Canadian Citizens Raise $1 Million in Support of Our Troops

A big HUA to supporters!! If you need to purchase Support Our Troops merchandise (military sanctioned),it's available through: www.cfpsa.com/supportourtroops or Sears outlets or RCAF or Families of Soliders in Afghanistan email: focsia@hotmail.com June 18, 2007 During the past year, Canadian citizens, through buying the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency's (CFPSA) official "Support Our Troops" (SOT) t-shirts, caps, car magnets and other merchandise, have raised $1 million in support of the Canadian military community. These profits will be distributed in their entirety to Bases, Wings, and Units across Canada and will be used for morale and welfare programs for Canadian Forces (CF) members and their families. This could include, for example, family events, site-specific funding of Canadian Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) programs, or innovative activities that benefit CF members and their families. Canadians have contributed to this remarkable accomplishment by purchasing official CF-sanctioned Support Our Troops merchandise online at the CFPSA website (www.cfpsa.com/supportourtroops), at various CF outreach events and, for authorized patrons, at Canadian Forces Exchange System (CANEX) outlets located at Bases, Wings and Units nationwide. CANEX is a division of CFPSA and their SOT merchandise is one of the many ways that Canadians can demonstrate their support. Other options, including donating to various military funds, are listed on the CFPSA website. CANEX routinely reinvests a portion of its profits directly back to bases, wings, and units. "This year, CANEX contributes over $4 million to the CF community," says Gerry Mahon, president of CANEX. "One million dollars from the Support Our Troops merchandise sales, and over $3 million generated from regular operations. These funds will be used for local morale and welfare programs at Bases across the nation." CFPSA develops and delivers morale and welfare programs, activities and services to members of the CF and their families, in Canada and overseas. These activities include sports and recreation, health and fitness, family services, retail operations, financial services and, mess management. In addition, the CFPSA deploys approximately 60 civilian personnel per six-month rotation to Afghanistan to conduct morale and welfare programs.