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THE DELEGATE NATCA'S BIENNIAL CONVENTION | APRIL 17-20, 2018 8 Alpha Bravo Canine (ABC) is a non-profit (501c3) organization that teams service dogs with U.S. veterans suffering from debilitating medical and psychological problems as a result of their active combat duty. It is estimated that 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or depression. Roughly 20 veterans a day commit suicide nationwide, according to data published by the the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2016 – a figure that demonstrates the disturbing mental health crisis gripping our nation. In a recent year, more than 7,400 veterans took their own lives, accounting for 18 percent of all suicides in America ABC was founded by a mother and son team to help the local community of veterans. Jennifer Green, CPDT-KA is a certified dog trainer and Army wife, and her son Kevin Daly, USMC was deployed to Afghanistan twice with the 1st Battalion 8th Marine Regiment. Upon Kevin's return home, they decided to combine their knowledge and experience of dog training and post deployment struggles to tackle these growing problems, and help to lower the suicide rates of U.S. veterans by providing emotional and physical support with trained service dogs. ICYMI: To learn more about how the NATCA Charitable Foundation has supported ABC, visit www.natca.org/ index.php/insider-articles/2187-natca-phl-member-john-murdock-raises-furry-friends-for-a-good-cause. ✪ ALPHA BRAVO CANINE Awareness and Support The NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) is proud to support the local communities of Philadelphia. NCF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with a mission to assist charitable, educational, scientific, and other activities that benefit the common good. NCF is a 100 percent volunteer organization, and the official charity of NATCA. The charity's philanthropic efforts and programs stretch across the country with a volunteer network dedicated to making a difference in as many lives as possible. The foundation seeks to assist areas of need that go unfunded or may be missed through typical donor drives. A hallmark of NCF is its low operating expense, largely due to its volunteers of all ages and professions. NCF's operating expense ratio has remained below five percent since 1998. From 2011 to 2015, NCF has more than doubled the amount of money allocated to those in need from $91,000 to $200,000. In 2016 and 2017, NCF also allocated $200,000. For 2018, NCF has allocated $250,000 to be donated. This week's event continues an NCF tradition of helping local charities in the host convention areas. NCF raised over $30,000 in 2014 during NATCA's 15th Biennial Convention in Minneapolis, which continued the "Show Your Roots" convention campaign that began in Denver in 2012. At Minneapolis, individuals, facilities, and areas within facilities sponsored 100 trees for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. NCF also collected more than $10,000 in donations to benefit Finnegan's Community Fund, which provides food for the hungry in the Midwest. NCF has also been a great resource for NATCA members to assist our nation's veterans and military personnel. Veterans were highlighted at the 16th Biennial Convention in San Diego, which opened with a roll call honoring all of NATCA's veterans and active military. NCF raised funds for local charities Shelter to Soldier, Snowball Express San Diego, United Soldiers and Sailors of America, Veterans Village San Diego, and Homefront San Diego. Philadelphia is the nation's birthplace and the heartbeat of labor and in that tradition, NCF will donate money raised this week to several charities in the local area – Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, Children's Literacy Initiative, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Alpha Bravo Canine (ABC) – that honor the strong tradition of unions being there for their brothers and sisters and supporting their local communities. NCF will host the solidarity event on Wednesday night at the Eastern State Penitentiary. ✪ Corrie Conrad, President corriebconrad@gmail.com Robin Hill, Vice President NCFVicePresident@natca.net Annie Olsen, Treasurer NCFTreasurer@natca.net Dawn Taylor, Secretary NCFSecretary@natca.net Jason Boyde Carrie Connor Patricia Gilbert Robert Hill Elisa Muise NCF OFFICERS 2018-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS For more information on NCF and how to get involved, contact: natcacharitable@natca.net 202.220.9831 Promoting the Common Good

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