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Dear Vigilant Torch Family,
2024 has been the most successful and impactful year in our long history, and I write to share some important updates as we prepare for continued growth in our abilities to support this unique and important community in 2025.
All of this progress is a direct result of the generosity, commitment, enthusiasm, and hard work of our special family of which you are a part, our "team of teams." Your participation reflects the extraordinary devotion, dedication, and commitment of those who strive to support our Special Operations families and service members.
First, we celebrate some important accomplishments so far in 2024. These milestones and more will be featured in our 2024 Annual Report, which we are eager to share with you in January.
- Vigilant Torch successfully merged with the 6:8 Foundation, resulting in a substantial and much-needed uplift in our organizational strength to provide direct support to our active duty family members.
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Our 2nd Annual Bonfire Gathering reunited over 250 FUMs and UMs and will serve as the foundation of many future opportunities for us to reconnect.
- We have significantly increased our emergency support for active duty service members and their families. In 2023, we substantially assisted 6 families, and so far in 2024, we have been able to support 20 families. The impact of your participation and generosity is real and growing.
- In memory of a beloved FUM who lost his battle with cancer, we launched the Philo Project. Through this new initiative, Vigilant Torch has already provided full-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to 60 FUMs, with more scheduled in the future. One FUM had a life-threatening condition detected that is reversible only because this effort enabled catching it early, which is precisely why the Philo Project exists. This validation injected new energy and the conviction that investments in new capabilities are genuinely helpful for the people we strive to assist.
Just as importantly, we are determined to find ways to maintain this kind of momentum into 2025, and well beyond.
Accordingly, I am reaching out to you now as we kick off two important new initiatives to propel even more of this kind of success into the future - Drive to 1000 and Phase Two of the Philo Project.
Drive to 1000: Expanding Our Network
We need a stronger and more connected FUM network. Some elements of that network exist informally, but there are still too many holes, and we owe it to all of them and their families to create a stronger and more effective approach. We have always believed that the strength of Vigilant Torch lies in its connection with people and our facilitation of these people to connect with each other.
This is why we are launching the Drive to 1000 membership campaign. Our goal is this: to successfully reach 1,000 members by the end of the year. But we need your help to do it. Currently, we have only 677 members.
We are asking each Vigilant Torch member to recruit one new member. Vigilant Torch is your alumni association, and we offer you community and a means to give back to those who are still serving in our select SOF community. Together, we will grow our network and increase our impact for everyone.
Philo Project Phase Two and Beyond: Caring for the Mind, Body, and Soul of Transitioning Service Members
The Philo Project has already changed lives. One of the most powerful outcomes has been the mental and emotional reassurance it provided to those who learned nothing concerning was found in their scans.
As we head into 2025, we are hoping to launch Phase Two of the Philo Project, where we intend to commit to funding full-body MRI scans for all separating and retiring service members from our select SOF community.
As many of us know firsthand, serving in Special Operations exposes our service members to numerous and persistent environmental toxins and other types of unhealthy or dangerous exposures that are known to cause long-term health challenges. For those separating from the military, these scans will help them leave their distinguished military service with peace of mind and, in some cases, with documentation that could support and strengthen their VA disability claims.
To make Phase Two a reality for next year, we must raise $100,000 each year for this program. To achieve that goal, we need 300 people to commit to a monthly recurring donation of at least $25. Said differently, for the cost of a fancy cup of coffee once a week, you can have a meaningful impact on the mental and physical health of our active duty families as they transition out of the military. Setting up a monthly recurring donation can be done easily from our online donation form by selecting "Recurring Donation" as the Type of Donation.
We also plan to open Philo Project registrations for our members for Cohort 2, subject to funds raised this quarter. Stay tuned for your opportunity to receive this potentially lifesaving preventive health procedure.
A Special Matching Gift Opportunity
We are incredibly fortunate to have generous supporters who share a deep commitment to our mission. To help us launch these new initiatives, Vigilant Torch has received a matching gift challenge: every donation made between now and November 30, 2024 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. This means your generosity will have double the impact—at no extra cost to you!
When you donate before November 30, your $50 becomes $100, and your $250 becomes $500. Every dollar you give will be matched, providing twice the support for our critical programs that serve the Special Operations community and their families.
This is a unique opportunity to maximize your impact and help strengthen Vigilant Torch to achieve an incredible 2025. Whether recruiting a new member, setting up recurring monthly donations, or making a one-time gift, your contribution will significantly amplify our ability to serve those who have given so much.
Thank you for all you do for Vigilant Torch and the community we support.
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