Partner News: Families of Fallen Military to Benefit from $1.62 Million Gift to Taps Programs

WASHINGTON – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) announces today a $1.62 million gift from Prudential Financial, Inc. to support services and programs helping the families of our fallen military. It is the largest single gift by a corporation to the nonprofit organization in its 17-year history.

From the donation, $1.2 million will support evidence-based programs helping families of fallen military service members. Funds will support the TAPS survivor care support team offering peer-based emotional support providing comfort and care for all who are grieving the death of a service member; case work assistance, including pro bono legal assistance, emergency financial resources, benefits; community based grief support, including connection to unlimited free clinical counseling; grief and trauma resources; local area support groups; Help and Resource Line, 24/7/365 with comfort and care from peer professionals; case work follow up; and community based response.

TAPS provides a critical service to surviving families. “When someone calls TAPS and reaches out for support, they are talking to a member of our team trained in bereavement support who is also a bereaved military family member,” said Bonnie Carroll, founder and president. “We fill a need that is most appropriately met by peer professionals.”

A critical part of the donation will support the 800.959.TAPS (8277) 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline, which is open and available 365 days a year. Approximately $400,000 from the donation will be used for a partnership between TAPS and the University Behavioral HealthCare at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to create the nation’s first peer professional helpline for surviving military families and friends.

The current TAPS Call Center’s capability has been overwhelmed in the past year  by calls from surviving family members of fallen military who are grieving the death of a loved one who served in the military, who know that TAPS is the safe place to call around the clock for comfort and support.

While TAPS has had a Call Center in continuous operation since October 1994, the increase in need and the critical, acute nature of the crisis facing surviving families, has risen in the last year.  The TAPS Call Center received 10,864 phone calls from survivors in 2010, and has seen a 24 percent increase already in 2011.

More than 80% of deaths in the U.S. military in 2010 were traumatic, unexpected and violent in nature. The families left behind following the death of a service member are frequently coping with grief, insomnia, short-term memory loss and depression. In a limited number of cases, survivors are also coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, or substance abuse.  TAPS is there to help families find the support they need, and the funding from Prudential Financial, Inc. will ensure critical services are in place and sustainable.

“The critical situation with surviving families makes it imperative that we not only dramatically increase capacity for the TAPS National Military Survivor Helpline, but that we also model best practices in providing intervention for this vulnerable population and strive to better understand the serious issues impacting families of our fallen military, especially related to the suicide of a service member,” said Carroll. “This funding from Prudential Financial, Inc. will help TAPS further benchmark standards in care for military survivors, and will provide comfort to many, who are not sure they can make it through the night.”

Supported entirely by the generosity of the American people, TAPS receives no government funds and efficiently uses financial donations to help anyone grieving the death of someone who served in the military, regardless of where they died, or how they died.

As demand for TAPS services has increased over the last ten years due to military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 15,000 survivors have contacted TAPS seeking care and support. Financial needs have also increased for the DC-based nonprofit.

It takes, on average, 5-7 years for a person grieving a traumatic loss to reach what clinicians call a “new normal”. Typically, at least 10 people are significantly impacted by each military death. Over the next 5-10 years, Carroll sees TAPS growing, becoming stronger, and providing enhanced services. And she believes that donors, like Prudential Financial, Inc., will continue to step up to help TAPS and honor the families who have sacrificed for freedom.

“As we have reached out to America and explained the needs of surviving military families, time after time, companies, individuals and foundations are stepping up to help us meet their needs,” said Carroll. “We are so grateful to Prudential Financial, Inc. for their care and support for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Their donation will make a critical difference and improve quality of care for survivors.”

TAPS raises its annual budget of $4.9 million each year through contributions, grants, and fundraising. For excellence in financial management, TAPS has a seal of approval from the Independent Charities of America.

About TAPS
Since its founding in 1994 by bereaved military families, TAPS has helped more than 30,000 surviving family members and offered services to assist caregivers supporting families coping with a military death. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars, case work assistance, and a 24/7 resource and information help line for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free resource and information help line at 800.959.TAPS (8277).

Media contact
Media seeking interviews with families benefiting from the TAPS program or information about TAPS may contact Ami Neiberger-Miller, office 202.588.8277, cell 703.887.4877, ami@taps.org. Media seeking information from Prudential Financial, Inc., may contact Sheila Bridgeforth, 973.802.6852.