Update: Operation Bald Eagle Founders to Move

Update, March 18: Jeff Mitchell, the founder and president of Operation Bald Eagle, a local nonprofit that supports military, law enforcement, and firefighter families through several programs, will be moving to Utah after Verizon Wireless, where he works, closes its Bellevue office this spring.

Verizon announced March 9 that it will be closing its Bellevue office in June, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Mitchell, who was recognized with a 2012 SAMMI Unsung Hero award Friday night, made the announcement to volunteers at an event Saturday, March 17.

Mitchell told Facebook supporters it would have been emotionally difficult to make the announcement at the SAMMI awards, and that he's heartened by the support of passionate local volunteers who will help keep projects going here.

"Operation Bald Eagle announced that it would need support of current operations for certain events if it were to go on. The good news is that we have some loyal supporters who are going to be key in keeping some of our programs running in our absence," Mitchell told Sammamish-Issaquah Patch. "We will be maintaining our partnership with Dr. Mark Nelson, Orthodontist in Sammamish and Eastlake High School with our drive for School Supplies for Military Families. We are also excited to announce that we are going to be able to keep our partnership with the Issaquah Police Department.

"Because of such incredible supporters and volunteers like Sheryl Nye Bowman will spearhead with Dr. Nelson’s office to ensure that Eastlake HS partnership is kept alive. Along with Monica McNeal—a hero to all of us. And Renee Zimmerman will head up our partnership with Chief Ayers and the Issaquah Police Department to ensure we have maintain our Toys for Troops drive is kept going.

"Words are insufficient to adequately express how appreciative we are of the incredible supporters, volunteers who have come behind Operation Bald Eagle to give back to those who protect both our communities and our country. We are nothing without your support," Mitchell said.

Original Story:

Operation Bald Eagle will be announcing a big message today about its future efforts in Washington, says Jeff Mitchell, the organzation's founder. He hinted at this last night at the SAMMI awards, where he was presented with the 2012 Unsung Hero Award.

The announcement will be made at a volunteer event today, March 19, at , 1851 ~ 228^th Ave NE, from 12 - 3 p.m.

The group also will be doing inventory and preparing boxes for its next Pack Out next month.

"We now have adopted an additional 830 Troops. This brings our total to over 1,000 Troops adopted. So, we need to ensure that we will have enough supplies for everyone," Mitchell says.

Operation Bald Eagle is a nonprofit that offers several services that are performed throughout the year as a way to give back to Law Enforcement, Fire & Medic’s, Military and their immediate families out of western Washington. These include care packages out to the troops several times a year, visits to the VA Hospitals in Seattle/Tacoma several times a year, Project Picking up the Pieces for the families affected by loss and their respective agency/department or military service. Along with other coordination with local businesses to serving our “Patriot Groups” when called upon.

For more information or to learn how you can donate, contact Mitchell: 

JeffMitchell@operationbaldeagle.org

www.OperationBaldEagle.org

877-OBE-0911 or 877-623-0911