More help for families of the fallen
A group breaks away from Snowball Express to offer support its own way
By TERI SFORZA
The Orange County Register
There may be no more military bases in Orange County – but there's no shortage of local groups trying to aid the families of the fallen.
A new coalition has banded together to bring some 200 people to Orange County in August for a long weekend of support and family fun. Dubbed "Operation One Family" and spearheaded by local Rotary Clubs, it's meant to become a national template for how to help those whose loved ones were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It also represents a small civil war among Good Samaritans.
Many of those behind Operation One Family were also part of last year's Snowball Express – a similar weekend for families of the fallen that brought some 900 survivors to Orange County in December. Arguments erupted behind the scenes after Snowball's founder admitted to a history of drug addiction and failure to pay child support. When Snowball's founder was arrested on charges of drunken driving in March, the decision to split from Snowball was sealed for several Operation One Family organizations.
"Several of our Rotary Clubs were involved with Snowball Express, and when we were at the event, we realized that the event got the families all excited, but then they went home and had Christmas and didn't have any more support," said Kim DeBroux, chair of Operation One Family and district membership chair for Rotary.
"What we wanted to do is really connect each family to a Rotary Club in their hometown. Then the Rotarians would be available if a family needs a dad for 'bring a dad to school day' or help finding a good handyman, or any other kind of support," she said.
Operation One Family will be held Aug. 2-5 for families from Southern California and Nevada. Families will be housed in the dorms at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, and there will be plenty of fun, including a beach party at Newport Dunes, a visit to the Orange County Fair, a concert at Camp Pendleton and a trip to Knott's Berry Farm.
But organizers aim to go beyond fun. There will be seminars on survival and grief, workshops on resume-writing, interviewing and life skills, and a "Share Faire' where families can find resources and information, DeBroux said.
Snowball Express's separate event for families of the fallen – national in scope, and expecting hundreds more people – will be held from Nov. 29 through Dec. 3. Those families will enjoy a concert, a holiday party and a trip to Disneyland.
"The need is great enough, and the cause is important enough, for multiple organizations and an unlimited number of individuals to get involved," said Jonathan Wilcox, spokesman for Snowball Express.
The forces behind the new organization include Rotary Clubs in Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza/Rancho San Margarita Del Sol, Fountain Valley, Newport-Balboa, Newport Irvine, Orange, San Clemente Sunrise and San Juan Capistrano. Also involved are local nonprofit Homefront America, The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and MilitaryConnection.com.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or 714-796-691
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