No Greater Love (charity) explained

Formation:1971
Headquarters:Washington, D.C.
No Greater Love
Founder:Carmella LaSpada
Type:Non-governmental organization
Status:Charity
Purpose:humanitarian, morale
Location Country:United States
Location City:Washington, D.C.

No Greater Love (NGL) is an American humanitarian, non-profit organization founded in 1971[1] by Carmella Laspada[2] and is dedicated to providing programs such as wreath-layings, remembrance tributes, and memorial dedications, for those who have lost a loved one in the service to the country or by an act of terrorism. To date, NGL has dedicated 11 memorials located in Arlington National Cemetery and sponsors numerous other programs.

The name is derived from the verse John 15:13 from the Bible.

History

As a White House Special Projects Aide during the Vietnam War, LaSpada organized a USO tour to the Philippines and Japan in 1966 with her friend, the journalist and humorist Art Buchwald. Visiting a military hospital, she met a battle-injured medic who had seen 35 men in his unit die before he himself was mortally wounded. The young man asked that she promise to do something so that his comrades and their grieving families would be remembered. She agreed, accepting from him a black scarf, a symbol of his unit, to seal her promise.[3] One of her first efforts came following a trip to Bethesda Naval Hospital; when she asked the amputee veterans what they would like, they replied "visits from pretty girls and athletes." She enlisted her friends in Washington and members of the New York Yankees, including Mickey Mantle, to visit.

LaSpada sent questionnaires in 1971 to children of soldiers known to be held as POWs in Vietnam, or those who were listed as MIA, in which she asked them to list their favorite sports teams or players.[2] She then organized visits from the teams to more than 2,000 children around the U.S. for Christmas or birthdays.[2] Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas placed the first phone call to one of the respondent children of the campaign.[4] A dedicated group of volunteers from Georgetown University aided in mailing Christmas presents that year.[5]

LaSpada began the organization with no funding, covering operating costs from her own resources and with some help from the Disabled American Veterans.[6] The organization was sponsored by Joe DiMaggio, Jesse Owens, Arnold Palmer, and Ted Williams, among others.[2] Initially, offices were donated and furnished by four AFL-CIO unions:[7] painters, sheet-metal workers, iron workers, and firefighters.[8] LaSpada did not begin taking a salary for her efforts with the organization until 1992, at which point she began drawing a wage of $30,000 US annually.[9]

Four of the athletes (Unitas, Brooks Robinson, Ted Williams, and Don Schollander) LaSpada had recruited in helping to provide moral support to the children of POWs and MIA soldiers wrote a letter for North Vietnam Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng in the hopes of opening a dialogue regarding the soldiers, but never received a reply.[10]

In 1981, Roger Staubach served as the president of No Greater Love; Steve Garvey served as its vice-president.[11]

LaSpada resigned her role with No Greater Love when she accepted the position as Director for the White House Commission on Remembrance.[12]

Programs

NGL has initiated many programs to encourage remembrance and increase morale of those affected by war:

Notes and References

  1. News: Swindle . Orson . Orson Swindle . 1996-02-01 . An invitation to join in comforting troops . . . 139 . 48720 . A11 . 2024-05-27 . limited.
  2. News: Beard . Gordon . 1971-12-14 . "No Greater Love" Grid Stars Cheer Children Of POWs . . . . 50 . 38 . 4-C . 2024-05-27 . limited.
  3. News: McCombs . Phil . 2001-05-26 . Remember the sacrifices of their day, activist says . . . 93 . 74 . 5E . limited . 2024-05-27. Syndicated from The Washington Post.
  4. News: Watson . Maria . 1971-12-10 . No Greater Love Unitas Cheers Up Lad . . . 88 . 68 . 1 . 2024-05-27 . limited.
  5. News: Ryan . Michael . 1990-12-23 . No Greater Love. . . 4 . 172 . Parade 5 . limited . 2024-05-27.
  6. News: Solomon . George . George Solomon . 1972-06-12 . Happiness is her only game . . . 51 . 188 . 54 . limited . 2024-05-27.
  7. News: 1978-09-19 . Unsung Herione Award: Carmella La Sapada [sic] honored ]. . limited . . 13 . 2024-05-28.
  8. News: Ryan . Michael . 1990-12-23 . No Greater Love. . . 4 . 172 . Parade 7 . limited . 2024-05-27.
  9. News: McCombs . Phil . 2001-05-26 . Volunteer put 'real career' on hold: Pennsylvanian's altruism reminiscent of George Bailey in 'Wonderful Life'. . . . 93 . 74 . 5E . limited . 2024-05-27. Syndicated from The Washington Post.
  10. News: Vils . Ursula . 1973-05-15 . Remembering the Fatherless in War's Wake . limited . . . 92 . IV-1 . 2024-05-28.
  11. News: McCarthy . Colman . Colman McCarthy . 1981-12-20 . No Greater Love has no greater friend at Yuletime than Dave Butz . . . limited . 140 . 354 . C3 . 2024-05-28. Syndicated from The Washington Post.
  12. News: Mendoza . Martha . Martha Mendoza . 2006-05-28 . Holiday still has no 'moment' to spare . . . . limited . 126 . 112 . C5 . 2024-05-28.
  13. News: Brockmann . Dave . 1996-02-04 . Operation Valentine sends love to troops . . . 139 . 34 . A-4 . limited . 2024-05-27.
  14. News: Ryan . Michael . 1990-12-23 . No Greater Love. . . 4 . 172 . Parade 4 . limited . 2024-05-27.
  15. News: Gosier . Elijah . 1991-02-19 . Bibs show support for military dads . . Largo/Seminole Times . limited . . 1–2 . 2024-05-28.
  16. News: Vitez . Michael . Michael Vitez . 1990-12-09 . The woman who won't forget: When war or terrorism kills Americans, Carmella LaSpada remembers and cares. . limited . . . 322 . 162 . 43 . 2024-05-28.
  17. News: 1986-12-12 . 50,000 letters heading for captives in Lebanon . Fort-Worth Star Telegram . . limited . 81 . 235 . A19 . 2024-05-28.
  18. News: Maitland . Harry . 1987-11-25 . LaSpada and Rendin honored for service . . limited . . 44 . 2024-05-28.
  19. News: 1997-05-18 . Remembering the Reason for Memorial Day . The Index-Journal . limited . . 79 . 87 . 64 . 2024-05-28.
  20. News: 1977-01-22 . 5 Vietnam veterans to select 'Editor's Choice' candidates . . . 8 . limited . 2024-05-27.