Missouri National Guard family fund closes out year with many donations including TriWest contribution

On hand for the formal presentation of a $10,000 donation from TriWest to the Missouri Military Relief Fund to help support Families of deployed Guard and Reserve Soldiers, (from l to r), are Donald Brown, TriWest Healthcare Alliance vice president of Midwest operations, Family Program Director, Maj. Gregory Sampson, Kathy Lucero TriWest Beneficiary Education & Services Representative, Missouri National Guard Chief of Staff, Col. Wendul G. Hagler, Dennis Leahy, TriWest Service Area Director, Midwest Operations, and Kay Calton Missouri National Guard Transition Benefits Assistance Specialist. (Photo by Mary L. Williams)

By Mary L. Williams
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Military Relief Fund, which was organized in 2006, is a state-administered fund that assists families of military service members who have been called to active duty since Sept. 11. The fund has had a good year - raising roughly $94,521.32 this year.

Three representatives from TriWest Healthcare Alliance helped close-out this year when they presented a $10,000 check to the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund recently.

Missouri National Guard Chief of Staff, Col. Wendul G. Hagler, was on hand to receive the donation. Hagler said the donation is meaningful to the Missouri National Guard and the troops.

"I'm proud of the partnership we have with TriWest. There is probably no better partnership than one that takes care of Service members," said Hagler. "Certainly we have seen that over the years and this contribution is meaningful to us and more importantly it's meaningful to our Service members."

The healthcare company administers TriCare, the healthcare entitlement program that serves members of the National Guard, Reserves and the active military in 21 states.

Donald Brown, TriWest Healthcare Alliance vice president of Midwest operations, said each year TriWest does this he has 9 of the 21 states in the region he has to get to before Christmas, so that the money is there for the troops.

"We understand what this money does for the troops," said Brown, whose retired military. "We certainly understand from our command position that during this time of year particularly that people are deployed and that things break or some other unforeseen problems may occur."

The program will be administered through the Missouri National Guard Family Program under the direction of Army Guard Maj. Gregory Sampson.

Families of deployed Guard and Reserve Soldiers may apply for grants to help defray unforeseen expenses that come as a result of the deployment. The fund can give grants in amounts up to $3,000.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com