 Sitrep
January 2022 Vol. 6
The Benefits of Generosity
I have been thinking about generosity recently, specifically the benefits of giving for both the giver and the receiver. The benefits to the receiver are easy to identify since their need is the reason for the generous act. The benefits to the giver are often not identified or focused on, however, recent studies have shown that giving reduces blood pressure, improves overall happiness and self-esteem, and promotes social connection. In addition, generosity is contagious, those benefits are easily identified by others and motivates them to give. Similar to sharing a smile.
In 2020 when the pandemic dramatically curtailed donations, Navy Safe Harbor Foundation questioned our way forward; would we be able to continue to fulfill our mission? And yet, here we are almost 2 years later, proud to say we have met the needs of our Navy and Coast Guard Sailors enrolled in the Navy Wounded Warrior Program. We have filled every request presented to us. How did we do that? Only through the generous acts of our donor family. Our supporters have stepped up through individual donations, volunteering, participating in events, and by sponsoring our mission. We know that we benefited, and that we receive double benefits when we pass those acts of generosity on to our Sailors. We hope that your support has brought you joy and that you take great comfort in the fact that you have had a direct impact on our Sailors, their families, and their caregivers. We thank you for every act of generosity. We could not carry out our mission without you.
2021 Program wrap up:
Adaptive Athletics includes Sailors who are working toward a place on Team Navy. These athletes ultimately face-off against teams from other services in the Warrior Games and against international teams at the Invictus Games. NSHF supports travel, accommodations, and meals for camps, trials and games as our athletes prepare for and represent the Navy and Coast Guard in these Games. While the Games were canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic, 21 athletes and 4 caregivers, were able to attend an in-person camp at Port Hueneme in July.
The Caregiver Reset program provides respite, resources, and resiliency training for caregivers of our Sailors. Ideally an in-person event, we were able to offer our program on a virtual platform, allowing us to meet the needs of over 30 caregivers. Over the course of 2021 we hosted weekly sessions providing experts on communication, nutrition, relaxation, mental health, relationship building skills, and available community resources.
Family Support comprises the largest percentage of the grants NSHF fills. Each request must show that the identified need is directly related to the Sailors underlying medical condition and that government funds are not an available resource. This year 34 requests have been filled benefitting not only an individual Sailor but, in many cases the entire family. These grants cover a wide variety of needs such as care related travel, expenses incurred with transition, specialized equipment, and educational support. Relief of financial stressors eases the Sailors journey toward rehabilitation and recovery.
All together this year, NSHF has provided nearly $90,000 in grants to Sailors, their families, and their caregivers. We could only do this with the help of our generous donors and your acts of kindness. Your support makes this possible.
NSHF Board of Directors
 Vice Admiral Lou Crenshaw, U. S. Navy (Retired), was an A-6 Bombardier/Navigator in the fleet and subsequently commanded an Attack Squadron, Carrier Air Wing and Carrier Battle Group. He also was Commander of Navy Region Europe and was the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements and Analysis. He now enjoys retirement on Virginia’s Northern Neck with the lovely Mrs. Crenshaw and a host of grandchildren. VADM Crenshaw has served as NSHF’s Chairman of the Board since 2012.
 Rear Admiral Jeffrey Hathaway, U. S. Coast Guard (Retired) is a 34-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran, retiring from active duty in 2007. During his active duty career RADM Hathaway had command of several major cutters. While serving as the Navy’s Director of Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection, he was stationed at the Pentagon on 9/11/2001, when American Airlines flight 77 tore through the building. Surviving himself, 27 of his immediate staff perished as a result of the attack. He is currently president of Security Shield Associates and serves on several non-profit board of directors. RADM Hathaway has served as NSHF’s Vice Chairman since 2012.
 Captain Mark Vanderberg, U. S. Navy, retired from the Navy in 1997 after 27 years of active service. Where he commanded three aviation commands (HS-5, HS-1 and COMHSWING ONE) and two ship commands (USS MOBILE (LKA-115), USS NASSAU (LHA-4). He has served on the board of the U.S. Naval Institute, Association of the U.S. Navy, and as director and trustee for the Naval Helicopter Association. As a life member of the American Association of Individual Investors, he served as the Treasurer and later as President of the Washington D.C. chapter until 2006. CAPT Vanderberg has served as the NSHF’s Treasurer since 2020.
