Utah National Guard Charitable Trust

Utah National Guard Fund receives $20,000

The Utah National Guard Charitable Trust received a significant donation of $20,000 from TriWest Healthcare Alliance. The funds will be used by the charitable trust to help families of deployed Utah National Guard Service members who are in need of financial assistance.

Members of the Utah National Guard don’t live on military bases, and are usually dispersed over a large geographic area. "As members of civilian communities, National Guard families don’t always have convenient access to the support available at military bases like Hill Air Force Base," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "TriWest made the contribution with the hope that we can help to bridge that gap for Utah’s Guard families."

According to the Trust, service is extended to families who have exhausted other resources and is typically dispersed as a grant or a no-interest loan. Examples of support include medical, home or property emergencies such as covering transportation to and lodging expenses at military treatment facilities for the spouse of a injured solider; emergency home repairs, such as broken pipes, major appliance breakdowns or unexpected car repairs. The trust also provides volunteers who provided financial counseling to military families in financial hardship.

TriWest representatives, Ms. Alice Demarais, Market Vice-President and Mr. Tom Eurek, Service Area Director for Utah traveled to Utah to make the donation. “(TriWest) would really like to get this contribution in the hands of the Utah National Guard’s Charitable Trust so it can be used for the National Guard families, especially those in need during this time of year so they can use it during the holidays,” Eurek said.

There are more than 6,500 Utah National Guard members. Since 2001, more than 80 percent of Utah’s National Guard has been mobilized for active duty. Their service continues, as the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion will be deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2008.

The check was presented the check to Brig. Gen. Scott Harrison of the Utah Air National Guard, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Utah National Guard Headquarters, 12953 S. Minuteman Drive in Draper.

The Charitable Trust, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2005, has aided more than 100 military families. The trust is managed by a board of directors, but there are no overhead costs. All donations go directly to National Guard families.

Those wishing to make a donation to the trust to help with ongoing needs may contact Staff Sergeant Scott Faddis at 810-523-4544.