9.25.2006 - 03:10pm ET

(CSRwire) RADCLIFF, KY - President John Tindall announced today that USA Cares has been awarded a $2,500,000 grant through the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund, administered by the California Community Foundation. The grant will be awarded over a two-year period.

The grant's purpose is to continue, and dramatically expand USA Care's assistance to American military Service members and/or their families who have unmet needs due to death, injury, or other physical or mental detriment, or financial hardship, as a result of service or deployments related to ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hugh Dukes, Executive Director of USA Cares remarked, "The guidance and encouragement we have received from the fund directly supports our efforts to become the first call of military leaders and military families when there is an unforeseen gap in support during a crisis." Dukes also said, "In our proposal, we detailed our efforts to maintain a consistent and responsible application of funds, but this generous gift also highlights the continued support of the American public both privately and organizationally to the goals of USA Cares."

About the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund
The California Community Foundation ("CCF") administers the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund. Founded in 1915, CCF is a leading charitable organization in Los Angeles County, managing over $1 billion in assets. CCF invests more than $100 million a year in Los Angeles through grants to nonprofit organizations. For more information, please visit our website, at www.calfund.org.

About USA Cares
To date, over 3,200 military family members have contacted or been referred to USA Cares, headquartered in Radcliff, Kentucky. Through aggressive advocacy, USA Cares staff has provided grant assistance valued at over $1.7 million in the first three years of operation. Working closely with other similar organizations across America, USA Cares strives to maintain a military family's dignity and privacy, while working toward a responsive system to take the burden off the family during stressful times of mobilization or deployment.

Ongoing projects include Operation Arctic Linebacker supporting Service members in Alaska and the I Care Too! Campaign that is allowing thousands of Americans to visibly express their support to our Service members serving in harms way. Visit USA Cares at www.usacares.us.

USA Cares is a member of the Department of Defense's program, America Supports You.

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