Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Sue Donaldson, President of Blue Star Mothers of America Lehigh Valley Chapter 201.

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. Lehigh Valley Chapter 201 is the most recent recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program. Blue Star Mothers is a national non-profit organization that provides support for active duty service personnel, but also promotes patriotism and assists Veterans organizations and homeland volunteer efforts. The organization began in 1942 and was Congressionally chartered in 1960.

Today, after more than 69 years, this organization continues to provide support for soldiers, veterans and their families through mailings of comfort items and assistance on deployment days. They also support families while their loved ones are deployed. According to their website, their mission is to:

• Perpetuate the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., and the memory of all the men and women who have served our country as members of the Armed Forces
• Maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States
• Educate our members and others not to divulge military, naval, or other Government information
• Assist in veterans’ ceremonies, to attend patriotic rallies and meetings
• Foster true democracy; to care for the unsupported mothers who gave their sons to the service of the Nation
• Aid in bringing about recognition of the need of permanent civilian defense for each community and to ever be alert against invasion of un-American activities
• Uphold the American institutions of freedom, justice, and equal rights, and to defend the United States from all enemies

Blue Star Mothers Ellen Bernstein, Kathy Garrity, and Sue Donaldson.

Blue Mothers of America helps the soldiers who protect our freedom, but cannot do this without your support. To learn more about Blue Mothers of America and how you can help, please visit the links below.

Learn more about Blue Star Mothers

Support Sew Much Comfort Project

Join Blue Star Mothers

Like Blue Star Mothers on Facebook

Follow Blue Star Mothers on Twitter

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Staff Sergeant John Anderson of Toys For Tots Allentown.

This week, First Generation donated $1,000 through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program to Toys for Tots Allentown. Toys for Tots is a national non-profit organization that donates toys to children in need. The organization began in 1947 when a group of Marine Reservists donated used toys to children in need during the Christmas season. Their hope was to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.” Since then, two Toys For Tots entities have been developed; one gives toys to children in need, while the other fundraises and creates awareness for the program.

According to the statistics provided on their website, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has distributed more than 400 million toys to 188 million needy children in 62 years. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has provided $6.3 million worth of promotion and support materials to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and has given 81.3 million toys to local toy collections.

Toys for Tots strives to put smiles on the faces of less fortunate children in our community during the holiday season. Please visit the links below to learn more about this organization and how you can help them continue to bring the joy of Christmas to needy children. All donations will stay in the Lehigh Valley.

• Learn more about Toys For Tots
• Donate to Toys For Tots Allentown
• Volunteer at Toys For Tots Allentown
• Learn about Toys For Tots Allentown’s Upcoming Events!
• Like Toys For Tots Allentown on Facebook
• Follow Toys For Tots on Twitter
• Donate When You Shop On Ebay

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Robert Jacobs, Executive Director of Pinebrook Family Services.

This week, the recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program is Pinebrook Family Services. Pinebrook Family Services is a non-profit agency committed to promoting the well-being and self-sufficiency of the children, young adults and families in our community.

Throughout their 32 years serving the Lehigh Valley, Pinebrook has offered adoption programs, behavioral health and foster care placement services in their three locations. Their website provides statistics on how they helped 2,113 Lehigh Valley children, young adults and adults in 2010:

• Behavioral Health Services account for 75% of clients served annually
• Foster Care/Kinship Care/Placement Services accounts for 9% of Pinebrook clients
• Adoption Services account for 5% of Pinebrook clients

In addition to helping individuals, Pinebrook is also involved in many community-based programs and recently opened their Community Training Center. This center offers 2 training rooms that will host meetings and training sessions for organizations with facilities that do not offer such meeting areas. For more information on this new training center, please read the brochure.

Pinebrook makes our community a better place through strong support for children and families. Please visit the links below to learn more about this incredible organization and how you can help them continue to provide the best services possible.

• Learn more about Pinebrook Family Services
• Donate to Pinebrook Family Services
• Support Pinebrook Family Services when making purchases on Amazon.com
• Support Pinebrook Family Services when searching on GoodSearch.com
• Like Pinebrook Family Services on Facebook
• Follow Pinebrook Family Services on Twitter

               

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Pat DiLuzio Jr., Executive Director of Victory House of Lehigh Valley.

This week, the recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program was Victory House of Lehigh Valley. Victory House, a homeless men’s shelter located in Bethlehem, PA, has helped over 3,500 men for more than 25 years. Their facility offers a 24-hour emergency shelter, transitional housing and supportive services to get both veteran and non-veteran men back on their feet. During their stay, these men take part in re-education programs and are required to give back to our community through community service.

Their website provides statistics on how they helped homeless men in the Lehigh Valley in 2010:

• 12,378 nights of shelter were provided for 98 homeless men
• 58 homeless men transitioned into independent housing
• 30,524 meals were served to 98 men
• 21% unemployed homeless men found jobs with 73% maintaining employment
• 98 homeless men received a health assessment and/or health care services
• 74 (86%) of the 86 homeless men identified as needing addictions services remained drug and alcohol free
• 98 homeless men were referred and received mental health services
• 98 homeless men received employment services and assistance

We urge you to donate your time and/or money to charities this holiday season. They are very important to our community and need our help! To learn how you can help Victory House, please visit the links below.

