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Afghanistan Helicopter Crash: How You Can Help Families Of The Fallen Navy SEALs (SLIDESHOW)

How You Can Help Families Of The Fallen Navy SEALs
Eleanor Goldberg & Jessica Prois
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They were expectant dads, astronaut hopefuls and former valedictorians.

The helicopter crash that killed 25 U.S. Special Operations members and five crewmen in Afghanistan on August 6 has left their families heartbroken and leaning on the tight-knit military community.

Of the fallen, 17 were Navy SEALS, five belonged to a Navy Special Warfare unit, five were from the army and three served in the Air Force, according to the Washington Post. All but two of the SEALs were from SEAL Team Six, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May. None of the servicemen killed took part in the mission, the Associated Press reported.

As loved ones grieve, the Navy SEAL Foundation offers up support by providing families with funding for memorial services, scholarships for children and spouses and assistance with other financial needs.

The organization is accepting donations through its website. Donors can contribute to the general fund or select the option to support families of the SEALs killed August 6. On the page, contributors can also specify a family's name in the comments section to allocate funds directly. This option is not tax-deductible, according to the charity.

Mobile phone users can also text the word "SEAL" to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the foundation.

In an email sent to the Navy SEAL Foundation's donor base and shared with the Huffington Post, Navy SEAL Foundation Chairman, Vice Adm. Albert Calland, III stressed the importance of supporting families of the fallen:

The loss of the U.S. Navy SEALs in Afghanistan is the kind of news the Navy SEAL Foundation fears-but prepares for in our mission to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families….These warriors were at the tip of the spear in the global war on terror, exhibiting extraordinary skill, courage, and commitment. It's paramount for the Foundation to support their families here at home.

In addition to the Navy SEALS Foundation, there are other organizations dedicated to helping our fallen heroes.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations forces with a full college education (including tuition, books, fees, room and board, and a computer and printer) and gives financial assistance to families of severely wounded special operations warriors.

Fallen SEAL Christopher Campbell requested that if he were to die in the line of duty, that donations be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project. This nonprofit provides rehabilitative services for military members injured on or after Sept. 11 2001.

The Air Force Aid Society provides help to families in emergency situations. The organization helps cover travel, vehicle, funeral, child care, moving and other expenses.

See the full list of service members killed in the crash at the Department of Defense website.

CORRECTION: A previous version of the story incorrectly used the term special forces and cited an incorrect number of Special Operations members who died.

See the slideshow below of fallen Navy SEALs (Photos: AP)