 Vice Admiral James Amerault, U.S. Navy (Retired), a member of USNA Class of 65, loved every moment of his 36-year career from Brown Water Navy to his last 4 years at the Pentagon. Presently, VADM Amerault helps his youngest daughter give back to NSHF through the apparel brands they started together, The Admiral’s Daughters & Old Salt, and as the coordinator of the Annual Southeast Region Golf Tournament. VADM Amerault serves as Chairman Emeritus, on the NSHF Board of Directors and is a founding member.
 Chris Decker is the President and Founder of Planate Management Group with more than 35 years of U.S. Navy Installations military and civilian installation management experience both in uniform and as a senior government civilian and contractor. Since 2007, Mr. Decker has led a diverse team of technical experts who are experienced in working in some of the most complex and difficult environments worldwide providing planning, design, construction, and professional services solutions mostly for Navy/NAVFAC/CNIC clients. Mr. Decker serves as Senior Vice President, on the NSHF Board of Directors and is a founding member.
 Heidi Weller is a Registered Nurse with 15 years of in-hospital experience. A navy spouse for 13 years, Ms. Weller found reward in giving back when she began volunteering with Navy Safe Harbor Foundation in 2014. Serving as Secretary from 2015 through 2018, Ms. Weller assumed the position as President in 2019, a position she continues to fill.
 Scott Stanton is a retired Navy Captain with 26 years of service. Following Naval service, he worked as a senior executive in the aerospace and defense industry supporting several large defense contractors. He is currently retired and living in Williamsburg, VA. Mr. Stanton serves as NSHF’s Vice President of Resource Development.
 Dr. Patricia Watts Kelley is a retired Navy Captain who is a Family and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and research scientist. Her area of research and expertise is care of military and veterans and their families – specifically in the area of caregiver support and health promotion. She is currently on the NSHF board and serves as the Secretary.
 Arne Nelson, Captain U.S. Navy Retired). He is a 31-year veteran Naval Aviator, followed by 16 years leading non-profit charity organizations. He currently volunteers time in the non-profit community arena. He recently earned a Certificate in Children’s Book Writing from the University of California, San Diego. CAPT Nelson has been on the NSHF Board for 2 years as a Director.
 Rear Admiral Christopher W. Cole, U.S. Navy (Retired), served in the United States Navy for thirty-two years. A Naval Aviator, he commanded two helicopter squadrons and two amphibious warships. As a Flag Officer he commanded Navy installations in the Republic of Korea and the five-state Mid-Atlantic Region. His final Navy assignment was as the Director of Ashore Readiness for the Chief of Naval Operations. Since retirement from the Navy in 2004 Chris has worked as a consultant to private industry and the Department of Defense. He now serves on the Board of Directors of the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation.
 David Vardeman, Department Head Not for Profit and Global Business Development, at Capital Bank, focusing on Veteran Service Organizations and traditional Not for Profit Organizations throughout the USA. Over the last eight years he has learned about and now specializes in: Military Veteran Health Care, Military Professional Transition, and Military Historical Preservation. Mr. Vardeman has been on the NSHF Board of Directors since 2016: and currently focuses on the Annual Veterans Day Luncheon at the Army Navy Country Club, Arlington VA. This annual event honors the US Navy/US Coast Guard Wounded Warrior-Sailor of the Year.
 As a Navy spouse of 50 years, Kip Route has been involved with military family issues for several decades. She was the CNO’s Ombudsman-at-Large; was a director of a non-profit devoted to Navy family readiness; and continues to facilitate a course for senior spouse leaders at National Defense University. Ms. Route serves as Director, on the NSHF Board of Directors.
 Joe Wade has spent over 40 years providing legal advice to Veterans about disability benefits. While working for the Navy, he was the appellate review authority for all Navy and Marine Corps disability claims. He created the expedited disability system for severely injured Servicemembers and is the Co-founder of the SEGS4VETS Foundation. Mr. Wade serves as Director, on the NSHF Board of Directors.
 Ms. Kuruvilla has nearly 25+ years of executive level leadership. She became the CEO of CC Pathways in June of 2015, an executive coaching and leadership development services firm. She also serves as Chief Operations Officer of GMHILL Engineering. She serves as a Director on the NSHF Board, where she was Treasurer from 2014-2018.
 Paul Dillon a Vietnam Veteran served in the United States Navy in various sea and shore billets. Retiring as a Master Chief in 1980 was employed by Northeast Utilities as a telecommunication manager at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station. Following retirement, in 1998 he volunteered at the Naval Submarine Base New London, CT Retired Activities Office (RAO) and currently serves as Director. Though this position he plays a vital part in yearly briefings of Military Retirees in Connecticut and surrounding States. He presently serves on Congressman Joe Courtney’s (D-2CT) Veterans Advisory Council. He serves as a member of the Secretary of the Navy Retiree Council, and is the President of the Nautilus Chapter of the AUSN.
