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Veterans museum, foundation, in dire need of donations

By Staff | Apr 22, 2020

To the editor:

I am the founder of two (501 C -3) charities, Invest in America’s Veterans Foundation-Florida and SW Florida Military Museum and Library located at our Cape Coral facility. We have been providing services to our local community and especially our veterans for 12 years since our inception on Nov. 11, 2009.

We moved into our present location on Nov. 11, 2012 and since have become the largest Military Museum in SW Florida and, through the Veterans Foundation we have continued to assist an average of 800 veterans each year by providing essential services that they require. Our Veterans Foundation provides many of the services needed by the thousands of veterans who have relied on us for such things as PTSD counseling, obtaining military records, transportation, bus passes, gas cards, food distribution, career counseling, job placements, free legal consultation provided by the Florida Bar Association and other areas that need attention that are not provided by the VA system. We co-host food distribution days working with the Gunterberg Foundation and Harry Chapin food banks as well as other organizations many months each year when, at times, more than 700 local families are given unlimited groceries to help them during hard times. The Foundation was instrumental in designating Cape Coral as a Purple Heart city. We house the local DAV, Am Vets, and the American Legion to provide all these services.

Our Military Museum has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world and has become a major destination in the South Cape Coral area. The museum hosts many events each week to honor our veterans and to open the community to the thousands of stories that relate to the history of our great country. We invite all of the local schools, assisted living facilities, service organizations and other major groups such as the retired firefighters from Ohio that held their annual convention at our museum bringing more than 150 of their group to the area for the first time. Recently we cohosted with the MOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Chorale from Maryland to perform to over 100 guests. We are planning our third annual Memorial Day Parade expecting to attract more than last year’s 10,000 admirers. We instituted the Cape Coral Parkway banner program six years ago where we place 25 to 60 banners on the light poles honoring veterans.

For the past 12 years we have provided a luncheon for as many as 150 veterans every Tuesday free of charge,

All our services and admissions are FREE. We rely on donations and fund raisers and events to fund us. However, because of this virus that is affecting all small businesses, we find ourselves, after all these 12 years, in need of financial help. It is imperative that we maintain our presence at our current location but are facing the possibility of having to close our doors unless we find a solution to cover the operating expenses to continue our important mission. Up until now we have not asked for this type of assistance, but we are at the point in time that we can’t do this alone.

I would appreciate any ideas or help you can lead us to in order save our place in the community. I am always available for discussion and would be glad to meet with anyone who can assist us. My contact information is below. You can donate through our web site at swflmm.org or send a check to SWFL Military Museum to 4820 Leonard St. Cape Coral, 33904

Thank you.

Ralph A. Santillo, founder,

239 -910 5699,

ralph.santillo@veterans-foundation.org