U.S. Army doctor couple shares with archdiocese and two other military support charities
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) this week became the unlikely recipient of $5,000 in winnings from the television game show Jeopardy when a U.S. Army doctor donated part of the “take” from his three-game appearance in January. Captain Brendan Graham and his wife, Captain Lindsey Graham, also in the Army and both physicians at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), decided to give half of their $47,602 in winnings to the AMS and two other charities: the Wounded Warrior Project and the Fisher House Foundation. The AMS received $5,000 after taxes and expenses.
Dr. Graham said:
“I am grateful and blessed for what they do for our patients. My wife and I are simple people. Winning lots of money was not my priority on the show. I was more interested in beating other competitors and demonstrating to the world that we have very intelligent people in the military who can compete with very intelligent civilians in the world.”
As a pathologist at SAMMC, Capt. Graham works alongside AMS-endorsed military chaplains in tending to the needs of ill and wounded servicemen and women.
He said:
“From Father William Corby to Father Tim Vakoc, Catholic chaplains have ministered to all members of the U.S. armed forces and in a special way to Catholic Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. The Graham Family is proud to support the Archdiocese of Military Services, USA as it fulfills the mission of The Holy Mother Church. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. (‘For the greater glory of God’).”
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D. expressed appreciation for the unusual gift.
Archbishop Broglio said:
“I am profoundly grateful for the generosity of our benefactors, and this particular donation came as a delightful surprise. In my years as the Archbishop for the Military Services this is the first time that the AMS has ever received a share of winnings from a television game show. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Grahams for sharing the fruits of their talent, knowledge and skill on Jeopardy with the AMS. I confess that I have always enjoyed the program. Now I will watch it with a new interest.”
The AMS was created as an independent archdiocese by Pope John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic jurisdiction responsible for endorsing and granting faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. military and VA Medical Centers.
AMS-endorsed chaplains serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation’s only global archdiocese. AMS-endorsed chaplains also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S.
The AMS service population also includes American Catholic civilians working for the federal government in 134 countries, but currently, due to limited resources, the AMS cannot adequately serve this population.
Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.
The Wounded Warrior Project provides support for injured members of the U.S. armed forces.
The Fisher House Foundation provides lodgings for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.
For more information on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, visit www.milarch.org, the only official Web site for Catholics in the military and for the Cause of Father Vincent Capodanno, M.M.
