project opportunity to help Iraq Bedouins disenfranchised during Saddam's reign.  SFC Albrecht has a strong commitment to leaving behind a legacy of hope for the Iraqi people, but we need your support to make that happen.

SFC Albrecht and friends

Please visit his project page, SFC Kevin Albrecht-Supplies for Iraqi Bedouins, to read more about the plight of the Bedouins in his area.  Your contributions to SFC Albrecht's project will go towards purchasing critically needed supplies such as tarps, shoes and baby clothes.

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With over 40% illiteracy rates and exposure to formal education limited to roughly one-third of school age children, providing the necessary tools to make school accessible and viable is critical to the future of Djibouti, a front-line state in the war on global terrorism.  

Spirit of America is pleased to support LCDR Lya Theodoratos' outreach to children in Djibouti. Thanks to the contributions to SoA's Unrestricted Fund, 100 school kits have already been distributed and 200 more are on the way to LCDR Theodoratos and those serving with her.

The LCDR provided this update on the distribution of the initial school kits:

Visit to Douda Elementary School, Djibouti, Africa  

On November 23, 2008, Navy military personnel from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Africa visited the Douda Elementary School which is a small town on the outskirts of Djibouti City, approximately 30 km from the Somalia border.
We distributed school supplies that were donated by Spirit of America.

This elementary school has approximately 250 students.

LCDR Lya Theodoratos is the point of contact for Spirit of America and is very supportive of providing support to the local community. LCDR Theodoratos is the Facilities Engineer and Acquisition Division Director in the Public Works Department of Camp Lemonier, the Navy’s only expeditionary base. Accompanying her on this humanitarian outreach mission were LT Antoine Thornton, Camp Security Officer, LTjg Stephanie Lastinger, Camp Financial Officer, and MAC Luis Arboleda, Master at Arms Chief.

The children were very excited and waited in anticipation to get the much needed school supplies. The children started to congregate around us as we began to stage and open the boxes, but their teachers were quick to order them back to their classrooms. The children were then brought out by class and received the supplies in an orderly fashion.

This visit was made possible by Mr. Mohammed Waberi who works for LCDR Theodoratos as a translator. His support was crucial in arranging this visit and to communicate with the school director and teachers during out visit.

LCDR Lya Theodoratos and friends at school drop
LCDR Lya Theordoratos hands out school kits in Djibouti

All smiles in Djibouti after school kit distribution

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As part of your contributions to the Unrestricted Fund, Spirit of America sent 200 school kits, hygiene kits and soccer balls at the request of LCDR Jon Lindsay serving with Special Operations Task Force West in al-Anbar Province, Iraq.  Though LCDR Lindsay has returned home, Jim Conway serving with the Task Force confirmed for us that the donations have been distributed to the delight of Iraqi children in the area.

Boys in Anbar receive soccer balls from Special Ops

Mr. Conway writes, "Thanks again for your support, we have actually already distributed a very large amount of everything you had sent us.  I was out with some Marines yesterday and we handed out a ton of soccer balls and school kits, the kids loved them and we actually didn't have enough for the amount of kids there were.  Then tonight we also handed out an entire bag of soccer balls.  I have pictures from both I will get together and send your way.  We passed out the materials to our other detachments throughout the region and they have been handing everything out as well.  We would love for you to continue supporting us here with anything you can send, the soccer balls and school kits are definitely the most popular items.  Thanks again."

Respectfully,
Jim Conway

With your continued support of SoA's Unrestricted Fund, we will provide for additional item for the Special Operations Task Force and other projects in need.

More photos of the distribution of supplies:

Sharing Supplies in Anbar

Handing out supplies in Anbar Province, Iraq

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As part of SoA's support of US Army Corps of Engineers Angela Drinkwitz's project to support a Community Learning Center for Girls and Young Women, sewing supplies and jump ropes are on their way to Baghdad. 

