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Joint Forces Headquarters
Indiana National Guard
Office of Public Affairs
2002 South Holt Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
317-247-3222

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2006

For additional information contact:	For additional information contact: Capt. Lisa Kopczynski, 317-407-7065 or go to our Indiana National Guard Public Website: http://www.inarng.org/
Release # 20060206 – 1

Indiana National Guard Relief Fund Receives $25,000 Donation from the Evan and Susan Bayh Foundation

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana National Guard Relief Fund received an additional $25,000 dollars from The Evan and Susan Bayh Foundation. Senator and Mrs. Bayh serve on the Board of Directors of the foundation, which is funded largely by leftover contributions from Senator Bayh’s campaign for governor and makes charitable contributions to important Hoosier causes.
"Our National Guard members are among the most selfless, idealistic people I have met, working to make such countries as Iraq and Afghanistan better places while separated from their families for often more than a year at a time," Senator Bayh said. "They should know that while they're fighting overseas to protect our freedom, their families are being taken care of at home. That's why the Foundation is honored to make this donation to the Indiana National Guard Family Relief Fund. I encourage all Hoosier families who can to recognize the sacrifices made by our National Guard members by donating to the Relief Fund this year."
“On behalf of the men and women of the Indiana National Guard, I want to say thank you again to Senator and Mrs. Bayh for this wonderful donation,” said Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger. “Senator Bayh continues to be a true supporter of the military. From his tireless visits in the theater of operations over in Iraq and Afghanistan to his introduction of legislation to eliminate the Patriot Penalty, a pay cut many Reserve and Guard members face when called to active duty and lose their civilian salaries, he has demonstrated his commitment to the men and women in uniform,” he said.
“The Indiana National Guard has deployed over 10,700 soldiers and airmen since 9/11. Over and above that more than 2,700 of Indiana National Guard members supported the hurricane relief efforts Louisiana and Mississippi,” said Umbarger. “These brave men and women choose to serve their country with the known possibility that they may be called to duty in support of many missions both at home and abroad and I can not be more proud of them than what I am now,” he said.
“In 2005, the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund, Inc. disbursed over $249,690 to Indiana Guard members and their families to aid with financial hardships caused by mobilization or deployment. Furthermore, multiple organizations and individuals made contributions to the fund, which adds to its success and shows the true support of our troops in their time of need by our great Patriotic Hoosiers,” said Umbarger.
The Indiana National Guard Relief Fund, Inc. also has donating procedures for organizations and private citizens, who wish to express their appreciation by providing financial emergency assistance through this fund to service members and their families, who suffer from financial hardship due to a military deployment.
The relief fund is a corporation formed exclusively for the purpose to provide relief and emergency assistance to the members of the Indiana National Guard and their families, who are experiencing periods of financial distress due to a deployment or mobilization. Private organizations or individuals, who donate money to this charitable fund, may apply for recognition by the IRS of exempt status as described in section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Code collection Title 26.