FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Theresa Rudacille
(571)465-6048 / marketing@cause-usa.org
Virginia Scout’s Eagle Service Project Benefits
Landstuhl Chaplain’s Clothing Closet
Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (Cause) Youth Chair, Yong-Duke Kim, collects items and funds to support the LRMC Chaplain’s Closet Program.
Fairfax, VA (February 1, 2016) – While many Boy Scouts working toward their Eagle Rank concentrate their efforts close to home, one young man in Springfield, Virginia, set his sights on helping Service Members stationed thousands of miles away. Yong-Duke Kim serves as the Youth Chairman for Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (Cause) which conducts programs for wounded, ill and injured service members. For his Eagle service project he wanted to help Cause with its mission to bring comfort and support to those recovering in military medical treatment facilities.
Through Cause, Yong-Duke reached out to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Chaplain in Germany to determine current needs. He worked with Scouts in his troop, his neighbors, local businesses and other individuals to collect all of the items on the wish list. He also collected funds to cover the postage expenses to send the items overseas, and to provide Commissary and AAFES gift cards to restock the Chaplains closet in the future. He was able to deliver more than $1,200 worth of personal care items and $610 worth of gift cards to the Landstuhl Chaplains Clothing Closet Program.
“It was an honor to be able to support Warriors who are currently undergoing treatment and recovery in Germany,” said Kim. “Most people forget that we have service members stationed far from home and around the globe. I hope those in uniform realize that they are not forgotten.”
The Cause Youth Chair selects a special service project each year, coordinating volunteer efforts and resources. In the past, the projects have ranged from making Gift Packs delivered to patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, to sponsorship of select local military families for Holiday giving.
Since 2010, Cause has sponsored the Cause Digital Entertainment Library of movies and games for those in treatment and those assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit in the Landstuhl military hospital in Germany. The CDEL is free to use and is supported by donations from individuals, military spouses clubs and businesses throughout the nation.
Serving military families has deeper meaning for Yong-Duke and his family. His eldest brother is currently in flight training as a lieutenant in the US Air Force and his other brother is in his first year at the US Air Force Academy. Yong-Duke is a High School Junior at Fairfax Christian School in Vienna, VA. He is also considering attendance at a Service Academy to continue his family’s legacy.
“The Kim Family is like many military families where service is just a way of life,” explained Kayla Walsh, Cause Program Director and a current military spouse. “Yong-Duke has the kind of leadership and initiative we need in our military and our nation. We are so proud of his hard work helping to serve the needs of wounded, ill and injured service members.”
###
The Cause Youth Chair works with the Executive Director to identify programs and activities to engage young people in understanding and supporting the Cause Mission. The 2015-2016 Youth Chair is Yong-Duke Kim, a Junior at Fairfax Christian School in Vienna, VA.
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please call Cause at 571-465-6048 or e-mail trudacille@cause-usa.org.
www.cause-usa.org
http://www.facebook.com/helpwoundedwarriors
http://www.twitter.com/@helpwarriors