At the request of Paralegal Specialist Drinkwitz and thanks to your direct contributions to this project, we purchase over 80 yards of fabric, including warm wools and cotton, buttons, thread, needles and scissors.  In addition, we sent 25 quality Reebok jump ropes to encourage recreation and sports activity at the center.

Ms. Drinkwitz has already been teaching women in the area to crochet and shared this message and photo:."Attached are photos of the crochet class I taught today.  Everyone had a great time and they are looking forward to their next lesson.  They appreciate the lessons in crochet, but are still very excited about the sewing room."  US Army Corps of Engineers Paralegal Specialist Angela Drinkwitz serving in Baghdad.

Crochet class led by USACE Angela Drinkwitz

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My name is Dennis Norris, and I am the new executive director of Spirit of America. I am a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, and I also served for ten years as a San Francisco police officer. There were a few issues that caused me to change careers, not the least of which was an on-duty injury, but I have always defined myself most in life by these military and quasi-military experiences. It was in these environments that I matured and learned to become a leader. For the past 20 years I have enjoyed a successful career in nonprofit management thanks to this early exposure to discipline and preparation, which brings me to the here and now.

Spirit of America represents, for me, the pinnacle of my career. On a professional level, the position allows me to apply all that I have learned and experienced in both large and small nonprofit settings. On a personal level, the position gives me gratifying access to the military community, and that of its supporters, as we strive to reach the same lofty goals of peace and stability in a tumultuous world. And finally, on an emotional level, the position gives me the opportunity to provide real and tangible help-to give time and sweat equity in support of my fellow servicemen and women, and to raise funds for projects that they feel have true impact.

This is not my first experience working with the Armed Forces in a nonprofit context. A few years ago I helped to build the Paws for Patriots program at Southeastern Guide Dogs, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Soldiers who are blinded in Iraq or Afghanistan are given a guide dog and special training through Paws for Patriots, and I am proud to say that I helped lay the groundwork to make that program a success. After placing several dogs with soldiers, and after befriending many wounded heroes at Walter Reed's Physical Therapy Ward, I knew that my future career path was forever connected in some way with our troops. The sense of fulfillment that one achieves in assisting true patriots of our great nation is too powerful for words, and the plain honest truth is that I wanted more of it.

When I read about the mission of the Spirit of America, and when I heard of the many success stories, I was like many of you-completely and utterly sold. The projects funded by Spirit of America are in and of themselves inspirational. But I believe what makes them so is that we really listen to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. They know better than anyone else what is needed in war-torn areas, and we pay close attention in order to give them what they want. Then, when the Spirit of America family of supporters steps in to donate funds for these projects, the machine begins to click and it is truly a sight to behold.

And so here I am-ready, willing and able to lead Spirit of America into its next level of existence. Jim Hake, the founder of Spirit of America, has done an incredible job of laying the foundation for this organization, and I am so fortunate to have him alongside me on this journey. My promise to you from this point forward is to be an exemplary steward of the organization and its funds, to leave no stone unturned as far as fundraising and awareness-building opportunities, and to work as hard as I can every day for our troops.

I would also like to ask something of you, our valued constituency, whose constant support keeps our mission alive on a day-to-day basis. I need you to talk about Spirit of America to everyone you know-friends, family, colleagues, neighbors. . .everyone! Drive them to our website, ask them to become our fan on Facebook, or link them to us on MySpace. Encourage them to get involved and to support Spirit of America any way they can. If you spread the word about what we're doing for our troops, and what our troops are doing for the people in the areas they serve, then we will continue to expand our numbers and, as a result, continue to have real impact upon this world. It is an important and life-altering thing that we do here, and it is no small task. But then again, anything really worth doing is seldom small in scope.

All the best,

Dennis Norris, Executive Director
www.spiritofamerica.net

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Dennis brings a rare combination of successful nonprofit leadership, a hands-on entrepreneurial approach and service to our country. He has served as the Executive Director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Indiana. He built the Paws for Patriots Program at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL, which provides guide dogs for soldiers blinded in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to the US Coast Guard, Dennis served in the San Francisco Police Department.

