Skip Vaughn | Redstone Rocket | April 2, 2025
After three hours, the topic at last week’s third annual Financial Symposium transitioned to giving by design. Army Emergency Relief took center stage.
“Army Emergency Relief is more than just a program. It’s Soldiers helping Soldiers,” Capt. Maria Salih, the AER campaign coordinator, said. This part of the symposium, in Bob Jones Auditorium, marked the kickoff for the annual fundraising campaign which continues through June 14.
Army Emergency Relief is a 501c(3) nonprofit established in 1942 by the secretary of the war and the Army chief of staff to relieve financial distress on Soldiers and their families. AER is 100% funded through donations, and the campaign goals are to increase awareness.
“It’s helping other Soldiers that are running into any kind of financial issues or if they need assistance for scholarships,” Salih said. The campaign goal is “to be able to reach as many individuals (as possible), to be able to assist those that run into hardship, and to let them know that we are here to assist in any way that AER can assist,” she said. “And to also let Soldiers and retired members and families know that they are not alone and that they don’t have to go through hardships alone.”
Salih, commander of Headquarters & Headquarters Company AMCOM, can be reached for campaign information at maria.l.salih.mil@army.mil.
Symposium coordinator Olivia Pierce, financial readiness program manager at Army Community Service, led a round of applause for AER. “What we’re looking for is continued donations,” Pierce said.
Nationally last year, AER assisted more than 30,000 Soldiers through contributions, according to statistics she provided.
Donated dollars went to the following focus areas: basic needs and housing, care during crisis, health and wellness, supporting families, workforce development.
AER assisted over 4,600 active duty and retired Soldiers and their families with close to $3 million in natural disaster relief on a budget of just $1 million.
Converting emergency travel to full grant will cost AER an additional $2.5 million in assistance.
In total, AER provided $10.8 million in grants and $9.2 million in scholarships to Soldiers.
At Redstone Arsenal last year, 22 people received $43,000 to meet basic needs or assist with their career skills program. These included 14 active duty, seven retirees and one survivor of a fallen Soldier. Thirty-seven people received $127,000 in scholarship assistance. These included 13 active duty, 21 retirees and three surviving family members. Total donations for 2024 at Redstone reached $145,000.
Redstone Arsenal won the Small Installation Campaign Award from AER headquarters for raising $72,000, from 819 donors, during the campaign window.
To contribute to AER, visit armyemergencyrelief.org.
More on the 2025 AER Annual Campaign.