CACI and Cause: Teaming Up to Help Our Nation's Wounded

By Keith Gamboa
June 22, 2006

The Cause Gala was held at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Taking care of hundreds of men and women injured in the defense of America's freedoms - that's what Cause does every day.

Cause (short for Comfort for America's Uniformed Services) is a nonprofit organization, totally staffed by volunteers, that brings comfort and recreation into the lives of America's young warfighters recuperating from wounds and injuries suffered in battle zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.

CACI is a primary sponsor of Cause, and has supported the organization since its inception. Our involvement is part of our ongoing corporate and cultural commitment to serve the U.S. military wherever and whenever needed.

Lightening the Load

Because so many service men and women are far from the comforts of home and the support of family and friends, Cause helps lift their spirits by organizing activities, delivering gift packs and providing phone cards and a variety of digital entertainment and games.

Dr. London delivers his remarks thanking Cause for supporting our wounded warfighters on their long road to recovery.

In addition to recuperating from serious injuries, soldiers also battle loneliness and boredom. Cause tries to "lighten the load" by organizing picnics, dinners and casino nights on the Walter Reed campus and by bringing in local groups to provide entertainment.

For CACI's Keith Kellogg, EVP heading the Mission Systems Business Group, and a man with a long and distinguished career in the Army, the work of Cause for injured soldiers has a special significance.

"It demonstrates in deed and in word that we care and respect who they are, what they have done and what they sacrificed," he said. "Cause is a good and noble endeavor to support."

The Cause Gala

CACI recently served as the Presenting Sponsor to a Cause benefit gala held at Arlington National Cemetery in celebration of Armed Forces Day. The event took place at the cemetery's Women in Military Service for America Memorial. In attendance were CACI Chairman, President and CEO Dr. J.P. (Jack) London and other senior officers.

As the Presenting Sponsor, CACI made financial contributions to the organization's efforts and also provided design and event planning. Dr. London spoke at the event and thanked Cause for their outstanding work: "You have responded to the needs of our wounded military with a remarkable and inspirational program of support."

Then, speaking directly to our military personnel, he said, "I want you to know that our nation and all of us at CACI are grateful for your ongoing efforts to safeguard America and our freedoms. Thank you for your dedication and commitment. Thank you for your sacrifice.

"Many at CACI are themselves veterans. We understand your mission. As a company we have spent 45 years supporting the federal government, the DoD in particular. In fact, our very first customer was a branch of the armed services."

CACI's Tradition of Support

CACI continues to support our military men and women, both while they serve and as veterans. CACI's business is focused on solutions for strategic intelligence and tactical support, networks and information systems that help share vital information, logistics and engineering that keep the military supplied and ready, and other solutions for direct warfighter support.

Moreover, the company assists the Department of Veterans Affairs in delivering needed services to our veterans, develops and maintains personnel and related information systems that enhance quality of life for our service men and women, and provides solutions that keep our military infrastructure running smoothly so our troops can concentrate on what they do best: defending our freedoms.

CACI's tradition of support extends to its very inception, and besides Cause, the company today also supports such efforts as the Pentagon Memorial Fund and the American Patriot Fund, and manages corporate charitable contributions through its CACI Project Philanthropy program, which focuses on educational initiatives and the preservation of national treasures.

As Dr. London concluded in his remarks at the Cause Gala, "Thank you for allowing CACI to share your vision. We appreciate all that you have done. We are glad to have assisted, so that you may continue - and expand - your efforts."

And as emphasized by Jody Brown, CACI's EVP for Corporate Communications, and herself a member of the Cause Planning Committee, there is a real importance to helping Cause in its vital mission.

"What better way is there to show our concern for the well-being of our soldiers than to pitch in and help Cause in its efforts to aid the wounded on their road to recovery?" she says. "I urge the CACI family to visit the Cause website and contribute to this remarkable effort."