Marine Corps Base Quantico -- Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society representatives reached out to senior leaders aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Friday with a special pledge signing event at The Clubs at Quantico. Gunnery Sgt. Ruben Castillo, the MCBQ base representative for the active duty fund drive, said he arranged the event at the beginning of the drive so that the Marines and sailors of the base could see the officers and senior enlisted leading from the front and be inspired to make donations of their own.
The pledge signing attracted approximately 14 general officers, colonels, sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, was in attendance, as was Base Commander Col. David Maxwell.
Maxwell rallied support for the event with an e-mail directly to the generals and other senior leaders, extolling the services that NMCRS offers.
Maxwell said NMCRS provided financial assistance to more than 400 Marines base-wide in 2014, as well as in-home visits from registered nurses for wounded warriors, newborns and their parents, and retirees, among others.
MCBQ is home to 7,000 Marines, and Maxwell said if just half of them gave $5 per month, $210,000 would be raised for NMCRS. While the society gave out more than half a million dollars in grants and zero-interest loans in 2014, it only took in approximately $87,000 in donations, forcing the organization to dip heavily in reserve funds.
The fundraising total after the senior leader pledge signing came to $5,420, getting the 2015 active duty fund drive off to a good start.
— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.