Dennis is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. He’s an accomplished drummer and triathlete. Earlier this year Dennis was competing in an Ironman triathlon. He had completed the 2.4 mile swim and was 70 miles into the 112 mile bicycle race when another competitor made an errant right turn into Dennis’ path. Dennis hit the bike, flew over his handlebars and broke his collarbone. With his injury Dennis went on to complete the triathlon – biking another 42 miles and running a full marathon.

The men and women Spirit of America serves will benefit from determination like that.

He has been on the job only 5 days but has already begun making a significant contribution. I am very excited about Spirit of America’s future under Dennis’ leadership. Most importantly, we are seeing a greater need for our assistance from American soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan, Africa and Iraq. Dennis will ensure we are able to meet those needs.

You’ll be hearing directly from Dennis soon. More on his background is here: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/site/who/Dennis_Norris

All the best, Jim Hake Founder & Chairman

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Thanks to your generous contributions to Spirit of America's Unrestricted Fund, Iraqi children near Forward Operation Base Kalsu about 25 miles South of Baghdad have school supplies and toys.  In response to the request from Army Chaplain (CPT) Shannon Philio, SoA sent 250 school kits which include backpacks, packs of notebook paper and a pencil box filled with supplies along with beanie babies, soccer balls and other toys totaling over $5,000. 

Chaplain Philio sent a big "Thank You" (literally!) with the following note:

"I loaded up the milvan with the school supplies that you and others sent.  The truck left this morning.  The team that is going to distribute it at the local school will call me the once a date is determined.  I may or may not be able to attend, but the Soldiers who go into the schools regularly promised to take pictures and send to me.  My leadership frowns upon chaplains getting out in public venues.  It can be overprotective at times.  This close to redeploying, I’m now being told to let these Soldiers who I know very well distribute the supplies.  We are going to bring many smiles to the kids of Iraq.  Just wanted to let you know the goodwill is not sitting gathering dust.  More forthcoming!   

·         250 backpacks

·         500 reams of paper

·         250 school kits

·         100 boxes of school supplies, i.e. pencils, scissors, glue, folders, crayons, etc.

·         250 soccer balls

·         500 shirts (S-M-L kids’ sizes)

·         1000 Ty stuffed animals

CH (CPT) Shannon K. Philio, USA
Chaplain, 703D Brigade Support Battalion

Beanies, beanies and more beanies!

Boxes of supplies from Spirit of America

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Army Captain Terri Selph has a passion for helping wounded Afghan citizens injured by roadside bombs.  As we posted in her project page, Wheelchairs for Afghanistan,  Cpt. Selph contacted Spirit of America to provide wheelchairs to give these wounded adults and children better mobility. 
We are pleased to report that we jumpstarted this project by sending 15 wheelchairs to bring immediate relief to these unfortunate casualties of a country at war.  Captain Selph shared with us her delight and the difference that these wheelchairs will make:

"This is awesome news and I am so excited about this!  These wheelchairs will improve the quality of life immensely for the Afghan people who have lost limbs due to land mine accidents.  I'm hoping to find a boy I met back in April who experienced such a tragedy who will benefit from your hard work and generousity...Thank you so much!"--Army Captain Terri Selph, Afghanistan
Your generous contributions to this project will enable us to replace the "jumpstart" funds for other needy projects. In addition, we will continue to support Cpt. Selph's efforts to improve the lives of the Afghan people.

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Spirit of America is now on Facebook! Come find our page and add us for updates, info, and to connect with other supporters like you! 

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Spirit of America was excited to receive a request from CPT Jason Hetzel, a member of the Army Humanitarian Assistance Team in Morocco, Africa. CPT Hetzel's primary work is to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in Africa. Here is an excerpt from his original request:
"I am writing in regards to ask for any assistance you may be able to offer my Team in terms of things such as donating school supplies or soccer balls. We have the ability to build wells and schools but often times lack the ability to contribute things which have an immediate impact directly to the children and poorer villages."

