Disabled American Veterans’ Latest Grant Provided Our Military Kids with 747 Activity Awards for Military Kids with Combat-Injured Parents
June 23, 2026
The Partnership Benefitted Kids Like Vyolet, a 17-Year-Old Lacrosse Phenom from Colorado
“She shows up for me.” These words, spoken by a Veteran with combat-related injuries about his teenage daughter, Vyolet, encapsulate the tight-knit relationships between so many Veterans and their children. When a parent serves in the military, the whole family serves. And when a parent has medical complications from that service, the entire family is affected, too.
Our Military Kids and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) understand the dynamics of military life, including those surrounding combat-related illness and injury. That’s why they’ve partnered for 11 years, working together to ensure that more military kids can explore their interests and pursue their passions.
From September 2025 through February 2026, DAV sponsored 747 Our Military Kids activity awards supporting 654 kids of 440 Veterans receiving medical treatment, supporting families in 44 states and Puerto Rico. Vyolet, daughter of two Army Veterans and recipient of multiple Our Military Kids activity awards, is one of those kids.
This year, Vyolet also has the distinction of being one of Our Military Kids’ Courageous Kids Contest winners. At 17, the Coloradan has cultivated an impressive academic and athletic resume, which includes leadership, service, and multiple recognitions for her skills and abilities.
Vyolet used an activity award to participate in lacrosse, a sport to which she has dedicated seven years. She currently plays on a national-level team, representing Colorado among players of 15 other states. She has earned multiple lacrosse accolades, including numerous Player of the Match honors. This year, Vyolet was named to the Class of 2027 National Cup All-Tournament Team.
Vyolet has also used activity awards to pursue new experiences. Our Military Kids funded her first season of flag football as well. This year a DAV-funded activity award ensured that Vyolet could learn new skills through a series of sewing lessons.
Pointing out that Vyolet does all of this and is an integral, steadfast part of his care team, her father, Vye, said:
“Through my illness and injuries, Vyolet has shown me more love and care than I could ever put into words. She is patient, attentive, and always by my side, making sure I’m comfortable and taken care of.”
Our Military Kid activity awards offer Vyolet’s family the opportunity for bonding. Vye and Vyolet often travel to her games and tournaments together, giving hours of quality time to the father-daughter duo.
Her mother, Wanda, shares that, “Our family has been able to connect while commuting Vyolet to her activities and while watching her participate and excel in her activities! We’ve enjoyed celebrating her achievements in the programs.”
Additionally, extracurriculars have helped to build a support system for Vyolet and her parents. “In each of her activities, Vyolet has found a wonderful community of both mentors and friends,” said Wanda. She added, “Community and support have allowed us to share our military story, connect with others of similar backgrounds, and inform others of the military community.”
Vyolet’s family is not alone. In fact, Our Military Kids’ most recent Program Impact Survey found that 89% of families participating in the Combat Injured Program (CIP) reported feeling more connected to their local community as a result of participating in Our Military Kids-funded activities.
In addition to Our Military Kids’ support, Vyolet’s family has found community through DAV as proud members and subscribers to DAV publications for nearly a decade.
“We extend a heartfelt thank you to the DAV team for their support of disabled Veterans,” Wanda said. “They have played a huge role in our disabled veteran’s journey to healing, to us making more informed decisions about veteran care and services, and to our family living a more fulfilled life.”
DAV’s continued support of Our Military Kids means that kids like Vyolet can pursue their passions, learn something new, and make memories.
The haven that extracurriculars create for kids experiencing difficult times is vital to their (and their family’s) wellbeing: 98% of CIP families experience a positive overall impact on their families after receiving an Our Military Kids activity award and participating in an activity.
Wanda shared her gratitude for DAV’s sponsorship of Vyolet’s 2026 activity award. “We extend a heartfelt thank you to the DAV team for their support of disabled Veterans,” she said. “They have played a huge role in our disabled Veteran’s journey to healing…and to our family living a more fulfilled life.”
Learn more about Vyolet by reading her Courageous Kids Contest feature article.
Learn more about Our Military Kids activity awards and apply online at https://www.ourmilitarykids.org.
About Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering extracurricular activity awards to children ages 1-18 of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or Veterans receiving care for combat-related injuries or illnesses. Learn more at: ourmilitarykids.org
About Disabled American Veterans
DAV is dedicated to ensuring our promise is kept to America’s veterans. DAV does this by helping veterans and their families access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, offering programs and services to empower them, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. A nonprofit organization with nearly 1 million members, DAV was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932.
