Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

Sponsored by: Wreaths Across America
Updated: September 23, 2019 2019 Giving Guide

Wreaths Across America

2020 Goals

Morrill Worcester’s dream when founding this organization was to one day honor every U.S. veteran by placing a living wreath and saying their name out loud once a year.

Each year, we work towards a steady, sustainable growth across the country with this original goal in mind. In 2019, we hope to have more than 1,700 participating locations and enough wreaths sponsored to place on 2.1 million headstones.

This mission is so much more than placing a wreath. The wreath is the catalyst, and the mission has brought together millions across the country from every background and community to remember, honor and teach.

Fundraising events/Opportunities

Throughout the year, there are fundraising events held in communities across the country ranging from raffles to races. With more than 3,000 fundraising groups total these volunteers host localized events regularly to raise awareness and funds to support wreath sponsorships for their local cemeteries.

Anyone can sign up to be a Fundraising Group. We have several programs to choose from, including our popular $5-back program where other nonprofits, civic and school groups and veteran service organizations can get $5 back from every $15 wreaths sponsorship sold locally to use for their own programs. Through this initiative, Wreaths Across America has given back more than $10 million to other groups over the last 11 years.

Giving Opportunities

Wreath sponsorships are the most popular way to give to the Wreaths Across America mission. A wreath sponsorship is $15. With this sponsorship you may designate which participating cemetery your wreath will be placed at. With nearly 1,700 participating cemeteries across the country, there is a location in nearly every community.

Corporate sponsorship packages are available upon request. However, we understand that every company is different, so our packages serve as guidelines and we strive to work with you to give you the very best experience.

When you donate to Wreaths Across America, your money sponsors a wreath first. More than 86 percent of every donation goes toward program costs which includes items like shipping not covered by our trucking partners, educational materials and fundraising group paybacks, which in turn help to support similar mission-driven veteran service and community organizations throughout the country. Wreaths Across America operates on the remaining margin, keeping overhead low.

Additionally, in-kind contributions are essential to our program. From professional services to promotional and advertising partnerships, we rely on these contributions. The biggest in-kind donations, for example, come in the form of donated trucking. In 2018, more than 200 trucking companies delivered nearly 600 loads of veterans’ wreaths.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed to coordinate wreath ceremonies and manage the National Wreaths Across America Day events, lead fundraising groups, place wreaths and help with clean up at all of our participating locations across the country. On average, more than two million people participate in some volunteer capacity through the program, a third of whom are children.

Leadership

Karen Worcester: Executive Director, Volunteer
Wayne Hanson: Chairman of the Board; Volunteer, Retired 2002 Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Vietnam Veteran

Board officers

Wayne Merritt: Board Vice Chairman; Veteran Liaison, Wreaths Across America

Renee Worcester: Board Secretary; Non-voting Member, Worcester Resources, LLC.


Board Members

Mike Edgecomb: Voting Member, Patriot Guard Riders

James Farrell: Voting Member, Walmart

Kevin Haley: Voting Member, Portland Police Department

Ann Hanson: Voting Member, Retired, Department of Labor

Lorna Harris: Voting Member, American Gold Star Mother (son Dustin KIA OIF 4/6/06, Iraq)

Randy Lewer: Voting Member, Volunteer Location Coordinate for Florida National Cemetery; National Geo-spatial Intelligence Agency

Col. Dan LeClair: Voting Member, Civil Air Patrol

Dan Mead: Voting Member, Consigli Construction Co., Inc.

David “Mel” Russen: Voting Member, Duran Masonic Lodge No. 179, NJ

Barry Pottle: Voting Member, Owner, Pottle’s Transportation

Ron Sailor: Voting Member, Retired ME State Adjutant American Legion, Veteran

Patrick Simmons: Voting Member, Walmart, Veteran

Joe Tibbetts: Voting Member, Army Veteran, Retired Maine State Trooper, Former Washington Country Sheriff

Sarah Worcester: Non-voting Member, Volunteer

Dr. Pamela Slaven-Lee, FNP-C, DNP: Non-voting Member, George Washington University

At a glance

Established: 2007
Employees: 20

Annual revenue: $18,899,312

Top funding sources

Individual sponsors, including fundraising groups: 85%
Corporate giving (includes matching donations and foundation grants): 15%

Contact

4 Point St. (P.O. Box 249)
Columbia Falls, ME 04623
(877) 385-9504

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
www.facebook.com/WAAHQ
www.twitter.com/WreathsAcross
www.instagram.com/wreathsacross

Awards/Accolades

2018: Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Patriot Award — the highest award the Society can bestow. The Patriot Award honors individuals who have exhibited dedication to and passion for the American ideals of freedom and democracy through their lives, words and actions. Presented to Founders of Wreaths Across America (Morrill and Karen Worcester)

2019: The Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) Greater Kansas City Chapter recognized Morrill Worcester, Founder of Wreaths Across America, with the second presentation of the Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon Patriot Award

Mission Statement

Remember, Honor, Teach.

Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve and their families. Teach the future generations about the value of our freedoms.

Service Locations

National (participating locations all 50 states, Puerto Rico) Internationally: Normandy American Cemetery, France (2018) and Luxembourg American Cemetery (2019)