Humanitarian Assistance Team Members and African Locals

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SPC Kissam with CPT Steve Dunn

Visit SPC Kissam's project page here to donate

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Greetings Friends and Supporters!

As Jim mentioned in the last email, we've made some military outreach efforts in the last couple of months to further spread the word about how Spirit of America can help, and the response has generated many new requests! It's going to take a couple of emails just to bring you up to date, so let's get started! Following are 4 new requestors, and any and all could use your support. The requests really run the gamut, from farming tools to sewing supplies and more. With your generous support, we can and will do it all!

ARMY SSG DALE RACE NEEDS FARMING TOOLS FOR KUNAR PROVINCE IN AFGHANISTAN
In brief, SSG Dale Race is with the Corp of Engineers and wants to help a small Afghan community. He hopes to provide farming tools, clothing, and just about everything else! He writes:

"These people here in this country know that we are here to help and not here to take away any rights, religion or personal freedoms, for they have seen the good we have done. By building schools, police stations, energy stations and roads that have helped thousands benefit from this. I would like to go one step farther and start one on one and work with our current civil affairs to help these people in our area with your help.

How do I get started?
Sincerely, SSG RACE, DALE Asadabad, Afghanistan"

Local kids in Kunar Province Valley, Afghanistan

Read More about SSG Dale Race in Asadabad. 

STAFF SERGEANT CHARLES ROBINSON REACHES OUT TO DEAF CHILDREN IN IRAQ
Army Staff Sergeant Charles Robinson serving with the 7th Sustainment Brigade out of Talill Airbase near Nasiriyah, Iraq wants to reach out and help the local community, particularly with supplies for a School for the Deaf. The Sergeant is particularly interested in helping the deaf children since he is completely deaf in his right ear.


SSG Robinson with Mothers & Girls from the Deaf School

Read More on SSG Robinson's efforts 

CHAPLAIN DAMON SAXTON AND THE 7TH SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE
In brief: He's also part of the same brigade serving near Nasiriyah where he and his fellow soldiers have been busy making hundreds of desks for school kids in Southern Iraq. Now they need the school kits to go along with those! Chaplain Saxton writes:

"I have attached a couple pictures of our project. The first one is some of the desk frames that we got from a warehouse in Iraq. They are old frames that the seats and tops have broken off of. We are building new seats and tops."

Hundreds of desks made by 7th Sustainment Brigade

Read more on Chaplain Saxton

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANGELA DRINWITZ-LEARNING CENTER FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN
The Army Corps of Engineers personnel would like to provide necessities for a recently opened Women's Center. These types of centers provide a much needed opportunity for Iraqi girls to get together for friendship and education. In addition to the sewing stations, this center will also provide access to computers and fitness equipment. Empowering the young women of Iraq is an important step in a positive future for Iraq. Spirit of America will provide fabric, sewing notions and other supplies needed for the center's ongoing success.
Army Corps of Engineers Angela Drinkwitz writes:

"Recently an apartment complex in Baghdad IZ has opened a community center for women and girls. I have been asked to teach these girls and young women how to sew. While I am more than happy to provide my services, the magnitude of collecting all of the start-up materials while over here is a bit daunting. They anticipate a class size up to about 20 people. So, I turned to the Internet to see if any groups out there provide assistance for such things.

As luck would have it, I found a familiar name along with a photo of many familiar faces! Many of my colleagues from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division were in the photo along with a message from MAJ Ben Rivera about wheelchairs provided to a prosthetics clinic here in Iraq.

Upon my discovery, I ran right up stairs to speak with Ben about your organization. He was kind enough to forward to me your contact information...I would appreciate any assistance you may be able to provide.

Read more on Army Corps of Engineers Angela Drinkwitz

In closing, we want to share a couple of photos of the happy recipients of SSG William Disoso's soccer ball distribution in Baghdad. 

