Needy veterans will be getting help thanks to a generous donation from a borough political organization.
The Bronx County Republican Party has announced that it will donate one quarter of the proceeds from a golf outing held in September 2014 for the creation of a Veterans Welfare Fund, confirmed the party’s county chairman John Greaney.
The fund will be administered through local Throggs Neck organization Bicentennial Veteran Memorial Park, Inc., said local veterans advocate and Theodore Korony American Legion Post #253 member Pat Devine.
A check presentation for $3,870.60 is scheduled for the Throggs Neck Veterans Parade Dinner at Rino’s Restaurant on Saturday, January 17, said Devine, who founded the 501(c)(3) organization that is going to be a conduit for the funding.
Devine sees the donation as the start of an all-purpose fund that can be used to help veterans, and their families, who are in need of assistance.
“There is a need out there, and people don’t see it,” said Devine. “Our organizations will get a phone call, and people will ask if there is any money for something and there is not. This fund will fill a gap.”
He added: “Even though you cannot do everything, certain things you can do. You can make sure that people have a Christmas gift, or have food on the table. There are a lot of things like this that we don’t see. We take it for granted.”
Devine explained that it was Greaney’s idea to create the fund, and he said that other political organizations and groups are welcome to contribute.
“(Greaney) started this, and he came through with it,” he said.
Help to veterans is one of the strongest elements in the Bronx GOP’s outreach since he took over as chairman in 2013, said Greaney, adding that he has created a veterans committee within the county party.
“The specific uses and the application process, we have not gotten into yet,” said the chairman of the new fund. He noted that the group has another golf outing coming up on Monday, May 18.
Bicentennial Veteran Memorial Park, Inc. is a good vehicle for the program because it has been in existence for 30 years, he said, adding that the fund will be used to benefit all veterans.
“We thought it was so much nicer giving the money directly to the veterans groups who will develop the policies and procedures to help the needy,” said Greany. “We will assist in doing fund-raisers, and hopefully other organizations will start learning and do the same.”
