Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary Receives $25,000 from TriWest.

Fund Provides Emergency Assistance to National Guard Families

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Iowa National Guard members can experience a decrease in their family income when they are deployed, which can affect their loved ones back home. For emergency assistance, hundreds of families have turned to the Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary (INGOA) for help with rent, utilities, medical bills, or other unanticipated expenses.

To assist even more families, Don Jenn, TriWest's service area director for Iowa, will present the contribution to Kathy Pierce, INGOA Board President, at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters at 7105 NW 70th Ave. in Johnston. Other INGOA members attending are Sheila Dietz, Paula Levay, Heather Jacobus and Mary Zirkelbach.

"For some of these families, they may not have the resources available to help them as they would at a military base," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "TriWest made the contribution with the hope that we can provide Iowa National Guard service members and their families some relief during challenging times."

"TriWest continues to be a steady partner that recognizes the realities of military service and its impact on our families," said Maj. Gen. G. Ron Dardis, The Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard. "We are grateful to TriWest for this contribution, which will help make deployments easier to bear for Guard members and their families."

TriWest's contribution is part of its annual holiday "Giving to the Guard" campaign, providing support to the National Guard throughout 21 western states. For more on TriWest's community outreach programs, please visit www.triwest.com, which includes a Guard and Reserve Resource Center.

About the Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary

The Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary is a volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization comprised of Iowa National Guard spouses and is tasked with the following missions: Provide financial and other support to members of the Iowa National Guard and their families; to participate in appropriate civic, cultural and charitable activities in the communities served by the INGOA; to promote interest in and inform the people of the State of Iowa of the mission of the Iowa National Guard; and to promote fellowship among the members of the Auxiliary. Visit www.iowaofficers.org/auxiliary.htm for more information.

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the health care needs of 2.7 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest is URAC accredited, without deficiencies, in Networks, Utilization Management, Disease Management, and Case Management. TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region and is the 2007 TRICARE Region of the year. TriWest is a proud Corporate Team Member of America Supports You. Visit www.triwest.com for more information.