A check and a chair

Brad Schaefer of the Working Warrior Nation stands with Senior Master Sgt. Scott Passman, of the Eglin First Sergeants Council, as he speaks to the crowd after accepting a check for $5,000 for the Fisher House, a Combined Federal Campaign charity, Nov. 15 at the Air Force Armament Museum. A 20,000 wheelchair (pictured) was also donated to the organizations. The goal is to find a veteran who could benefit from it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Enlisted clubs pass on gifts to worthy causes

Published Nov. 16, 2012
By Kevin Gaddie
Team Eglin Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Team Eglin's First Sergeants Council and Top Three Organization accepted a $5,000 donation to the Combined Federal Campaign Nov. 15, for their volunteer efforts at recent area fundraising event. The donation will go to Fisher House.

At the fundraiser, Senior Master Sgt. Scott Passman, 96th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant and a First Sergeants Council member, was informed that Karen Van Giesen, a civil service employee and a Santa Rosa Beach resident, died in February from Lou Gehrig's disease-related complications.

"Karen's husband, Michael, contacted a non-profit organization that helps wounded warriors to find jobs and get acclimated to their community, and asked them if our council could find a disabled veteran who could use her $22,000 wheelchair," Passman said.

Passman said the First Sergeants Council is currently looking for a recipient for the wheelchair.

The wheelchair will have an engraved plate on it in memory of Karen Van Giesen, so whoever gets it will always know where it came from.

"Because of the kindness of a gentleman whose wife passed away, this wheelchair will enhance a wounded warrior's quality of life," Passman said.