Mission
Statement:
Cypress Cares is dedicated to providing community
support for the troops who protect America's freedom
by sending care packages and letters of
encouragement from "home".
Our Motto:
Because Our Troops Need and Deserve Our Support!
ABOUT CYPRESS
CARES:
Founded
by a prior-service US Army Reserves officer in early
2008, and co-directed by a retired US Navy Captain,
Cypress Cares is
a 501c3 non-profit organization consisting of about 200 Houston-area volunteers
and over 1,000 supporters, dedicated
to providing community support for the troops who protect
our freedoms, through care packages and letters of encouragement
from those of us who are proud to be Americans.
We
rely 100% on volunteers, donated items and financial
contributions. Your contributions are greatly
appreciated, and 99% of all financial contributions are
applied towards providing our services to the Troops. Contiributions
are tax deductible.
All
packages are shipped in U.S. Post Office Flat Rate Priority
Boxes especially designed for APO/FPO recipients.
A donation of $13 will pay to ship one Flat Rate box.
Larger boxes are used for items that do not fit into
Flat Rate boxes, or if they arrive to us pre-boxed
by the person who donated them. These usually
ship for anywhere from $20-$50 each, though we
attempt
to use only the flat rate boxes.
ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP:
The volunteers and
board members of III Cypress Cares, Inc., meet at
least 3 times per year. We will meet more frequently
if needed. At the time of our meetings, we discuss
upcoming projects, financial status, fund raising
activities, how to get more of our community
involved in our effort, whether we are meeting the
goals set for ourselves and how we can improve upon
what we've already accomplished.
Minutes are
taken at each meeting and presented at the next
meeting for approval and filing.
We maintain
a checks and balances system by obtaining majority
vote of Board members and volunteers in regards to
how to further advance our effort and on all
purchases made for the organization which cost more
than $200. Items that are deemed necessary and
appropriate for the operation of Cypress Cares and
to help assist in the mission, that cost under $200,
may be purchased by either the Chairman (P.
Marshall), Vice-Chair (R. Cunningham) and Treasurer
(A. Powell) without prior approval from our Board.
The remainder of our Board (those not listed
above) are: Secretary (D. Worth) and Advisors: J.
Baughman, T. Bradshaw, S. Squyres, M. Squyres, P.
Roth, A. Cleveland, B. Keller, D. McCarty, L.
Cunningham. At the end of 2011, we also added a
team of Student Representatives to our group.
Students from area schools now act as liasions
between our organization and their own schools to
encourage more community participation. No one associated with our Board
or Advisors receives any compensation, monetary or otherwise,
for their services.
We do not endorse
any political candidates or issues.
Completion of our tax
forms is done by the accounting office of Aaron Keys
and Associates and no one affiliated with this
office participates on our Board of Directors or
Advisory Board.
ABOUT OUR BELIEFS:
No
matter your opinion of our political leadership or the
war effort itself, our troops need and deserve
everyone's
support. Please consider supporting our cause
through a donation of goods for our care packages.
Involve your neighbors, church groups and co-workers
through a donation drive, letter writing campaign or
fund raiser. Our troops' service and sacrifices
should not go without our support.
It is our duty as citizens of this great and free
country to show our appreciation not only to our
veterans, but also to our active duty troops who
help to preserve
and protect the freedoms we all hold so dear.
Remember, our freedom is NOT free.
We
will always continue to strive to find ways to involve our community
in our effort to support our troops.
Respectfully,
R.
Cunningham
Founding
Director,
Cypress Cares
