Marine-laden group to oversee support funds

Deirdre Newman

Residents are embracing the Marine battalion the city adopted in 2003

in typical Newport fashion.

So far, about $40,000 has been raised in support of the families

of the troops, who are shipping out to the Middle East next month.

Councilman Steve Bromberg said he wouldn’t be surprised if that

amount reaches $100,000.

With so much money coming in, the city committee that works with

the battalion decided Monday to create a tax-exempt group, known as a

501(c)(3), to oversee the funds. The committee is made up of eight

former Marines plus City Manager Homer Bludau.

Bromberg, the chair of the committee, adopted the Marine battalion

from Camp Pendleton as one of his last acts as mayor. Since Bromberg

is an attorney, he offered to do the legal work to set up the

tax-exempt group. The application will have to be approved by both

the state and the Internal Revenue Service, he said.

“I think a lot of people would make donations anyways, but this

will make it easier,” Bromberg said.

The funds will be disbursed to the families of the Marines once

they are deployed for unexpected needs like a car or major appliance

breakdown.

Speak Up Newport, a community group that promotes the city, also

wants to incorporate the battalion into the annual Mayor’s Dinner,

Bromberg announced Monday.

Debra Allen, vice president of Speak Up Newport, said an

additional sheet will be added to the invitation asking patrons to

bring items for the troops, such as socks, candy bars and decks of

cards.

The group might also invite someone associated with the battalion

to speak at the February event about the fighting in Iraq, Allen

added.

“I just think because of the war in Iraq, this is very much on

people’s minds,” Allen said. “And the audience we get is community

leaders -- a lot of people with community spirit and not necessarily

people that would have another venue that they could participate in

doing something for the troops.”

Two organizations also want to get involved with the families of

the Marines, Bromberg said. The Birds of Paradise, a group of about

30 women living in Pelican Hill, are putting together between 25 and

30 gift baskets, president Beverly Johnson said.

And the MOMS Club of Newport Coast will be donating $660 it raised

during its recent holiday boutique to the fund. It also hopes to hold

a fundraiser with the MOMS Club of Newport Beach in the spring, said

Xandra Laskowski, a member of the MOMS Club of Newport Coast.