Soldiers' Angels

Members of Soldiers’ Angels’ volunteer leadership have raised the stakes on this year’s online Valour-IT Veterans Day fundraising competition.   Divided among four “virtual teams,” a wide variety of bloggers and other New Media mavens have been competing online since October 26 to inspire the most donations to help wounded troops by Veterans Day, November 11.  If the teams can blast through their collective goal of $140,000 and bring in an additional $100,000 in donations, Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader and National Communications Director Shelle Michaels have promised to shave their heads in honor of the achievement. 

“This project changes lives,” says Patti. “Wounded heroes say that being able to use a laptop helps them feel whole again.  Physical therapists are actually designing therapy sessions around Wii Sports!  And something as normal as a handheld GPS reduces stress and helps a hero cope.  With all that this project can do for our heroes, I’m happy to shave my head if it will motivate donations!”

Each of the devices Valour-IT supplies helps restore confidence and independence.  Voice-activated laptops reconnect the wounded with the world and develop self-confidence by showing soldiers they can continue to be engaged and productive despite their injuries. Physical therapists report Wii Sports and similar programs are extremely beneficial when used in physical therapy settings. Wounded personnel with short-term memory loss due to TBI and severe PTSD use GPS systems to keep from getting disoriented when they move on to more independent living.

Click for more info, and donate to help an Angel go bald this week!