Welcome to The Murray Grey Foundation and Its Military Families Support Fund-Serving The Families Of Those Who Serve America.

Murray Grey Launches $500 worth of Free Gas Program

Mark Liddell, the Executive Director of Murray Grey announced that as part of a program to allow spouses of deployed soldiers and those of veterans be able to sustain themselves thru economic turmoil by providing them the $500 in free gas cards that they can sell in their community to provide additional income and provide them the resources to help themselves. Mark says "because of the skyrocketing demand the past several months, the need has far outstripped our ability thru donations to satisfy demand- so this is a program where military families can help themselves, and not be dependant on outside sources."

Our primary focus is providing financial assistance to families facing home foreclosure, while assisting them with expert advice so that they can have all the benefits they are entitled to.

Fundraiser Planned At The Famous Apollo Theatre In New York

The Hip Hop Summit Youth Council, BET, and The Murray Grey Foundation announce a fundraiser on December 1 at the Apollo Theatre in New York City to benefit military families and the anti-gang, anti-poverty programs of the Hip Hop Summit.

Murray Grey Foundation Selected to Partner on Operation SNUG- With New York Senate Leader

The Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council has partnered with the Murray Grey Foundation to reduce gun and gang violence among our youth and young adults by raising awareness and funds for OPERATION S.N.U.G. (“guns” spelled backwards). This initiative was launched by NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, with tri-level government support from many elected officials including Governor Paterson, Congressmen Rangel & Meeks and NYC Council Speaker Christian Quinn. There is also support form Microsoft, NYC Housing Authority and a host of other government agencies, business and community leaders. As concerned citizens, it’s time for us to unite behind an effective program created to protect the rights and safety of our children. We are excited about a partnership with the Foundation, and are proud to be associated with such a respected, proactive group, that is standing up for the well being of our military troops and their families, as well as the safety of our children from the threat of guns and gang violence.

Murray Grey Foundation Creating Sustainability Program

Working with several national companies, The Murray Grey Foundation has put together a unique program that offers $500 worth of free gas for $150- and allowing military family members to make income in their community, in most cases working from home offering this free gas program.. Mark Liddell, Executive Director says "we have noticed that in many cases the same families we assisted before come back for additional support- and that the core issue is that they have no easy way, especially in today's economy, to earn the extra income that they need to sustain their families wellbeing. In most cases, its a small amount, but when you are living on the edge, and in most cases while your spouse is deployed off shore, even a small amount is out of reach. We are working with some very successful companies to create a way that with no financial investment on their part, we can plug these spouses of military families into ways they can financially sustain themselves on an on-going basis- we call it rather unimaginably our "teach them to fish" program."

Murray Grey Has Gas Cards for Military Families

The Murray Grey Foundation thru a generous donor has a limited supply of $25 gas gift cards that are going fast. Please call our foundation at 888-292-3334.

Thanks to SVM for Their Support of Military Families

We would like to thank SVM for their generous donation to be distributed to those military families in need we are assisting. SVM is a leader in the gift card industry and devoted to helping businesses reward, promote, entice and grow. Established in 1997, SVM handles the sales, marketing and distribution of gift cards for most major gasoline companies.

Kimberly Hooper Named Assistant Executive Director at MGF

Mark Liddell, the Executive Director of The Murray Grey Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Kimberly Hooper as Assistant Executive Director. Kimberly Hooper is a true daughter of the Army. She was born in 1982 in Wahiawa, Hawaii, while her infantry officer father was stationed at Schofield Barracks. Between 1982 and 1998, Kimberly crisscrossed the United States and the world-- living on nearly twelve different military instillations including five years in Hong Kong and Beijing, China, before settling permanently in Phoenix, Arizona. After completion of her Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Arizona State University, Kimberly has worked for several top companies including America West Airlines (U.S. Air), Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Kimberly came to the Murray Grey Foundation as a volunteer to give support to the military family that has been such an important part of her life.

Foreclosure Rate Climbed Four Times Higher in Military Towns

As the number of people obtaining Veterans Administration (VA) loans fell to the lowest in 12 years, the rate of foreclosures in towns where soldiers live off-base was nearly four times the national average, according to data compiled by RealtyTrac. The national rate of foreclosure filings in the first four months of 2008 climbed by 59% year-to-year, according to RealtyTrac’s records of bank seizures, auctions and default notices. However, the rate of foreclosure filings in towns within 10 miles of major military facilities climbed by 217% during the same period. “Military families are already shouldering heavy burdens … Knowing that so many more are losing their homes to foreclosure is heartbreaking — and it’s just plain wrong,” said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) at a recent Joint Economic Committee hearing. The largest spike in foreclosures near a military base was reported by Columbia, South Carolina. Serving as home to Fort Jackson, an Army training ground for recruits going into combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, Columbia saw a 492% increase in foreclosure filings from a year ago. Woodbridge, Virginia – adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico – had the second-largest increase with a 414% surge in foreclosure filings.

