The Home Front Cares, Inc., P.O. Box 38516,

Colorado Springs, CO  80937-8516

Hotline Phone:  (719) 447-3838

Website: www.thehomefrontcares.org

 Press Release April 23, 2007

Contact: Jeff Dahlberg 237-8071, Al Batey 599-8861, Tom Miller 499-5442

The Home Front Cares, Inc. announces today that the Welcome Home GWOT Heroes Fund will become part of its organization.

Welcome Home GWOT Heroes Fund is an organization started by Al Batey and Tom Miller to support homecoming activities of troops based in the Colorado Springs area following their return from active theatre of operations. Mr. Batey and Mr. Miller have been appointed directors of The Home Front Cares, Inc.

The major activities of Welcome Home GWOT Heroes Fund:

-Supporting welcoming ceremonies for soldiers and families, unit activities, memorial services, and other functions which are not readily covered by existing infrastructure. This would include providing food and soft drinks for these activities. In kind contributions from local vendors are generally utilized.

-Providing Welcome Home Packets for deployed soldiers and families. Packets include discount coupons and special offers from local businesses. They are distributed at the Special Events Center after Welcome Home Ceremony, at the Post Welcome Center during initial newcomers in processing, and at Evans Army Hospital for returning wounded warriors.

-Provide funding for brigade level activities such as balls.

-Wounded Warriors program of regular Social Event to be held for benefit of wounded troops. Support to hospital and rehabilitative facilities.

The Home Front Cares was formed in 2003 by two retired Air Force Colonels, Bob Carlone and Joe Henjum. They served in Viet Nam and wanted to be sure the families of deployed in Colorado were well supported. Celebrating its fourth anniversary the organization has grown tremendously thanks to the generous support of a grateful community. THFC has help over 2000 families and last year spent $300,000 helping families through its various programs. As the war continues and the local military presence grows, its services are even more in demand. A major initiative of THFC this year is expanding its services to wounded troops with housing and vehicle modifications as well as assisting injured service members in their transition from military service to civilian life.

The major programs of The Home Front Cares, Inc:

 -Grants to families for short term emergency financial crisis’, such as household repairs, automobile problems, child care and special needs issues.

-Energy Assistance through a grant from Energy Outreach Colorado, THFC pays utility bills for military families demonstrating financial need.

-Wounded Troop/Casualty Assistance Fund to pay for expenses of family members to travel to hospitals or come to memorial services.

-Adaptive Housing and Vehicle Modification Program for severely injured service members.