Project Valour-IT
(Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops)
In memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss

From Soldiers Angels:

Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles “Chuck” Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.

During his deployment he kept a blog (an online personal diary, opinion forum, or news analysis site-called a milblog or military weblog when written by a servicemember or about military subjects). Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.

As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss’ fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.

A fellow blogger (blog author) who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of creating libraries of laptops with voice-controlled software that could be brought to the bedsides of wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers’ Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.

In sharing their thoughts, CPT Ziegenfuss and FbL found that memories of their respective fathers were a motivating factor in their work with the project. Both continue their association with this project in memory of the great men in their lives whose fine examples taught them lasting lessons of courage and generosity.

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Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops, software and equipment for the wounded servicemembers.

Currently we are forming “libraries” of laptops equipped with the voice-controlled software for wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines at each major military medical center to check out during their stay. Copies of the voice-controlled software for use on home computers are also available to servicemembers who still need it as they leave the medical center. In special circumstances, a laptop may be provided to a soldier for his or her permanent use.

Each fully equipped laptop will cost an estimated $685 (plus shipping), thanks to retailer discounts. Thus, the first two phases will require an estimated budget of about $110,000. Full implementation will require an estimated budget of $600,000 (click here for specs and estimated/expected costs).

*Phase 1: Initial Phase

The National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda Naval Hospital) will be the first medical center to participate, receiving 25 fully-equipped laptops for their patients with hand and arm injuries at an estimated cost of $17,000.

Phase 2: Open Participation

All participating medical centers will begin to receive 20-30 voice-controlled laptops per center, once the Bethesda phase is complete.

Phase 3: Full Implementation

The number of voice-controlled laptops per center will be increased as funds become available, to an average of 150 laptops per medical center. Copies of the voice-controlled software will also be made available for patients to install on their home computers when they leave the medical center.

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Here is the Soldiers Angels Page that shows you how you can join a team. You can join Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force.

As much as I love all the branches, I joined the Marine Team.

This is a worthy cause, drop a few bucks into the bucket please.

This is a big fundraising push now through Veterans Day, trying to raise over $80,000 in the next week.

Thanks to:

SA Blogs

Thanks to Michelle Malkin