Supporting military service member quality of life, mental health, wellness and morale.
The Inland Northwest has a long and rich history of supporting our military service members, both at home and abroad. A dedicated group of local leaders, recognizing an opportunity to further support our active-duty military and their families, founded the Favored Few Support Crew Fund at Innovia Foundation.
The Support Crew group, consisting of Honorary Commanders and Civic Leaders, seeks to strengthen the overall quality of life of our military personnel and families stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. Funds raised will be used to provide grants for initiatives and events that will provide mental health, wellness and/or quality of life to support this project. Tonya Murray, FFSC Director states ‘As civic and community leaders we are taking on the responsibility of supporting in ANY way we can so that our airmen can stay focused on their mission.’
Founding Support Crew member Charlie Duranona (U.S. Navy; 2002-07) was initially inspired when he was on the tarmac as the 384th Air Refueling Squadron returned from deployment to be greeted by excited family members brandishing “welcome back” signs.
“I had been on the other side of that interaction before, but to see the emotion from the family side hit a little different,” Duranona said. “I wanted to do something with my Honorary Commander title at that time that would help families and provide a boost.”
Duranona, spoke with active-duty military members as well as other Honorary Commanders, learning about how similar funds exist at other bases across the country, supporting likeminded efforts for our Airmen. He originally sought to start a nonprofit for the cause, reaching out to fellow Honorary Commander and Executive Director of the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Program, Annie Murphey.
“After speaking through it (plans to create a nonprofit), we realized it would be more advantageous for us to work with Innovia and create a fund, utilizing everyone’s time and skill in a more effective way,” noted Murphey. “This allows us to use the money to support our active-duty military most efficiently.”
U.S. Army Veteran Sergeant Kitara Johnson-Jones, the funds monetary founder, is confident that the community will help bridge this gap to meet the needs of our military members at Fairchild AFB.
“These are the people leaving to protect us,” Johnson said. “As a community and as a country, we have an obligation to support them.
“I saw the challenges, both as active duty and as a spouse at home, doing the best that you can. There are resources the bases have, but there are also loopholes in how that money has to be spent,” she added. “These men and women get up every day, trying to accomplish the mission of keeping us safe. This fund will help provide a place to recover mentally and physically.”
Examples of programming that may be funded through grants from the Favored Few Fund include purchasing school supplies for junior enlisted, filling and maintaining the on-base food pantry, deployed family picnics and events, as well as educational and support programs.
“Spokane is such a supportive military town. When groups want to put on a mental health supporting event, take families to a ball game, do a picnic etc, it usually falls outside of ‘big Air Force’ funding, so they have to ‘solicit and fund raise for donations,” Duranona added.
“People here are always willing to chip in, so this fund creates a supply for those type of quality of life, morale-boosting events.”
We at Favored Few Support Crew are honored to bring this fund to Fairchild and are excited for the positive impact it will make in the lives of our Airmen and their families. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at favoredfewcrew@gmail.com.
Checks can be mailed to: Innovia Foundation 421 W. Riverside Ave, Suite 606 Spokane, WA 99201. Please indicate Favored Few Support Crew Fund in the memo line.
Innovia can also help with gifts of stock or retirement funds.
Questions? Call the Gift Planning Team at 509-624-2606.
Header photo credit: Senior Airman Kiaundra Miller