Spirit of America will spend over $50,000 from the Unrestricted Fund in the next couple of weeks to give these projects (and more) a healthy "jump start". Help us keep up the momentum by supporting the efforts of our deployed men and women serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa!

We'll be back in a couple weeks with more news. As always, we send our deepest gratitude and appreciation for your support!

All the best,

Spirit of America
www.spiritofamerica.net

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Please take a minute to check out the new project page for Army Staff Sergeant Charles Robinson in Iraq for supplies for a Deaf School and Medical Clinics.  With your support of his project, SoA will provide school kits, wheelchairs and basic medical supplies to help improve the lives of local Iraqis where SSG Robinson serves.

SSG Robinson wrote to us describing some of their recent efforts to provide humanitarian aid:

SSG Robinson with kids during aid drop

We put 346 school bags together yesterday and plan to put another 65 together Monday.  It looks like our first school drop will be the 23rd.  We will be taking 45 school bags to a school for the deaf and mute in northern Muthana Provence.  I will take pictures and send them to you.  For right now the School Drop for the new school that we are building should be done on 6NOV08.  We will also be doing a all girls school soon for 300 students; we will also deliver around 132 school desks that the Chapel (with volunteers) have built for them.  We will also be doing additional school drops in joint operations with our Romanian Allies that are stationed here.  Each School Bag has paper, ruler, pencils, crayons, color pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, scissors, pencil box, folder, and a toy.  I will send you pictures of all of these events.  The idea is to do school drops throughout October and November.  We are especially short on pencil sharpeners.  We will also hand out a soccer ball to each student.

Girls everywhere love to play house

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Spirit of America is happy to report that SSG William Disoso in Iraq emailed us good news and pictures to share! We had sent soccer balls for he and his fellow soldiers to distribute amongst the children in the area of Iraq that they serve in. The distribution was a success and made many children smile. SSG Disoso writes:
"HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF ONE OF THE PLATOONS STOPPING IN ONE OF THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS IN BAGHDAD. IN THE PICTURES I AM ATTACHING YOU CAN SEE THE CONDITION OF THE CHILDREN AND HOW HAPPY EVEN SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A SOCCER BALL CAN MAKE THEM.

UPDATE:  THE SAME PLATOON IN THE PICTURES THAT I AM ATTACHING TRAVELED BY THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY AND SAW ONE OF THE CHILDREN WITH ONE OF THE SOCCER BALLS. THE CHILD RECOGNIZED THE PLATOON AND HELD UP THE SOCCER BALL AND GAVE THE PLATOON A BIG THUMBS UP."

Happy Kids After Distribution

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The camping gear and art supplies purchased for the Iraqi Scouts under SoA's Green Zone Council Outfits Iraqi Scouts project and at the request of 1LT Greg Hembree have been delivered!  We will share photos as soon as we have them. 

You will be pleased to know that I just got back from a week-long trip to Baghdad where I coordinated the delivery of the Coleman Camping gear as well as all of the arts and crafts supplies collected by our scouts in the US. The equipment for the Victory Base Council is safe and sound at their scout camp, ready for their scouts to use at their next outing. The equipment destined for the Green Zone Council is scheduled to convoy to the their location in the next few days and will subsequently be stored at the GZC's scout camp. I don't yet have any photos of the boys actually using their equipment, but I've asked the wonderful adult volunteers to get me some pictures at the earliest opportunity. " 1LT Greg Hembree

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We recently received another message from Colonel Jane Curtis stationed near Baghdad.  Col. Curtis requested 150 school kits in August and, thanks to your generous contributions to Spirit of America's Unrestricted Fund, we were able to 250 kits which have already started to arrived!

Just wanted to send you a couple of pictures to start. The kids in this picture belong to families that have fled from the terrorists and are in a sort of protected status. The lady handing out the bags watches out for the families.
We received 12 more boxes today- Thanks again!!!
Take Care,
 [Colonel ]Jane Curtis

Handing out supplies in Iraq

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