Comments for Project Valour-IT Update

Project Valour-IT Update

2009-01-15T14:04:03Z

So, what *are* we doing with the money you guys sent? Well, we spend it, of course.

On this.

Via Fuzzybear Lioness (see the post below), a note from Greta, the Soldiers' Angels AIC (Angel in Charge) for Louisiana:

Meet Michael and Greta. Greta is helping Michael use his new Project Valour-IT -provided laptop. Michael is a quadriplegic in a VA facility in Louisiana and will be using the Microsoft Vista-based voice control until he gets the official software from DoD's Computer-assistance Program.

The background is that Greta met him at a local VA hospital and reported he was extremely depressed and she thought it might help/encourage him to have a computer. I can only imagine. His was injured a year or so ago. In a sense, in terms of interacting with the world, he went from 60-to-0 essentially instantly. Let's have Greta pick up the thread:

I spent some time with Michael today, navigating his new Valour-IT laptop. The Vista voice recognition software was fairly easy to use. This picture was taken by the social worker there for their newsletter. Today was the first day she had ever seen him smile! Turns out he was web savvy before his injury last year. Michael did not want to put the computer away when I was leaving. He wanted to go through the tutorial again and make sure he knew how to do everything. Thank you all for helping change the life of this hero.

Angel hugs,

~Greta~

Emphasis mine. One of the points I make during our fundraising is to try to imagine being as Internet-reliant as this generation of warriors is - and then take the Internet away. Just note how Internet-reliant you are right now - you're reading this post, right? Maybe you got the link in email? Saw it on a website? Then take it away but don't replace it with anything. This isn't like taking a walk around Walden Pond to unhook and refresh, by choice. Their injury and loss is more akin to being stuck in a sensory deprivation box with malign intent.

Your donations make a very real, very tangible improvement in the lives of the warriors who get the laptops.

Make no mistake - Michael has the real work to do, in making a new life for himself, and in that task the laptop is an aide, not a panacea - but you guys, via Soldiers' Angels and Project Valour-IT, help provide the tool to make that transition easier. Without your support, whether you gave $5 or $5000, Project Valour-IT is just a nice idea, vice a reality.

Thank you.

Speaking of the fundraiser - To those who are owed a cluebat, I apologize - the bats themselves got backordered and should arrive shortly, after which it will take a week to get 'em lasered and then finished and out to you. That's all on me - not Soldiers' Angels.

Comment from Patti on 2009-01-17

2009-01-17T13:53:09Z

Thank you all for helping with VALOUR IT,
It is such a wonderful program and heroes morale is greatly increased.
I hope that is what you all hang onto.Instead of our aggresive attempt to reach out to those that do not know about us through direct mail.
Direct mail has allowed us to continue this program when funds run low.
When one donates to Valour IT online or directly to the
Pasadena office we are able to put 100 percent of the funds towards, laptops, WII's and GPS. Even though it costs us money to administrate to this , include laptop bags and shipping. All the money goes directly to the electronics.
I am so proud of Soldiers Angels and all it does.
It used to hurt my feelings, the incredibly cruel things people say about the Direct Mail, calling me a C----, and other choice words, but when the economy went down and donations dribbled up, what saved us,and kept the supplies going to the troops, backpacks and vet packs to the hospitals and laptops for the wounded is Direct Mail.!
We never put one dime into this way of fundraising ,started in 2005 , and has brought us in much money and will continue until THEY ALL COME HOME.
Thank you again from my heart for being there for troops.
Patti Patton-Bader
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104
pbader@soldiersangels.org
512 985 6684

Comment from AFSister on 2009-01-16

2009-01-16T14:52:28Z

John (not the Armorer)-
You are not alone. I'm right there with you, and so are several others who have expressed the same concern.
V-IT is a wonderful program, but when I donate to SA, I make sure that my money is directed only to that project for the very reasons you cite. And as FBL says, SA is very good at making sure that designated funds go only to that project. I just don't make undesignated donations, because I don't want my money used for the fancy and over-the-top marketing campaigns of late.

Comment from FbL on 2009-01-15

2009-01-16T05:57:28Z

John (above), thank you so much for your support of Valour-IT! I can assure you that Valour-IT donations DO go directly to the Valour-IT program (as is true for any other direct donations directed to a specific program through the www.soldiersangels.org website or sent to the Pasadena address).

Comment from John (not the armorer) on 2009-01-15

2009-01-16T04:51:42Z

Bless everyone association with Valour-IT, and the troops who need the support.

However, I have a serious problem with Soldiers Angels and their fund raising tactics sending out "goodies" and prepaid postage, etc. That is usually the sign of professional fund raising by some outfit that gets a percentage of the contributions. Personally, I refuse to contribute anything via outfits like that.

I will continue to contribute to Valour-IT, but want to make sure that 100% goes there, not just the leftovers after some professional fundraisers skim off their commission and the wasted money on giveaway goodies.

Just one person's opinion.

Comment from Greta on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T18:14:59Z

Thank for suprising me with this nice post. Another thing he is very anxious to do on his computer, is to be able to read books on-line. Before meeting him, I never thought about that as a result of his inability to use his arms. There is so much we take for granted, my life is changed forever having seen what one Project Valour-IT laptop can do to a hero. Thank you everyone for supporing this wonderful effort. Information about how you can get involved or donate toward this can be found at http://soldiersangels.org.

Comment from Barb on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T16:47:26Z

Great update Fuzzy & John - it's so good to see how the project affects the recipients :-)

Comment from Bettye Brown on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T16:42:33Z

How wondrous! I am overwhelmed at the goodness displayed in this project. How can I help? Congratulations and thank you for sharing this information. Bettye

Comment from FbL on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T16:18:28Z

Btw, I've been so busy I haven't even gotten out the official word on this, but we were able to get an incredible discount on the latest batch of laptops. So, the money raised from the November fundraiser paid for 200 high-quality laptops, 30 Wii Sports systems (for physical therapy), and a couple of GPS devices (for TBI patients with memory/directional challenges).

Comment from FbL on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T16:08:58Z

Thank you for that lovely post. I knew you'd do a great job with it. :)