From the Director's Desk

Hello friends,

My name is Don MacKay and I am the Executive Director and General Manager of Soldiers’ Angels. As many of you may have seen posted on our MSN Boards, Patti has announced that she has decided to step back from active management of the day to day operations of Soldiers’ Angels. With the assistance of our President, Ana-Marie Smith and our Operations Manager, Linda Dominik, I have humbly agreed to assume responsibility for the day to day operations of Soldiers’ Angels from the incredible woman who founded this amazing organization and who worked so hard to make Soldiers’ Angels what it is today. Patti has decided that the time has come for her to step back, rest and enjoy the wonderful organization that she has brought into our lives.

Before I continue, I would like to say a couple of words about and to Patti. Patti, you began this organization out of your home and now look at where we are. Because of your vision, determination and most of all your big heart, this organization has been directly responsible for supporting thousands of soldiers and their families throughout some of the most difficult times in their lives. The various projects you have supervised have helped to provide comfort as well as save lives. And then there are the wonderful Angels you have brought together from all over the nation and the world to continue the mission you have started. You have given us all a home where we can share our stories, receive support and work collectively on the mission that is Soldiers’ Angels. I for one admire you so very much and pledge to work hard to make you very proud. Patti, we all love you and hope that you are able to devote some time to yourself for once. Our thoughts and prayers are always with you. Thank you, Patti. Thank you for everything.

Many of you I know and still many more of you I do not. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure to meet, I look forward to getting to know you in the days, weeks and months to come. First though I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering the call to support our brave soldiers. As you all know very well, they need us now more than ever. For those of you who have worked so hard with Patti for so long, I want to assure you and reassure you that the mission of Soldiers’ Angels is going to continue without falter. I also want you to know that even though Patti won’t be as active in the day to day operations, she will still be a very integral part of this organization providing direction and consultation to myself and the management of Soldiers’ Angels. I am going to work tirelessly on your behalf and the soldiers we serve.

There are many new and exciting things going on here at Soldiers’ Angels and in the coming weeks I plan to highlight these things with you. Very soon, we will be adding a spot to the MSN Boards as well as to the main website. This section will be called “From the Directors’ Desk…”, and it is where we will showcase special projects that we are working on as well as bring you current on things we have accomplished. We are going to continue to introduce wonderful Angels who have stepped up to help lead our organization into the future in various ways. We will be talking about our community outreach program, our fund-raising efforts and our push to let America know about the work we are doing to support our soldiers. We need the country to know how great and urgent the need to support our brave men and women in uniform is. I encourage you to look at the many projects and teams currently running and to volunteer to help one or more of them. I also encourage you to contact your Regional Director and volunteer to help spread the word. I know many of us don’t feel that we would make the best spokespeople because we are shy. I will let you in on a little secret: First, get excited! Think about the men and women who will open up a letter or care package today and smile, and get pumped! Then, go tell a friend or a neighbor about what it is we are doing and see if they would like to help. Talk to your pastor or religious leader and ask if your place of worship would be willing to help. Talk to the other members of the PTA to see if the school your kids attend would like to volunteer. Before you know it, you will be talking to co-workers, the clerk at the grocery store--excitement has a way of spreading all by itself. It just needs you as a vessel. Can you do that? I am willing to bet anything that you can, and I look so forward to hearing of your many successes.

My friends, this is an exciting time here at Soldiers’ Angels. We are witnessing our organizations growth and expansion enabling us to provide support and service to soldiers and their families in ways we were never able to in the past and I can only imagine what the future holds. I believe great things are in store for Soldiers’ Angels, and with your continued hard work and dedication I believe that we will exceed our wildest dreams.

So once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are making an incredible difference in so many lives and now it is time to kick it into high gear. Tell everyone you know and even those you don’t that Soldiers’ Angels NEEDS THEM.

With honor and humility,

Donald William MacKay
Executive Director and General Manager
Soldiers’ Angels