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Welcome 
The Martyr Medical Fund for Children (MMFC) was established to provide humanitarian medical assistance and treatment in the United States to the children of Iraqi interpreters killed in the line of duty while serving the US military and Coalition Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The MMFC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Michigan in January 2009. Our application for tax exempt status, IRS Form 1023, was approved by the Internal Revenue Service effective 15 January 2009 enabling the Martyr Medical Fund for Children to receive tax-deductable charitable contributions from interested private citizens, organizations, and businesses.
The concept for the Martyr Medical Fund for Children arose in early November 2008 from a Michigan Army National Guard Physician Assistant, MAJ David Howell, during a combat mission in Ramadi, Iraq. MAJ Howell, two Combat Medics, and a Squad of Infantry Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment were assigned to an entry control point (ECP) near the Al Anbar Province Government Center to help the Iraqi Provincial Police prevent a suicide bomber from attacking several hundred women and children who were gathering at the Provincial Government Center. All of the women were there to collect Martyr Pay, the monthly death benefit the government paid them for the service rendered by their husbands and son who had been killed in the line of duty as Iraqi Policemen. On this particular day, due to a series of unbelievable events, MAJ Howell met Mohammed, an 11 year old boy whose father had served as an interpreter for the Marines at a combat outpost in Ramadi in 2003-2004 until he was tracked down at the family home and killed by the insurgents. He also learned that Mohammed had been trapped in a house fire as an infant and had been severely burned over 30% of his body, including his scalp, face, left arm, left hand, left abdomen, left leg, and left foot. Mohammed had obviously never had any skin grafts or reconstructive plastic surgery, and it was clear to all that he was treated differently by other children and adults due to his disfiguring burn scars.
In order to help Mohammed and the children of other deceased Iraqi translators, a simple desire to help has blossomed over a short period of time into the Martyr Medical Fund for Children. MAJ Howell is being ably assisted in this humanitarian effort by the following individuals and organizations:
You can read about Mohammed and any other Iraqi children that are currently being assisted in the "Humanitarian Projects " link on this web page. If you desire to help us financially in this humanitarian effort, you can either go to the "Donate Online " link on this web page where you will find information on how to make a credit card donation, or you can write a check and mail it to:
Martyr Medical Fund for Children
C/O Fifth Third Bank
900 Charlevoix Drive
Grand Ledge, MI 48837 |
