Willow Run Composite Squadron

Civil Air Patrol Willow Run Composite Squadron 824 Willow Run Airport Hangar 1, 3rd Floor Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

November 17, 2011

ZINGERMAN’S 3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Subject: Donation of food product to our 2011 WRCS Holiday Party

To Whom It May Concern:

Hello, my name is Leah Brady and I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol – Willow Run Squadron. The organization’s mission is to provide emergency services, disaster relief and educate their young cadets on how to conduct these operations. I have been in charge of the fundraising committee for the squadron for one year now and we are writing to ask for your help and support. I would like to take a few minutes of your time and let you know about this wonderful non-profit organization (501C3) and the all-volunteer services they perform for our citizens and communities.

Here is some information about the Civil Air Patrol Willow Run Search and Rescue Squadron:

The organization was established in 1941 and their headquarters is at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Approximately 95% of all inland search and rescue missions around the United States are performed by the over 60,000 members in the organization. They are credited with saving roughly 75 lives per year. They also support the Department of Homeland Security in border patrols and the DEA to assist in stopping illegal drug trafficking. The squadrons are solely dependent on themselves for fund raising. The Willow Run Squadron is the elite “go-to” squadron for this region of Michigan. Their main responsibility is to educate their young men and women cadets on the subjects of Emergency Services, Search & Rescue, Aerospace and Leadership. They go out on search and rescue missions all year long tracking down Emergency Locating Transmitter (ELT) beacon signals that are activated when aircraft or boats encounter rough weather and/or involved in accidents throughout Michigan. The members also conduct simulated search & rescue exercises year-round and participate in training camps lasting up to a week long. The squadron has its own aircraft and uniquely trained pilots who are skilled at flying search missions in support of the ground teams. The organization has saved the lives of downed pilots, boaters and folks who are reported missing and lost. The squadron is always on-call for any search and rescues that may be needed in the state of Michigan and must be mission-ready 24/7/365.

Every year, the squadron provides several different services to various cities throughout Michigan. They have helped at Plymouth-Canton Metetal Airport for a pancake breakfasts. For several years they have, at the request of the Romulus Rotary Club, helped with crowd control and parking for the Parade of Lights/Pumpkin Festival. Assist the Yankee Air Museum raising of the flag ceremony to honor our veterans on Memorial Day. Willow Run participated in the Ypsilanti Parade on Memorial Day this year for the first time. They participated in the Wayne Memorial Day parade to honor the Vietnam Veterans of Michigan. Their mission has always been one of 100% voluntary service to the community. As I mentioned earlier, we are a newly organized committee for the squadron and are coordinating fund raising drives and activities. We are trying very hard to ease the burdens placed on the members by soliciting companies for donations and then hosting and staffing various types of fund raising events. Their equipment is aging and becoming outdated and they are only able to accomplish their missions with voluntary contributions of money and supplies. We would like to ask ZINGERMAN’S to donate (approx. 100 people will be in attendance) assorted breads and pastries for our 2011 Holiday Party, being held on Saturday, December 17, 2011. This is a dinner for honoring our cadets and senior members. We also have during this event an award ceremony and special guest speaker (veteran of war). We had approximately 150 people last year attend our party and I am hoping to have the same amount of people this year. Last year we had over 75 vendors that helped with our dinner and raffling items. This year I am having a hard time getting donations for this event. I understand things are tuff with economy and all, but I am trying to honor our cadets and senior members that put their lives out on the line for everyone in Michigan every day. Last year I received so many compliments regarding the food, hall and decorations. This year’s party would not be able to take place unless I have support from local vendors. Here is a list of vendors that I have asked to help out this year to put on the dinner and dessert portion for this event:

Grand Traverse Pie Company, Plymouth – 4 pies Heartland Market, Garden City, Michigan – gift card Gordon Food Service, Canton, Michigan – gift card Walmart, Belleville, Canton – 1 gift card Target, Michigan Avenue, Ford Road and Warren, Canton and Westland – 2 gift card Holiday Market, Canton- waiting for response Big Boys, Belleville – 3 pies Cracker Barrel , Belleville –basket of food products Sam’s Club, Canton – gift cards Subway, Romulus and Belleville – 4 cookie platters Kroger’s, Canton, Garden City, Wayne and Ypsilanti – 2 gift cards Whole Food Market, Ann Arbor – waiting for response L. Georges Coney Island, Canton – 4 cakes Denny’s Restaurant – 4 desserts and raffle items Keller & Stein – waiting for response Haabs – gift cards Super Bowl – Family pack of bowling certificates Action Rental – plates and silverware for 150 Your Party Event Rental – banquet clothes, skirts and napkins Garden Fantasy – poinsettia for centerpieces Zap Zone – gift certificates G.I. Surplus – military items, gift cards Top Gun – 3 hours of range time K.L Custom Wood – Ornaments for everyone Roescke Turkey Farm – 2 turkeys and 20 squash Zingerman’s Bread – waiting for response

Please look through the brochure that I have attached with this letter. There are new events and accomplishments that took place this year for or squadron. If you are able to contact me sooner, it would be much appreciated. The earlier I know the better off things will turn out for our squadron and myself to make sure I have everything covered. I am pleased to announce that we were able to send 6 of our cadets to Encampment with partial scholarships this summer with the fund raising we have accomplished for one year. We were also able to take them on a field trip to The Wright Patterson Museum and help pay some expenses for the drill competition for this year. Your name and address along with everyone else’s that donated to our squadron will be posted as they were last year on several boards that were created by me and our cadets. Your name and city has been posted in our brochure that goes out to everyone that I have contacted over the past year (over 100 companies). I send out a list of vendors that helped us with donations to each of our cadets (21 people) and senior (34 people) members through emails, this year I will be attaching on the back of our invitations all vendors names and cities that I have been in contact with to help us out this year with food and dessert products, and decorations. When WRCS attends an event we have all information posted at that event along with a list of vendors that have helped us out over the past year. Willow Run is involved with Wreaths Across America and everyone that has received an email from me also has this list attached to the WAA forms. I normally send out over several hundred emails a month to all vendors, cap members, friends and family. We are in the process of working on our website to be able to list all sponsorships throughout the year for Willow Run Composite Squadron.

