USO San Diego Celebrates 76 Years of Service
Military life is an adventure for our families. In one sense they can thrive on change and look forward to the next challenging assignment. However, the same set of changes and challenges experienced through the deployment continuum can offer distinct hardships. Today’s military recognizes the importance of military life- and deployment-related stressors upon the service member and their families. Stressors can impact marital relationships, parenting and communications, staying connected, behavioral issues, emotional well-being, coping skills, and resiliency.
In response to identified stressors and challenges, USO San Diego has launched The Norris Support Center for Military Families to help meet the comprehensive health and well-being needs of our service members and their families. The Norris Center offers a wide continuum of support programs for active duty, National Guard, Reserve personnel and their families to provide family strengthening and resiliency.
The USO San Diego Norris Support Center for Military Families’ programs build upon the principles of stress management, relationship strengthening, financial literacy, nutrition, and fitness. The Center is able to assess family needs, provide resource referrals with follow up, care management and supportive short-term counseling, and education.
It emphasizes a service continuum of care that is able to wrap around the service member and their family in a supportive safety net. The deployment continuum is emphasized throughout the program’s delivery, and services include spouse/partner support, life after deployment, positive parenting, strengthening families, marital support and enrichment, military teen talk, multifamily support group, collateral support for children and teens, communications skills, financial stability, education, and benefits counseling.
“The goal,” said Arne Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of USO San Diego, “is to assure that families are better able to deal with the stress of military life, sustain more healthy relationships and maintain financial stability. Children in these families will fare better in school and will have a stronger support system around them as they grow.”
Mr. Bradley Norris, Board of Trustees of the Norris Foundation, stated, “USO San Diego embodies all the elements that are integral to our Foundation’s mission. The new Norris Support Center for Military Families will become an important resource for our military families and we’re honored to offer them support.”
Celebrating the USO San Diego Norris Support Center for Military Families will be one part of the USO San Diego’s 76th Annual Stars and Stripes Gala: Land of the Free… Because of the Brave that will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina. The event will honor Malin Burnham, an extraordinary philanthropist also known as “Mr. San Diego” for bringing America’s Cup to San Diego. Sebastian L. Gorka, Ph.D., Vice President and Professor of Strategy and Irregular Warfare at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. will keynote the event.
Co-Chairs include Stephanie Brown, Richard and Arlene Esgate, George and Hélène Gould, Sam and Reena Horowitz, and Don Breitenberg and Jeanne Jones. Mark Larson of the Mark Larson Show on AM 1170 and political analyst on KUSI, will serve as emcee. (https://sandiego.uso.org/stories/76th-annual-stars-and-stripes-gala-13).
The evening includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live and silent auction and entertainment. Gala tables of 10 will range from $5,000 to $10,000, individual tickets will be price at $500 and $1000. Tickets for military members are $150 per person.
Founded in February 1941, the nation had approximately 1.8 million military members deployed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized the critical nature of maintaining moral among these brave soldiers regardless of severe and dangerous circumstances. He challenged six organizations – the YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, National Jewish Welfare Board, Traveler’s Air Association, and the Salvation Army – to develop a program.
Together, they founded the United Service Organization (USO) to help our troops feel connected to family and the comforts of home, no matter where or under what conditions they served. By 1945, as the war reached its climax, the United States had more than 12.2 million military members deployed, and vibrant USO presence throughout the battle zones and around the world offering entertainment and some semblance of a home away from home.
“Today, as USO approaches its 76th anniversary, more than 1.3 million military members are deployed throughout the world, and their needs have not changed,” said Nelson. “We strive to make USO San Diego a true home away from home, and a patriot organization that inspires the community to support our military members and their families.”
Nelson continued, “On any given day, hundreds of brave men and women who sacrifice their lives for our country, convene in and move through our centers. Their presence is inspirational, and our support of them is unwavering.”
Douglas (Papa Doug) Manchester, founder of Manchester Financial Group and acclaimed builder and philanthropist stated, “As one of the leading military cities in the world, San Diego and our USO San Diego team serve an extraordinary number of lives who rely on private support from dedicated and compassionate Americans who cherish our community, cherish our military, and who want to make a difference for those who represent the bravest amongst us around the world. USO San Diego truly deserves our heartfelt support and recognition.”
