McKee Awards $50k To RI Military Family Relief Fund​

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Dan McKee and other top state leaders gathered Friday to award $50,000 in donations to the Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund.

The money was raised during a fundraising campaign last year, spearheaded by then-Lt. Gov. McKee.

"While the brave men and women of our military are serving our state and nation, their families are at home serving too. It is our duty as Rhode Islanders to do all we can to support them," McKee said. "Our local service members and their families continue to sacrifice so much, especially during the coronavirus pandemic when hundreds of Rhode Island National Guard members have been activated to support the state’s COVID response."

The organization offers assistance to active-duty, reserve and family members of the Rhode Island National Guard, providing emergency financial relief. One-time grants can be used to cover costs such as rent, mortgages, utility bills, medical services, prescriptions, insurance and vehicle payments. Since 2015, the Military Family Relief Fund has supported 113 families in the state, totaling more than $346,000.

Former Lt. Gov Charles Fogarty started the fund in 2004, and it has been overseen by the lieutenant governor's office ever since. It is composed of a volunteer group of representatives from all military branches, as well as the Office of the Adjutant General.

McKee thanked everyone who supported the initiative, and said that Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos "is committed to working hard to continue this initiative."

"Honoring our state’s men and women in the armed forces, past and present, is one of our greatest honors," Matos said. "We owe our military a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. I look forward to carrying on the tradition of ensuring that we can help our state’s military members and their families at times when they need the help most."

General Christopher Callahan, the Adjutant General of the Rhode Island National Guard, said the fund makes an "enormous impact [on service members] ... when they need it most ", especially during the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are truly grateful for this generous donation and the hard work put in by the Governor, the volunteers, and the donors of Operation Holiday Cheer who make this program such a success," Callahan said.

The fund is supported by individual and corporate donations, as well as the check-off box option on Rhode Island's state tax forms.