 Paul X Rinn served in the United States navy for thirty years, Commanding Two surface warships Samuel B Roberts FFG 58 and Leyte Gulf CG 55. His final tour of duty was serving as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. Following his naval service, he operated as Senior Vice President at the international consulting Firm of Whitney Bradley and Brown. He departed WBB in 2012 to pursue a speaking and book writing career and joined Navy Safe Harbor Foundation as a Director that same year.
Wounded Warrior of the Year 2021
Heidi Weller
 In 1995, as a Senior at a new high school, Lorraine Currow joined the JROTC program to find a way to establish herself. Self-described as a Navy brat, she understood how difficult it would be to break into well-formed groups. Before graduating in 1996, Lorraine had become the first female Captain of her ROTC Drill Team and the first female on the shooting team. The JROTC experience set her up well to enter the Navy in January 1997.
She received a bit of a shock when, true to her Florida roots, she arrived in Great Lakes, IL wearing flip flops and shorts. It did not take her long to adjust to the weather and bootcamp, finding her focus and goals. She followed bootcamp with, Aircrew training, rescue swimmer “C” school and then Aviation Structural Mechanical School and was happy to return to sunny Florida when she received her first set of orders. Over the next few years, unexpected life circumstances altered Lorraine’s plans and ultimately found her in the Coast Guard as a Yeoman.
After 3 years stationed in Cape May, NJ Lorraine applied for and was accepted into the Navy Legal Technician Program in Rhode Island. Orders to Norfolk, VA, Miami FL, and Seattle, WA followed as Lorraine progressed in her Coast Guard career.
In 2012, stationed in Key West, FL Lorraine deployed on the cutter, USCGC THETIS. While underway she sustained a back injury when she fell down a ladder well while carrying heavy equipment. With gentle care and time, her back improved and she returned to her normal level of activity and work duties. However, a more serious second fall in 2017, caused more damage requiring back surgery and permanent limitations. During recovery she was introduced to and enrolled in the Navy Wounded Warrior Program (NWWP).
Senior Chief Carlock, Lorraine’s NWWP Non-medical Care Manager , immediately stepped in and began assisting Lorraine with the necessary steps of recovery and processing through her Medical Board. Lorraine gives Senior Chief Carlock credit for making the experience as smooth a transition as a life altering change could be. She says, “Senior Chief Carlock was there for me when I really needed her.” As life would have it, Lorraine was also introduced to Adaptive Athletics when she saw the Army Adaptive Athletic Team practicing at the base’s gym. Always a very active athlete Lorraine applied to the Navy Wounded Warrior Adaptive Athletic Program and almost immediately found her people.
In true Lorraine fashion, she learned the many new skills necessary to compete in seated shotput, discuss throwing, wheelchair rugby, archery, and rowing through Zoom coaching. Her return to sports helped Lorraine focus on both her physical and mental health. She credits adaptive athletics, her teammates, and her coaches with improved focus, regaining her personal identity, and helping her see herself was more than her injury.
Today Lorraine is active in helping others as they recover and is diligently pursuing a master’s degree in Recreational Therapy.
Congratulations to YN1 Lorraine Currow, our 2021 Wounded Warrior of the Year.
Photo upper right: YN1 Lorraine Currow & Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey
Photo lower left: Lorraine & her horse, Justice
Photo lower middle: Lorraine with compound bow
Photo lower right: IT1 Ruth Freeman (2020 NSHF WWoY) & YN1 Lorraine Currow (2021 NSHF WWoY)
  
Events Calendar
Fashion for Fighters Gala TBD June,2022
Virginia Golf Tournament Fort Belvoir, VA Sept. 9, 2022
Florida Golf Tournament Jacksonville, FL Oct. 28, 2022
Veterans Day Luncheon Arlington, VA Nov. 11, 2022
Navy Fact:
With 350,000 active and 101,500 ready reservists the U.S. Navy is the world’s largest in terms of manpower. Our navy also maintains an impressive fleet, with 290 battle force ships, 10 aircraft carriers, nine amphibious assault ships, 22 cruisers, 62 destroyers, 17 frigates, 72 submarines and 3,700 aircraft
Our Contact Information
Navy Safe Harbor Foundation 2961-A Hunter Mill Rd., Suite 644 Oakton, VA 22124-1704 571-970-6369 https://safeharborfoundation.org Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences |
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