Purple Heart Fund Pumps Up Aid for Wounded Service Men and Women

Asheville, North Carolina, man launches The Purple Heart Fund, a non-profit initiative that provides critically-needed funding to assist combat-injured service men and women and their families.

Asheville, NC. (PRWEB) July 8, 2005 -- Keith Knapp believes that all-too-often purple hearts become wounded hearts. The Asheville, North Carolina man has launched The Purple Heart Fund, a non-profit initiative that will provide critically-needed funding to assist combat-injured service men and women and their families.

Knapps passion for his cause is pure-bred; his father, a WWII D-Day chaplain who received a purple heart for a shrapnel wound, offered comfort to dying soldiers and their families. Son Michael, a Marine Corporal stationed in San Diego, has known many of the men and women, with whom he trained and worked, killed or injured while fighting for their country.

When Knapp learned that some combat-wounded Purple Heart Medal recipients have to declare bankruptcy because of uncovered expenses during their hospital and recuperation process, he vowed to get involved. When I investigated the public and private resources that provide assistance to wounded men and women and their families, I was shocked to learn that no one provides funds to cover additional family expenses incurred while caring for an injured loved one.” Knapp also discovered that there is no comprehensive guide for families to use in locating available resources.

Although Congress has recently taken steps to increase support for some Purple Heart Award Medal recipients, there is still a substantial need. A new insurance disability benefit of up to $100,000 was created for those who suffered traumatic injuries such as losing a limb or eyesight, but this will offer financial assistance to only about 1000 of the estimated 6750 men and women who have been wounded in action but not returned to duty in Afghanistan and Iraq through June, 2005. This means that more than 5,500 military service people who did not lose a limb or their eye sight still need significant financial aid.

Those familiar with former Senator Bob Dole's story will recognize that although he did not lose a limb or his eyesight in WWII combat, he underwent a grueling and lengthy recuperation period. Even had todays new government assistance program been available to him,” said Knapp, Senator Dole still would not have met the qualification criteria. Today, many lesser-known service men and women suffer the same fate.”

The Purple Heart Funds focus will be two-fold: helping to relieve family financial pressures during the often-long period of hospitalization, recovery, rehabilitation and job search, and developing a comprehensive listing of funding resources for wounded service men and women and their families.

It is time to provide our grassroots American citizens a way to give back to these men and women who have sacrificed so greatly for our country,” said Knapp. No injured member of our armed forces should ever agonize over providing for their family during the critical time of restoring their health. The Purple Heart Fund will relieve the devastating financial burden that robs these heroes of the dignity and quality of life they so rightly deserve.”

About the Purple Heart Fund
The Purple Heart Fund is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charity that was formed to honor and assist Purple Heart Award recipients WIA Not RTD (wounded in action, not returned to duty). The Fund seeks to provide recipients and their families with immediate financial assistance so that they can focus on their medical recovery and return to life with their families. For more information, visit www.purpleheartfund.org or call (828) 994 -2024.

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