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“This is the only program I have found that directly affects middle school and high school age children.”
A grateful parent.
“I can’t thank you enough. The Our Military Kids grant felt like the first time my child was truly recognized for the sacrifices that she and the other military kids make for the freedom of their country.”
A grateful mom.
“The ease of application and quick turnaround time was incredible. I received notice of his acceptance within a week!”
An appreciative parent.
“My family is the most important thing in the world to me and knowing there is someone back home who is doing something to make their life a little better makes my life over here a little bit better.”
A Captain in Fallujah, Iraq
The fact that I was deployed created a void in the kids’ lives. Their grants helped fill that void in a controlled and positive way. It lessened the burden of not having Dad at home.”
A National Guardsman just returned from Afghanistan.
“I want to thank you for assisting me with the grant to allow my kids to participate in a summer camp program. I am so grateful for everything you have provided for me and my family. Thank you for your prompt services as well.”
A soldier mom serving in OIF.
“ I am a married Reservist with six kids and I just found out about your organization. I will be applying for a grant soon and would just like to thank you and say someone finally gets it.”
An Airman serving in OIF.
“While most Americans are nestled in the comfort of their everyday lives, it is refreshing to know you are helping us share the burden of a deployment. Thank you for attending to the soldiers’ most precious assets back home — our kids."
(This note was accompanied by the gift of an American flag flown over Al Asad Air Base, Iraq)
“It is wonderful to know there are groups out there willing to take care of my children and allow them to continue with their extracurricular activities, to enable them to continue as balanced routine as possible.”
A Colorado National Guardsman
Stories from the Homefront
These are the stories of the children that Our Military Kids has reached with help and attention during a parent's deployment or recovery from a severe injury.
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Laura's Story
Laura , the mother of Blake and Sydney wrote: "The children have already sacrificed so much with their dad leaving for 16 months. The grant from Our Military Kids has been such a blessing. They can continue with their Tae Kwon Do, where they learn the importance of respect for their country, elders, fellow citizens and themselves, and they learn integrity, courage, self confidence, self control and the importance of having an indomitable spirit.
Our country’s military kids really do need to know that people care about their sacrifice. Your grant demonstrated great practical love, care and support during a time when they are in great need." -
Army Captain in Iraq
An Army Captain in Iraq who was eight months into an eighteen month tour of duty wrote to Our Military Kids. This dad explained that his son, Anthony, was suffering the effects of his deployment with downward spiraling grades. Without his father’s nightly tutoring, the child wasn’t able to master some of the concepts he needed to keep moving forward in school. "Anthony needs a little more attention when receiving the initial explanation of a subject," his father writes.
"This was a role I fulfilled when at home. Since my deployment Anthony was losing control of his studies, which prompted my wife to ask your organization for help." Our Military Kids provided a grant for Anthony to receive tutoring that has helped this young man move from struggling student to one who is on the Principal’s List! His proud father says, "Anthony’s outlook is so positive; he was really hurting and out of control. I can’t believe that I’m talking to the same young man–he is completely different thanks to your very kind gesture of help and support. I firmly believe your help has directly contributed to his success!"
Most important to the officer was Our Military Kids’ support of his family while he is away. Knowing that his family has access to support has eased his concern while in Iraq. "You have made a commitment to support my family so I can focus on our Nation’s important business overseas," he writes. "What a great organization Our Military Kids is, helping those that are helping our Nation! Keep up the great work!" -
Letter From Christine
In the grant you awarded me you thanked me for supporting my dad while he’s deployed and now I want to thank you all for the very special gift you have given me. When I first heard about having the chance to travel to an important band festival I didn’t imagine I could go because of how expensive it was. But because of your generosity, I get to have an experience to last a lifetime. I’ll always be grateful to you all for the work you’ve done to help give me this wonderful opportunity. —Christine
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An Ohio Family
As if having four active boys under the age of 12 wasn’t enough to keep Nancy busy, moving to a new city and finding out "that my husband, best friend, partner and father of my children would be deployed in a few short weeks put a whole new spin on parenting," says Nancy when her husband Mark deployed for Iraq. What seemed like a daunting task at first was made more manageable with the help of many new neighbors and friends, who offered support in the family’s adjustment to their new lives. "Our neighbors just took us in," Nancy says. "They rallied around our family and have helped us in so many ways."
The family was fortunate in that Mark’s posting permitted them to be in almost daily contact via email and phone during his two-year deployment. But two years is a long time in the life of a young child and Nancy felt strongly that the boys needed an ongoing activity to provide them with the discipline and male role modeling she felt were very important to their growth and stability.
"Enrolling the boys in martial arts provided a structure that we all needed during Mark’s deployment," says Nancy. "The boys loved it! They learned the importance of respect, loyalty, non-violent behavior, and the value of working out conflicts in different ways."
The biggest hurdle for Nancy was figuring out how to pay for the boys’ classes. "That’s when I discovered Our Military Kids," she says gratefully. "We never could have afforded to have all four boys enrolled at the same time without the grants from Our Military Kids."
Mark, now returned from service, agrees wholeheartedly. "When I got home and went to see them in class and what they had learned I couldn’t believe it. This was just such a wonderful gift for my boys, and a gift to me to see my son Anthony get his belt. I wish other families would take advantage of this wonderful grant program," Mark says. "It helps alleviate so much family stress during a deployment to know that kids are focusing on an activity that they enjoy–it helps their minds focus and relieves the deployed soldier of worry as well," he added.
For this Ohio family, Our Military Kids was a lifesaver! "My boys are so proud of their Dad and when he returned they argued over who got to be with him first," Nancy says. Dad, in turn, was so proud of his sons and all they had achieved through Tae Kwon Do while he was gone. "This activity kept my boys on track and our family working as a team!"
Did You Know?
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Who can receive a grant?
School-age dependents (3 years through high school) of Reserve and National Guard military personnel deployed overseas may apply.
What documentation is required as proof of a parent’s deployment?
A copy of the military parent’s overseas deployment orders will verify that a child is eligible for the grant program.
Is the grant award dependent on family income?
Family income is not a consideration in determining the eligibility of a child’s grant request.
Are there restrictions on the types of activities eligible for grants?
Our Military Kids, Inc. covers many programs but there are restrictions. See a complete list in our “Activities Covered” section of this website.
Which tutoring services qualify?
Grants assist children in maintaining academic performance at grade level. We require a letter from the child’s teacher indicating the need for tutoring
What documentation is needed to support the amount of the grant?
A copy of a brochure, flyer, website page or letter from the organization providing the activity or service must accompany the application.
Who receives the grant check?
The organization indicated on the grant application will receive the check for the approved grant.
Does the grant have to be repaid?
The grant does not have to be paid back unless the child does not complete the activity.
Can a child receive multiple grants?
We can award 2 grants per child per 365 day deployment.
May more than one child from a family apply for a grant?
All eligible children in a family may apply for a grant.
How does Our Military Kids, Inc. determine which children receive grants?
We award grants to all qualified applicants as long as funds are available.
How are the grants funded?
Our Military Kids, Inc. is supported by contributions from corporations, charitable foundations and individuals.
Does Our Military Kids, Inc. qualify for donations through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?
Our Military Kids, Inc. meets the Campaign’s rigorous standards. Members of the Reserves or National Guard can select #12357 to contribute.
Does Our Military Kids provide grants for children of the severely injured?
Yes! Please see the Severely Injured Program Guidelines and Criteria page.
