Operation Homefront, a national non-profit organization that serves all branches of the military, recently launched a new program to help wounded Soldiers return to duty or transition to civilian life.

The Army Homefront Fund (AHF) was formally recognized Monday during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Operation Homefront and the Army's Warrior Transition Command in Washington, D.C. The fund will provide emergency financial and other support to Soldiers and their families and will focus on wounded warrior care and transition assistance.

"This is the culmination of a lot of work," said Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chief of Staff of the Army, in a June 13 press release. "This is probably the best thing that has happened to us this Army birthday week.  The Army Homefront Fund will be available to us to help Soldiers and families on a rapid basis."

Support will focus on Soldiers' recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, and reintegration and will be offered for items such as emergency financial assistance; food; transitional housing; emergency home repairs; critical baby items; vehicle repair; vision care and more.

The fund will strive to "fill the gaps outside government capabilities," and assistance will come in the form of cash grants (not loans), which will normally be paid directly to providers such as mortgage lenders or utility companies. Assistance is usually provided within one to three days.  

"Under the agreement with the Army, we will be able to identify needs earlier so we can provide the needed assistance earlier, taking care of emergencies and hopefully even intervening before a simple need becomes a crisis," said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront and the Army Homefront Fund, in the press release.

The fund will be administered by Operation Homefront (OH), a national 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in San Antonio that has provided more than $92 million to programs for military families since it began in 2002. It currently has 23 chapters in 32 states, including Washington.

Monies for the fund will come from donations from corporations, foundations and individuals; no funds will come from the government. TriWest Healthcare Alliance became AHF's first lead donor, announcing on Monday an annual commitment of $500,000.

In addition, the fund provides an avenue for donors who specifically want to help wounded Soldiers and "ensures their donations will get directly to those Soldiers in need, quickly and efficiently."

Also announced Monday were OH partnerships with other non-profit organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, American Red Cross, Give an Hour; the Semper Fi Fund; the Military Child Education Coalition; the National Military Family Association; Our Military Kids; Veterans of Foreign Wars, USA Cares and the Yellow Ribbon Fund. "No one nonprofit can meet all needs of our wounded Soldiers," said Knotts. "This group of nonprofits is stronger than any one alone, joining forces to serve our Wounded Warriors, a coalition of the willing to aid our proud Warriors and their families as they return to service within their communities."

For more information, visit www.armyhomefrontfund.org or www.operationhomefront.net.