More military families battling foreclosure

KUSA – June 16, 2008 As the home foreclosure crisis sweeps across America, military and financial aid groups say they are hearing from a rising number of troops who say they are falling behind on their mortgage payments and struggling to keep their homes. We took a closer look on 9NEWS 7 a.m.

"The Army as a whole has seen an increase in soldiers and families seeking assistance for mortgage foreclosures," says Army Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, citing data from branch legal offices trying to advise soldiers.

Neither the Pentagon nor the Department of Veterans Affairs track the number of military families facing foreclosure. Numbers of mortgage delinquencies are kept, however, by USAA, a San Antonio-based financial services company that serves military members and their families. The company declined to release figures, saying in a statement only that "we have seen an increase."

The VA and financial counseling services say they are hearing from more servicemembers fighting to stave off foreclosure. In the current crisis, 1.2 million foreclosures have occurred nationwide.

The nine VA regional loan centers have seen an increase in calls, now daily, from veterans and active-duty servicemembers with home-finance problems, according to an informal poll conducted by department officials in recent weeks, says spokesman Steve Westerfeld.

And calls from troops in mortgage crisis received by one non-profit credit counseling service ? Houston-based Money Management International ? doubled from two dozen per month the first quarter of 2007 to four dozen per month this past quarter, spokeswoman Catherine Williams says.

Troops have limited foreclosure protection under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Lenders can seek a court order to foreclose on a house, even if the soldier is in combat, federal housing records show.

Edgecomb says Army legal officers are already preparing for an influx of calls about problem mortgages this summer. That's when soldiers typically change their assignments from one base to another and often have to sell their homes. There are also concerns that GIs who rent could be hurt indirectly by foreclosure of those properties, she says.

Pressures on family

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Escamilla was on his third combat tour in Iraq last year when he had to negotiate from the battlefield with his lender over disputed penalties for the adjustable-rate loan on his four-bedroom home near Fort Carson, Colo. His payment had ballooned from $967 to more than $3,000.

"Not only do I have to worry about staying alive, but now I got to worry about whether or not my family's going to get kicked out of the house," Escamilla says of the long-distance haggling last fall.

He finished his combat tour Dec. 31, but the mortgage fight only escalated, says Escamilla, who has three children. His lender, Colorado-based Aurora Loan Services, sent him a written threat of foreclosure a few weeks ago, he says.

After a USA TODAY inquiry to the parent company, New York-based Lehman Bros., a corporate officer notified Escamilla that all penalties would be removed and his payment adjusted down to its original amount, Escamilla says. "She was sorry for what happened," the soldier says.

Lehman spokesman Brian Finnegan says the company was "committed to working with customers to resolve issues."

Before the loan problem was resolved, however, the Escamillas were under serious financial and emotional stress. Angie Escamilla says her hair started falling out a month before her husband left for Iraq for the third time.

In addition to seeing him leave and being left to care for their children, she also faced losing their home because of escalating mortgage penalties and late fees, and the destruction of their credit, she says.

"With all of the stress I've been under, between this (mortgage crisis) and everything else, I've lost the majority of my hair," says the 29-year-old whose once-thick strands had turned to a fine, thin layer.

Vietnam Bronze Star Winner joins Murray Grey Board

Phoenix-The Murray Grey Foundation is pleased to announce that Bruce Sutherland has joined our board. Bruce served with the 1st Calvary Air Mobile for 15 months along the Cambodian border and the Central Highlands. Bruce received 8 medals for his service including the Bronze Star and an Air Metal and left service as a Sergeant (E-5).

In recent years, Bruce through his company Harmony ARTile have helped in fundraising for many non-profits. Some of the organizations include The Latin American Foundation, Douglas County Community Foundation, Castle Rock Community Art Foundation, Boulder County Day School Fundraiser, Emergency Family Assistance Foundation, The National Center for Atmospheric Research, Alexander Dawson School Fundraiser, The Kempe Children’s Foundation, Boulder Downtown 25th Anniversary Fundraiser, and the Hispanic Annual Salute. Harmony ARTile incorporates fine art and ceramic tiles for outdoor public art, commemorative collectibles, indoor recognition murals and award trophy tiles for the purpose of raising funds for a variety of organizational needs.

Free Home Repair for Phoenix Area Military Family/Veterans

Phoenix- The Murray Grey Foundation and Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun will be offering a free home repair this fall for Phoenix area military family or veterans. Based upon the budget for the repairs, we could serve multiple families.

If you need this or know of someone who fits the criteria, please contact us at 1-888-292-3334.