For the sixth consecutive year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation has joined together with participating Burger King® Franchisee Owned Restaurants across the United States to raise funds throughout the month of November for the VFW Unmet Needs program. Burger King® customers are encouraged to give $1 or more toward Unmet Needs when they purchase their food. Since 2007, over 1,200 Burger King® Franchisee Owned Restaurants have demonstrated their incredible concern for U.S. troops and their families by donating over $1.7 million in support of the program.
Begun in 2004, Unmet Needs has provided approximately $4.4 million dollars in financial assistance to over 3,000 deserving military families. Need must be related to financial hardships not civil, personal, legal or domestic situations. The program assists with basic life necessities such as rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses or food/basic assistance. Funds are available to all five branches of the military, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserves. Assistance is awarded in the form of a grant, not a loan, so recipients aren't required to repay.
“Burger King® Franchisee Owned Restaurants are proud to support America’s military families and we appreciate the compassion of all of our great customers in assisting those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Burger King® Franchisee Owner and VFW Foundation Board Member Mike DeRosa. “We look forward to 2012 as being the most successful year yet.”
“Burger King® Franchisees Owners continue to do wonderful and unselfish work for America’s military families,” said VFW Foundation Director John Lowe. “The VFW Unmet Needs program helps military families in their greatest time of urgent financial need, and it is through the support of great companies such as Burger King® Franchisee Owners and their fantastic patriotic customers, that we are able to provide such great assistance.”
About Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation is the official charity of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), America’s oldest and largest organization for combat veterans. Our mission is to support programs and services that secure, manage and distribute resources to improve the lives of veterans, military service personnel, their families and the communities where they live. This outreach includes (besides Unmet Needs), free regular phone calls for U.S. troops overseas such as those serving in Afghanistan, morale boosting “welcome home,” “send-off” and VIP treatment at sporting and entertainment events for military units and help for veterans in their often difficult VA entitlement cases for injuries incurred while in active duty. These programs and services are provided at no cost to the recipients and no VFW membership is required. The VFW Foundation is one of the nation’s highest rated 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. For more information, please visit www.vfwfoundation.org.
For more information about Burger King® Franchisee Owned Restaurants, please visit www.bk.com.