Lincoln Raises Nearly $200K for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Benjamin T. Liston, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) supported the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) by raising more than $197,000 throughout the months of March and April.

Lincoln's NMCRS committee raised money by promoting fundraisers and hosted a NMCRS day, which included events such as a slam dunk contest and three-point shootout in the hangar bay, a 5K fun run and golf driving range on the flight deck.

Ten Sailors donated $5 each to compete in the slam dunk contest, and 60 Sailors paid the same amount each to participate in the three-point shootout. While the fun run was free of charge, golfers paid one dollar for every five golf balls they drove off the flight deck.

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Kathryn Benjamin, the NMCRS assistant fundraising coordinator aboard Lincoln, said with an original target of $140,000, the accomplishment was more than what she had hoped for.

"It's really great to see the crew come together to support a good cause," she said. "And having these events really boosted the morale of the ship. We all came together and had a good time. It was also a great feeling to help out our shipmates all over the world."

The NMCRS, a non-profit charitable organization sponsored by the Department of the Navy, is solely funded by charitable contributions like the annual fund drive conducted by shore and sea-based commands throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. Contributions are returned to service members in the form of emergency relief or other services. The NMCRS has helped active duty and retired Sailors and Marines and their families for more than 100 years.

Lincoln will turn over the money to the local NMCRS office once it gets to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. later this year.

"The NMCRS is a great program because it is Sailors taking care of their fellow Sailors through donations and charitable drives," said Chief Religious Programs Specialist Elliot Warley, Lincoln's NMCRS emergency relief coordinator. "It's a program that helps Sailors out when they encounter a family emergency or crisis."

Lincoln is deployed as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which includes embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, comprised of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.