Thursday, July 26, 2007

Believe In Tomorrow children's foundation launches initiative to serve military families

BALTIMORE – On July 28, seven military families, whose children are being treated for life-threatening illnesses at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, will be leaving for a week long respite through Believe In Tomorrow's Beach and Mountain Retreat Programs. The military families will be staying in the Believe In Tomorrow House By the Sea, in Ocean City, Md., the Believe In Tomorrow House on Fenwick Island, in Delaware, the Believe In Tomorrow House in Bethany Beach, in Delaware, and the Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain, in Maryland.

“We are very honored to launch this major national initiative to support those families who already are sacrificing so much for our country,“ said Founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Morrison.

While getting treatment for their child at a military hospital, families in the U.S. Armed Forces often are far from home without the support of extended family members. The Believe In Tomorrow Military Initiative acts as an outside support system that gives the opportunity for the families to be together in a comfortable environment.

Two new retreat facilities, scheduled to open in May 2008 in North Carolina and Ocean City, are dedicated to the Military Initiative. The Foundation will continue to increase their Military Initiative in the near future in both their retreat and hospital housing programs.

In addition, Morrison will be raising funds and awareness for the Military Initiative by hiking the Grand Canyon. He and four teammates will raise $250,000 in honor of the 250,000 overnight accommodations Believe In Tomorrow has provided families during their 25 years of service.

Believe In Tomorrow provides exceptional hospital and retreat housing services to critically ill children and their families. They believe in keeping families together during a child's medical crisis, and that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.

For more information, visit their Web site at www.believeintomorrow. org.