ABOUT OCIB
Operation Courage is Beautiful's Mission:
To bring a little joy and femininity to our active duty, deployed US servicewomen through care packages geared for women
Operation Courage is Beautiful (OCIB) began its work to support women in uniform in 2009 as a project of founder Cindy Chan in collaboration with local military organizations. OCIB is now a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization in which donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID#47-4812161.
Between 150,000 to 200,000 active duty personnel are currently deployed overseas, 20% of which are women. Over 75% of our care package requests come from currently
deployed servicemembers. Over 95% of our care package requests are for women. Every year we fulfill these requests, shipping on average over 4.5 tons of products. Our packages go to APO/FPO addresses primarily in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and on Naval ships worldwide. We often hear from servicewomen stating that our packages are the "best [they] ever received."
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Packing and shipping costs are nearing $25 per package. We also need donations of products and volunteer hours to put together our care packages. Your donation, partnership, sponsorship, and/or volunteer hours are greatly appreciated by our organization and our women and men in service.
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Operation Courage is Beautiful has been the recipient of numerous grants, including ones from the National VFW, Military Spouses Association of Camp Pendleton, Air Force Officers' Spouses Club of Washington, DC, most recently the SDG&E Steps4Good program, and many others. Past donors and partners include small businesses, corporations, corporate groups, and organizations including units of the Daughters of the American Revolution, college sororities and fraternities, etc., locally and nationwide. We have been mentioned in national publications such as Glamour Magazine and Women’s World Magazine. Cindy has also received the She Serves Award from the National VFW for her efforts. The first week of November in San Diego has been declared by the City of San Diego as “Operation Courage is Beautiful” week.