• Learn more about Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Donate to Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Volunteer at Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Upcoming Victory House of Lehigh Valley Events

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Captain Sam Johnson, President, and Paul Spurgin, Vice President of Keystone Wounded Warriors.

First Generation is honored to make our 6th 12 Weeks of Christmas donation of $1,000 to Keystone Wounded Warriors this week.  Keystone Wounded Warriors (KWW), an Eastern Pennsylvania non-profit organization, offers financial, physical and mental support to wounded veterans, specifically those wounded post-9/11. It is sometimes very difficult for wounded veterans to make the transition from military to civilian life, so the KWW is there to help. If you’d like to support KWW, you can do so through making donations, attending events or purchasing their apparel and gear.

For more information on Keystone Wounded Warriors, or to learn how you can help, please visit the links below.

• Learn more about Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Donate to Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Sponsor Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Like Keystone Wounded Warriors on Facebook

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Robert Csandl, Executive Director of the Veteran Sanctuary at Treatment Trends.

First Generation made our 5th 12 Weeks of Christmas donation of $1,000 to The Veterans Sanctuary at Treatment Trends in Allentown this week. The Veterans Sanctuary, a community based treatment center, opened in July 2011. It offers support and counseling for veterans suffering from drug and alcohol addictions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It also supports these veterans’ families while their loved ones are seeking help. They have 32 beds for the Veterans in need during their treatment.
As a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, local non-profits serving veterans are very close to our hearts. Here are some astounding facts about Veterans from the Case Statement on their website:

• PA has the fourth-largest Veteran population in the U.S.
• Over 5,500 Veterans will return from their tours with a substance abuse problem
• One in four homeless people in the U.S. are Veterans

Please help us in supporting those brave soldiers who are fighting for our country! For more information on Veterans Sanctuary, or to learn how you can help, please visit the links below.

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on twitter for more updates!

Become a Part of their Build A Brick Donation Program
Donate to the Treatment Trends Veterans Sanctuary
Veterans Sanctuary Website
Volunteer at the Veterans Sanctuary by contacting Diana Heckman -
DianaHeckman@treatmenttrends.org

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Diane Zanetti, Executive Director of Turning Point Lehigh Valley.

First Generation made our 4th 12 Weeks of Christmas donation of $1,000 to Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley this week. With October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, we were honored to make this donation to Turning Point because of their help with more than 5,000 victims of domestic violence in Lehigh and Northampton counties each year.

Turning Point, a non-profit organization committed to eliminating domestic violence in the Lehigh Valley, offers safe shelters for domestic violence abuse victims. During the victims’ temporary stay at their shelters, they are offered counseling, court advocacy, support groups, a family services program, life skills education and transitional living programs.

Learn how you can help! For more information on Turning Point, or to learn how you can help, please visit the links below.

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Donate to Turning Point of Lehigh Valley
Volunteer at Turning Point of Lehigh Valley
Upcoming Turning Point of Lehigh Valley Events
Like Turning Point of Lehigh Valley on Facebook
Follow Turning Point of Lehigh Valley on Twitter

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to the President of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, Maj. Gen. Jerry Still, USAF (ret).

As a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, First Generation is always proud to support those who have served in the military and devoted their lives to their country. Yesterday, we had the distinct honor of making our 3rd donation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program to the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council. The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council is a unique, non-profit, community service “organization of organizations.” They are devoted to organizing and coordinating local support to create a resource for those serving in the military, veterans, and their families. In addition, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs council provides educational programs and public events to raise awareness of the military-veterans presence in the local community and their role in defending the country.

Get involved! Become a member, donate, or volunteer through the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council to show your support for our local veterans and those serving in the military. Get started through the links below.

Become a Member of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council

Donate to the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council

Volunteer for the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council

Upcoming Events for the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas!  Like First Generation on Facebook and Follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Gregg Dowty, Executive Director of The Children's Home of Easton

This week, First Generation was honored to make our second $1,000 donation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas program to The Children’s Home of Easton. The Children’s Home of Easton is a private, non-profit agency that provides a safe home for children in need. They pride themselves on creating a caring, family environment with individually designed programs in which children receive support and guidance to return to the comunity as responsible citizens.

The Children’s Home of Easton has been serving the local community since 1885 and has earned a national reputation for outstanding service. First Generation is proud to support the Children’s home of Easton, and we commend them for their commitment to helping children realize their full potential. We hope that you too will support this organization, which gives so much back to our community. More information can be found through the links below.

Donate to The Children’s Home of Easton

Volunteer at The Children’s Home of Easton

Upcoming Events for The Children’s Home of Easton

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas!  Like First Generation on Facebook and Follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!