Special Operations Warrior Foundation Awarded 6th Consecutive 4-Star Rating

Online, September 27, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Tampa-based nonprofit organization, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, has received a coveted 4-star rating for the sixth year in a row from the nation's leading charity watchdog group, Charity Navigator. The top-rating was awarded after an evaluation of the foundation's fiscal management, commitment to accountability and transparency.

"Only 3% of the charities we rated have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating the Special Operations Warrior Foundation outperforms most other charities in America," said Ken Berger, Charity Navigator President & CEO."

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been supporting the families of fallen and wounded Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel for over 31 years, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and Rangers, Air Force Combat Controllers and Marine Corps special operations personel.

The foundation provides two primary programs: Full college scholarships and educational counseling to the children of fallen special operations personnel. Scholarships include tuition, books, fees, room & board, laptop and printer. The SOWF also provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel so their family ones could be bedside during their loved one's recovery.

Today, the SOWF has 911 children in its program with 140 students currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the country.

"What makes us different from other scholarship organizations is that we proactively reach out to all of our students and work with them to get them into school," said SOWF President, John T. Carney, Jr.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation relies of financial gifts from the general public or through a variety of fundraising events as it does not receive funding from the federal or state government.

"This exceptional designation differentiates Special Operations Warrior Foundation from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust," said Berger.

"We are honored to receive this esteemed rating from Charity Navigator," said Carney. "Whether a donation is $10 or $1 million, we know that those funds are coming from a giving public who agree that we can never do enough to recognize or reward the sacrifices of our fallen Special Operations personnel. Since our inception 31 years ago, our board has always placed the highest value on financial accountability and transparency."

Charity Navigator introduced an expanded and more in-depth rating system this year. In addition to evaluating a charity's Financial Health, which examines how a charity manages its finances day to day and how financially well-positioned it is to sustain its programs over time, the organization added a new Accountability & Transparency dimension, which tracks metrics such as whether the charity has an effective governance structure and whether it shares basic information with donors and other stakeholders.

For more information about Special Operations Warrior Foundation and its programs or to make a donation, visit online at www.specialops.org