Jonas B. Kelsall of Shreveport, La. (01 of17)
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Lt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, enlisted at 17 and quickly became a member of the elite special force, the Los Angeles Times reports. His mother, Teri Kelsall, tells the paper her family is staying strong for their son, who loved his country endlessly: "He told us once, 'If I die on a mission, I'll die happy because I'm doing something for my country.'" Kelsall's best friend since ninth grade, Robert James Reeves, also died in the Aug. 6 crash. (credit:AP)
Kevin A. Houston of West Hyannisport, Mass.(02 of17)
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"My name is Kevin, and I'm gonna be a Navy SEAL." That's how Special Warfare Operator Kevin A. Houston, 35, introduced himself to Joe Kennedy in the fifth grade, according to WBUR. Houston played basketball and football in high school and though a motorcycle accident put him in a wheelchair for his graduation, he still stood up and walked across the stage to accept his diploma, according to WBUR. After recovering, he joined the Navy. "He would often say, 'I'm at the tip of the spear," his friend Jarrod Paquette told the station. "I'm right where I wanna be." (credit:AP)
Aaron C. Vaughn of Stuart, Fla.(03 of17)
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A football star who loved to hunt, Special Warfare Operator Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, knew from an early age what his future held. "He wanted to be a SEAL from the time he was 10 or 12 years old," Vaughn's grandmother told USA Today. Vaughn's wife told CNN that her husband would have pursued this path even if he had known his life would be cut short. "He loved his job," Kimberly Vaughn said. "There was no way -- even if you could tell him that this would have happened he would have done it anyway." (credit:AP)
Jason R. Workman of Blanding, Utah (04 of17)
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When Special Warfare Operator Jason R. Workman was 14 years old, he declared that he would one day become a SEAL."He didn't become a Navy SEAL by chance," Workman's childhood friend Tate Bennett told the Deseret News. An All-State athlete who competed in football, baseball, swimming and triathlons, friends say he had the athletic and intellectual prowess required of such an elite and demanding role. "He was just really, really well-rounded. He was very personable, very outgoing," Bennett shared with the news outlet. (credit:AP)
Matthew D. Mason of Kansas City, Mo. (05 of17)
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Friends remember Special Warfare Operator Matthew D. Mason, 37, as the linebacker and first basemen who loved to make others laugh and refused to quit until he achieved his goals, the Kansas City Star reports. Mason injured himself in Iraq in 2005, "but he came back from that and rejoined his team," his high school football coach John Ball said. "He was quite the person." (credit:AP)
Robert J. Reeves of Shreveport, La. (06 of17)
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Best friends since freshman year of high school, both Special Warfare Operator Robert J. Reeves, 32, and Jonas B. Kelsall served and died together in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, according to the U.S. Navy SEALs blog. Shreveport is now reeling from the dual loss. "The war comes home to you when it is a neighbor, when it is a hometown boy. Here we've lost two of them on the same team," John Shaughnessy told KSLA. "We just don't know what to do." (credit:AP)
John W. Faas of Minneapolis, Minn.(07 of17)
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Friends and family remember Special Warfare Operator John Faas, 31, as humble, hardworking and outgoing, the Star Tribune reports. Valedictorian of his 1998 class at Minnehaha Academy, Faas was admired for his integrity and willingness to stand up for others. "He was the defender of the undefended," his football coach Ron Monson told the news outlet. "He was quite a guy." (credit:AP)
Nicholas P. Spehar of Saint Paul, Minn.(08 of17)
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A high school football, baseball and swim star and academic-letter winner, Special Warfare Operator Nicholas Spehar, 24, didn't shock those who knew him when he became a Navy SEAL. "I could see him as a Navy SEAL and giving 110 percent to serve his country," Chisago Lakes High School principal Dave Ertl told the Star Tribune. Spehar graduated from Chisago Lakes in 2005. "He always gave everything his all," Ertl said. "I know Nick, and if there's one message that should be taken away about Nick and the lesson he taught us, that's it." (credit:AP)
Jesse D. Pittman of Ukiah, Calif. (09 of17)
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Though friends and family tried to dissuade him, Special Warfare Operator Jesse D. Pittman, 27, joined the military after spending two seasons working for the California fire department, SFGate.com reports. "He liked to be challenged, and I think that challenge is what drew him to both of those careers," Pittman's friend Chris Wilkes told the website. "He was definitely special." (credit:AP)
Christopher G. Campbell of Jacksonville, N.C.(10 of17)
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Though Special Warfare Operator Christopher Campbell, 36, had a slight build, that didn't keep him from joining the SEALs, his family told the Associated Press. "If Chris thought he could, he would try," said his mom, Diane. Campbell became a SEAL after graduating from White Oak High School in 1993. He requested that if he were to die in the line of duty, that donations be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project. (credit:AP)
Heath M. Robinson of Detroit, Mich. (11 of17)
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After graduating from Petoskey High School in 1995, Special Warfare Operator Heath M. Robinson, 34, joined the Navy SEALs, according to the Petoskey News. Robinson's high school buddy, Ryan Boldrey told Our Colorado News how his bravery extended to his relationships too. "He was one of those people whose friendship saw no boundaries when it came to lines that cliques tend to draw in the sand -- especially at that age. And he exhibited real friendship to all." (credit:AP)
Jon T. Tumilson of Rockford, Iowa(12 of17)
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An athlete who worked challenging construction jobs around town as a kid, Special Warfare Operator Jon T. Tumilson, 35, impressed locals with his committed work ethic. "I never heard him complain about hard work, or ball practice or cutting weight for wrestling or even basic training in the Navy. Nothing," Tumilson's neighbor Mark Biggs told the Des Moines Register. "You asked him to do something, he did it." (credit:AP)
Stephen M. Mills of Fort Worth, Texas (13 of17)
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During his service with the Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Operator Stephen M. Mills, 35, garnered a number of awards, including Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal with 'V' device for valor, according to the Department of Defense. "Matt was a great guy, he was a team leader of his Navy SEALs," family friend Martha Harris told the Bastrop Advertiser."The family hasn't determined yet what they will do, but they will be setting up something (in Matt Mills') memory." (credit:AP)
Darrik C. Benson of Angwin, Calif. (14 of17)
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Special Warfare Operator Darrik C. Benson, 28, always talked about joining the military and fulfilled his mission after high school, his grandmother, Claudia Benson, told the St. Helena Star. "He was an outdoor fellow, he just loved life and loved to ride motorcycles," she said. Despite his lifelong passion, those who knew him are struggling to accept the loss. "It's like a little piece of you goes missing," Linda Hansel, Benson's 8th grade teacher told KGO. "He was the kind of fellow who lived life in the moment. Enjoy it today." (credit:AP)
Brian Bill of Stamford, Conn.(15 of17)
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Special Warfare Operator Brian Bill eventually wanted to become an astronaut. The 31-year-old from Stamford, Conn. was an avid outdoorsman, pilot and triathlete, according to Boston.com. His friend Kimberly Hess tells the news site that he was an ambitious and supportive friend. "He set his standards high. He was that kind of person," she said. "He was remarkably gifted and very thoughtful. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you no matter the time or day." (credit:AP)
Louis J. Langlais of Santa Barbara, Calif. (16 of17)
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Special Warfare Operator Louis Langlais, 44, died alongside fellow church member Kevin Houston, WAVY reports. The two worked with the Virginia Beach, Va. church's youth, the Rev. Kyle Wall tells the news outlet. "We're thankful for these guys," Wall said. "Every time we gather to worship we're free to do that because [of] the men and women before them and because of these men who gave their lives." Langlais leaves behind his wife and two young sons. (credit:AP)
Thomas A. Ratzlaff of Green Forest, Ark. (17 of17)
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Special Warfare Operator Thomas Ratzlaff, 34, wanted to be a Navy SEAL ever since he was young boy growing up in a small Arkansas town. Loree Blackburn, who runs a log cabin restaurant in Green Forest, told the Associated Press he was the city's crown jewel. "The whole town was proud of him." Ratzlaff leaves behind two sons and a wife expecting a baby girl in November. (credit:AP)

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