If there is ever anything that we can do for your company that would benefit you, please don't hesitate to ask Captain Mark Ginnard (email - [email protected]). Our cadets and senior members are always willing to help out our local communities and have a proven track record in that regard.

We know that the economy has heavily impacted many companies, but we really hope that you could find in your heart a place for the Willow Run Search and Rescue Squadron. Please forward all donations to my home address that is listed below or contact me to make arrangements for pick up of product. Normally it is either Rianne Ginnard or myself that helps me with pick-ups. I would really like to pick up bread product Friday before our party if this is convenient for Zingerman’s. Along with the donations may I please receive a value receipt for accounting purposes? Also, for every company that donates to our event we always have your name on display through our brochure and donation boards during our event. We are in the process of putting all sponsorships onto our website.

I was hoping that you could contact by November 17 to let me know if you are able to help me out with this donation. I am in the process of figure all decorations and products donated and running a little short on decorations this year. Thanking you in advance for your time and consideration for the donations for our events.

Very truly,

Mrs. Leah Brady CAP Patron Member Special Event Coordinator 9521 Chamberlain Street Romulus, Michigan 48174 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gocivilairpatrol.com and www.willowrunsquadron.org Phone: 734-941-4162 (home) FACT SHEET CIVIL AIR PATROL Citizens Serving Communities...Above and Beyond CAP serves America by developing our nation's youth; performing local, state and national missions; and informing our citizens about the importance of aerospace Education.

In December 1941, one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Civil Air Patrol was founded by more than 150,000 citizens who were concerned about the defense of America’s coastline. Under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Forces, CAP pilots flew more than 500,000 hours, were credited with sinking two enemy submarines and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. On July 1, 1946, President Harry Truman established CAP as a federally chartered benevolent civilian corporation, and Congress passed Public Law 557 on May 26, 1948. CAP was charged with three primary missions – aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. With the passage of Public Law 106-398 in October 2000, Congress provided that “The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer civilian auxiliary of the Air Force when the services of the Civil Air Patrol are used by any department or agency in any branch of the federal government.”

THE CORPORATION • Is classified as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation. • Operates as the all-volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force when performing services for the federal government. • Includes eight geographic regions consisting of 52 wings (the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia). • Has nearly 1,500 squadrons, and more than 60,000 volunteer cadet and adult members nationwide. • Provides opportunities for members to serve the community, participate in resident and/or distance learning leadership development training and acquire new skills to benefit personal and professional growth. • Operates one of the largest fleets of single-engine piston aircraft in the world, with 550 currently in the fleet. • Flies approximately 112,000 hours annually. • Maintains a fleet of 1,125 emergency service vehicles for training and mission support. • Provides support to cadets and adult members through 910 Chaplain Corps personnel. • Supports members with about 100 corporate staff at CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. AEROSPACE EDUCATION • Educates adult and cadet members and the community on the importance of aerospace. • Provides support for educational conferences and workshops nationwide. • Develops, publishes and distributes national academic standards-based aerospace education curricula for kindergarten through college classrooms. • Offers grant, award, college credit and scholarship opportunities for adult, cadet and teacher members. • Provides educators with free educational programs, products and services, including orientation airplane flights. • Provides comprehensive aerospace education resources online. EMERGENCY SERVICES • Conducts 90 percent of inland search and rescue in the U.S., as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other agencies. • Coordinates Air Force-assigned missions through the CAP National Operations Center at Maxwell AFB at a cost of only about $130 per flying hour. • Performs aerial reconnaissance for homeland security. • Saves an average of 80 lives per year (100-plus in FY 2010). • Provides disaster-relief support to local, state and national organizations. • Transports time-sensitive medical materials, blood products and body tissues when commercial routes are unavailable. • Provides impact assessment, light transport, communications support and low-level route surveys for the U.S. Air Force. • Assists federal law enforcement agencies in the war on drugs. • Conducts orientation flights for Air Force Junior and Senior ROTC cadets. • Maintains the most extensive VHF and HF communications network in the nation. CADET PROGRAMS • Includes more than 25,000 members ages 12 through 20. • Educates youth in four main program areas: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character development. • Provides after-school cadet program to enrich school curricula. • Offers orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft, and flight training scholarships. • Provides about 10 percent of each year’s new classes entering U.S. Air Force Academy. • Provides enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard at higher pay grade for cadets who have earned the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. • Provides activities and competitions for cadets at the local, state, regional and national levels. • Provides an International Air Cadet Exchange program. • Provides college scholarships in several disciplines. • Provides opportunities for community involvement through color guard/drill team presentations and an active role in emergency service missions. • Provides opportunities to test-fly careers in aviation, space and technology through dozens of summer activities. • Challenges youth to be ambassadors for a drug-free lifestyle. (current as of September 2010)