Throughout the history of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, our staff has been encouraged to give back and serve the individual causes, organizations and groups to which they personally feel connected. This month, our very own Julie Cieloha-Whitney, Murdock Trust CFO, achieved a very special milestone as she was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for USO Northwest.
“Several in my family have and continue to serve in the armed services. Giving back to the men and women who serve our country and protect our freedom (including first responders), has always been a very important part of my life,” said Cieloha-Whitney. “I am excited to be able to bring my skills and passion for service to this wonderful organization and I am honored that the leadership of USO Northwest (USO-NW) believes I will be able to help them make a positive impact in the lives of our troops and their families.”
For over 75 years, the USO has strengthened America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family and loved ones, throughout their service to the nation. USO-NW continues that mission today by serving more than 750,000 service members and their families annually throughout Washington and Oregon.
“USO-NW provides support to those who need it most, including morale-boosting and family-strengthening programs, deployment and redeployment support to help servicemen and women adjusting to the duty ahead, resiliency training for families facing multiple deployments, as well as support for families coping with the loss of a family member, Families of the Fallen,” said Donald Leingang, Commander US Navy (Retired) and Executive Director, USO Northwest. “As a private organization, all of these efforts come directly because of the support of dedicated partners and volunteers. Julie’s personal connection to our mission as well as her extensive professional credentials and expertise made her an ideal candidate to join our board. We are so happy to welcome her to our organization.”
“For decades, Julie has worked tirelessly to serve the diverse communities and organizations the serve and uplift those who live and work in the Pacific Northwest including countless hours volunteered in support of our local sheriff’s department as well as to help bring an end to human trafficking,” said Steve Moore, Executive Director, Murdock Trust. “With her passion for service and her personal background, no one on our staff was surprised that Julie pursued this opportunity. We are so proud of her and we are grateful for her continued commitment to those who serve our country.”
Learn more about USO Northwest and the myriad ways they support our troops and the families of those who serve our country on their website.
