The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) kicked off its annual active-duty fund drive for 2017 within the National Capital Region (NCR), March 1.

This year's theme is "By our own, for your own." The drive, designed to raise funds necessary to financially assist Navy and Marine Corps personnel and NMCRS programs, is scheduled to run through April 30.

The NCR covers several states including Delaware, northern Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the eastern shore of Virginia.

"The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial and education assistance to Sailors and Marines, their eligible family members, and widows and survivors through a variety of life challenges," said Lt. Anthony Scaletti, NMCRS fund drive NCR coordinator.

Since 1904, the mission of NMCRS has been to provide -- in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps -- financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the naval services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need. NMCRS provides need-based financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of interest-free loans and grants, as well as scholarships and interest-free loans for education. NMCRS also offers financial counseling, thrift shops, and visiting nurse services.

"The primary goal of the fund drive is 100 percent personal contact with all Navy and Marine Corp personnel assigned within the NCR," said Scaletti. "The fundraising part accounts for about $600,000 of the $1.25 million used by NMCRS for programs that support Sailors and Marines in the NCR, so we need to raise as much [money] as possible."

In the 2016 drive, NDW alone collected over $104,000, which benefited Sailors from the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Naval Support Activity Washington, and Naval Support Activity Bethesda, added Scaletti.

NMCRS has provided an average of $43.7 million annually in financial assistance to clients in the form of interest-free loans and grants, and programs such as predatory loan avoidance and workshops for expectant parents while charitable contributions to the society have averaged $18.1 million per year.

Over the next few months, Scaletti and other volunteer staff will be going around with contribution forms and holding several fundraisers to educate participants about the society.

"I encourage everyone to take a look at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and learn all of the things they do," said Scaletti. "There aren't many programs around that provide that many benefits with such little overhead, and none that provide it directly to Sailors we know."

Rear Adm. Charles Rock, commandant, Naval District Washington, and Maj. Gen. John Broadmeadow, commander, Marine Corps Installations Command, are co-chairing this year's regional fund drive, working with installation coordinators to ensure the meaningful impact is spread through the NCR.

For more information on the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and how to donate, visit http://nmcrsfunddrive.org/ncr.

Be sure to use NDW's UIC 00171 when making credit card or debit contributions on the website. There is also a donation box located in the lobby of building 101 on the Washington Navy Yard.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit http://www.navy.mil/.