March 2025 Newsletter
Meet Connor — Our Super Volunteer
Meet Connor, one of our special volunteers. Thanks to our community partnership with InAlliance, Troopathon has benefitted by having volunteers like Connor who help keep our operations running smoothly. InAlliance places and works one-on-one with adults with disabilities by placing them in volunteer positions within the community that allows adults like Connor to contribute to the communities in which they live.
Whether Connor is packing boxes, writing letters, loading pallets or any of the necessary tasks that help put packages into the hands of our troops, we always know Connor’s work will be done with an extra dose of can-do attitude.
Recently we sat down with Connor and his InAlliance support coach, Jamar, to talk about his role with Troopathon. When we asked Connor what his favorite thing about volunteering with Troopathon, there was no hesitation when he said, “Helping out the troops.” Connor added that his favorite care packages items were “gum, candy and chips.” We are going to have to agree with Connor on these choices, our troops love them as well.
Connor went on to mention he had other InAlliance friends who also volunteer with Troopathon and enjoy working with them as well as the coaches and Troopathon staff, like Scott.
Jamar, Connor’s coach, wanted us to know that he admires how focused Connor is on his work. “He has a good work ethic,” Jamar added, “I am really proud of all the work that he does, he is a really big help to the places that her serves, like Troopathon.”
Scott surprised Connor by letting him know he holds the record for moving 10,000 care package boxes in one day to our storeroom! Not only did Connor move more boxes in one day than anyone else, but he also did it in the records time of just over one hour!
Connor shared with us that his very favorite Troopathon memory was “Wearing his Halloween costume at work.” Both Scott and Jamar agreed it was an awesome memory getting to see Connor dressed up like the true superhero he is that day.
Connor likes to hang out with his friends, go for morning walks with Jamar and watch Football and was especially happy that his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl, which he deemed “awesome!”
Connor wanted us to know that he has had a kidney transplant. So even with that, he still has been very productive and loves volunteering for our troops. For the troops who receive that care packages he packs he would like to say, “Thanks for protecting our country.”
We are thankful and grateful to Connor on behalf of the thousands of troops he has helped during his time as a super Troopathon volunteer.
Expand Your Support with Giving Opportunities
Did you know Troopathon offers giving abilities beyond our care package program? Troopathon offers our donors the opportunity to give utilizing several different gifting opportunities such as legacy giving through estate planning where you can name Troopathon as a beneficiary. We have partnered with FreeWill, a free online estate planning tool that guides you through creating your will or trust.
It’s easy to use and in just 20 minutes you can update your estate plan. You can use this resource on its own or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney. While creating your plan, you can include a planned gift to Troopathon to support the men and women of our Armed Forces. Get started today!
Don’t worry, if you have already included a Troopathon gift in your will on your own, you can easily let us know by filling out this quick form so we can thank you for your legacy of and ensure our records are up-to-date!
With tax-time just around the corner, donating stocks allows you to avoid capital gains tax and often take a charitable deduction for the full value of the asset. Try this secure stock donation tool to make it easier than ever.
If you need to reduce your taxable income, a Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD) for our friends who are 70.5 or older. For those of you older than seventy-three and facing a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA, a charitable gift donation is a simple and easy way to receive the best tax benefit for you. Try our secure IRA donation tool to make it easier than ever to give from your IRA. It only takes minutes to complete it and will auto complete your paperwork for you.
Into cryptocurrency? We now accept donations of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies! This gives us one more way to fund our work and can provide you with extra tax benefits.
We even make it easy to give from your Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs). DAFs are investment accounts created with the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations like Troopathon. If you have a DAF, you can use this secure DAF-giving tool to make your impact today.
Tax receipts for 2024 were emailed on January 10th, but if you missed yours, don’t worry, you can reach out to us by calling in or emailing us at [email protected] and we will be happy to resend your receipt. We will also be resending the 2024 receipts in the first week of April, so don’t miss out if you are eligible for a charitable deduction on your tax return.
Old Wisconsin Sausages a Tasty Treat for Troops
Old Wisconsin Beef Sausages provide a savory quick punch of protein and flavor our troops crave
Troopathon is always looking for new and exciting additions to our care packages, and thanks to a generous donation of over $5,000.00 in product from family-owned Old Wisconsin Sausage, we are thrilled to include handcrafted, naturally hardwood slow smoked Old Wisconsin beef or turkey variety snack pieces in our care packages. Fully cooked and ready to eat, these tasty sausage bites are sure to put big smiles on the faces, and much needed convenient and tasty protein in the bellies of our deployed service members.
Our old Wisconsin sausage pieces come vacuum packed in hefty 28-ounce resealable package that are perfect for sharing.
Old Wisconsin Sausage has been producing premium sausage snacks since 1947 using traditional German recipes handed down for generations. Headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Old Wisconsin prides itself on quality, community and its legacy of German sausage making.
A special thanks goes out to Monthly Smiles member, Julie G., a retired Old Wisconsin employee who reached out to our Monthly Smiles Director, Lisa Baron, with the idea of helping put together this donation.
Julie wrote, “I am excited and happy we could do this with a special thanks to OWS! They are going to keep Troopathon mind for future product for our troops!” Julie went on to add “I am so excited! It feels good to do good things!” We couldn’t agree more! Thank you, Old Wisconsin Sauage, and special thanks to our friend Julie!
March Military Moments
March 3, 2025 — Happy 110th Birthday to the United States Navy Reserve! Established in 1915, our citizen Navy Reservists serve part-time, training locally while prepared to deploy at a moments notice.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy Reserve official Facebook
March 13, 2025
- Who’s a Good Boy? Celebrates K-9 Veterans Day. Our K-9 veterans are brave soldiers in their own right. Serving fearlessly, our military k-9s are protective, loyal and brave, willing to protect human life at all cost.
March 21, 2025
Rosie the Riveter Day – Honoring the contributions of American Women to the War effort during WWII. Today, American woman continue to forge new paths in non-traditional jobs both in and out of our military.
March 25, 2025
Medal of Honor Day. A day to honor the most courageous men and women of our military who have served their country above and beyond the call of duty. National Medal of Honor Day was established by law in 1990, and first celebrated in 1991.
March 29, 2025 -- National Vietnam Veterans Day. March 29, 1973, marks the date of final U.S. combat troop withdrawal from Vietnam. Help us celebrate the 9 million U.S. troops who bravely served during the Vietnam War Era.
Photo Source: U.S. Army Center for Military History
Touching Hearts Across the Miles
“It feels like Christmas Day! With my family and friends being so far away, it is nice receiving packages from home. I love the goodies inside and the small sentimental items that put a smile on my face”