America Supporting Americans

“Part 990-EZ, Part III - Organizations Primary Exempt Purpose”

“America Supporting Americans (ASA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to link together military units that are based on United States soil or deployed world-wide with civilian groups and communities that wish to express their support of these young men and women serving in the armed forces. Our goal is two-fold. First, to provide those willing to put themselves in harms way defending our country with the respect, care and support they need, and secondly, to strengthen the civilian-military bond by both increasing civilian understanding of the military experience and by providing service men and women with the opportunity to become directly invoiced with the residents of a community committed to their support.”

“ASA began its work in 1967 when Linda Patterson, a young woman living in San Mateo, California, convinced her hometown to adopt her brother. Joes unit in Vietnam, believing that the individual soldiers charged with fighting an unpopular war desperately needed to feel the interest and concern of communities back home. San Mateo agreed to Lindas request and the morale of Joes fellow soldiers was, in Joes words, brought as high as the clouds. Joe, at nineteen was killed in a firefight trying to aid a fallen trooper three weeks after the adoption took place, but many of the men in his unit gratefully remembered him and Linda each time they looked at the cherished medallion that reads City of San Mateo Adopted Son. After Joes death, Linda traveled to Vietnam to personally deliver the medallions San Mateo issued in honor of Joe and the men in his unit. Many of those men carry those medallions to this day.”

“Having geared up the adoption program during Desert Storm and again in the wake of September 11, ASA has facilitated the adoption of many units by towns and cities across the county. Through those adoptions, both soldiers and civilians are discovering the unique and critical link that exists between men and women of our armed services and American citizens they are charged to protect in time of both war and peace. This strong connection has proved dynamically and richly rewarding to all involved. ASA has over the years learned that the greatest benefit is gained when the adoption remains active whether the unit is at home or deployed abroad. Each of these situations involve both the city and the unit in different kinds of adoptive activities. Units deployed abroad count on letters and care packages from adoptive cities to boost morale and help them feel connected to home.”

“ASA adoptions have benefited both American troops and many other people in significant ways. In exchanging letters with soldiers in Afghanistan, school children in towns and cities across the country are learning about the situations in the Middle East and about the experience and self-sacrifice of our soldiers because of adoptions organized by ASA. Civic leaders in these communities are participating with their constituents in new and positive ways by taking an active role in community events held in support of adopted units. Through ASA adoption, Mayors are quickly informed of and are in personal contact with families of soldiers who have fallen in Afghanistan. Helping these communities feel the compassion and support of an entire community. Police departments in these communities share donated equipment and community groups have donated supplies to adopted units. These donations have reached soldiers and school children in towns and villages in Afghanistan where units are stationed. Thus strengthening the bond between American soldiers and the Afghanistan people with whom they work. These are only a few of the ways in which ASA adoptions benefit those involved.”

“Travel 1705.”

“Bank Fees 107.”

“Supplies 1633.”

“Insurance 670.”

“Unit Events 4852.”

“Website Maintenance 2125.”

“Marketing 1561.”

“Filing Fees 45.”