Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Mission
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) is a tax-exempt organization of Coast Guard people assisting the entire Coast Guard family, including Active Duty, Retired Military, Coast Guard civilian employees, Coast Guard Reserve, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Public Heath Service Officers serving with the Coast Guard, and surviving family members. CGMA receives no federal funds, and relies on regular donations from Coast Guard people and bequests from benefactors. Benefactor donations include a bequest in 2011 from the estate of CDR Christine M. Hosking, USCGR, of $125,000, as described in the Reservist magazine (Volume LVIII, Issue 5, 2011, pp. 14-15), and a bequest of $500,000 in 2012 from the estate of CAPT Joseph P. Martin, USCG. Most assistance is provided through interest-free loans and personal grants. Education assistance programs support members and dependents in their pursuit of academic goals. Other types of assistance include emergency travel, temporary living expenses, funeral expenses, loss of funds or property, disaster relief, medical and dental expenses, and debt management. There is also a Layette Program to welcome infants.

Governance
CGMA is governed by a Board of Directors called the Board of Control (BOC). The Officers of the Corporation include the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and the Executive Director of CGMA. The elected members of the BOC represent the constituencies served by CGMA and serve staggered, three-year terms. The eight subcommittees are Executive, Finance, Mutual Assistance, Management, Education, Nominating, Audit, and Strategic Planning. Monthly meetings are held at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, and members generally reside in the greater DC area. The 2013 Annual Meeting was held in April at Coast Guard Headquarters, where it was reported that in 2012 CGMA distributed nearly $4.3 million in assistance to nearly 6,000 recipients.

Milestones

 * 1924—The League of Coast Guard Women is founded
 * 1941—Coast Guard Welfare is established and assumes the League's mission
 * 1979—Name changes to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
 * 1998—CGMA is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia
 * 2005—CGMA distributes $3 million in direct aid to families affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
 * 2009—CGMA celebrates 85 years of service to the Coast Guard family
 * Currently—CGMA delivers between $4 million and $5 million annually in direct financial assistance through interest-free loans, grants, financial education, and family support programs

Similar organizations

 * Air Force Aid Society
 * Army Emergency Relief
 * Coast Guard Foundation
 * Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
 * United Service Organizations