Our Military Kids

In honor of the #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild, Ashley (7) from California was selected as the winner of the 5th Annual Our Military Kids Courageous Kids Contest in the US Navy - Combat Injured Veteran category! 💜 “It’s really awesome to be a military kid,” Ashley said. “I’m so glad that my mom got to serve in the military and fight for our freedom.” Ashley's mother is a U.S. Navy Veteran in treatment for combat-related injuries. During this time, Ashley has persevered in academics and after-school activities, meeting each challenge with positivity and serving as a role model for her younger sister. In the future, Ashley aspires to be the President of the United States so she can support people in underprivileged communities. See Ashley's full story: https://lnkd.in/eqS4C-PS Stay tuned all month long to meet all 14 Courageous Kids Contest winners, thanks to Presenting Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union and HII! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/eqd-5dHY Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Michelle Criqui Michelle Tran

Alexa (14) from Florida was selected as the winner of the 5th Annual Our Military Kids Courageous Kids Contest in the United States Army Reserve category! 💜 #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild During her father’s deployment with the US Army Reserve, Alexa attended an Our Military Kids-funded summer camp that inspired her to volunteer to better her community and step up as a role model for her younger sister. In the future, Alexa aspires to become a physical therapist and to continue serving her community. “It makes me feel proud to have a dad that serves in the military,” Alexa said. “It also means that sometimes I have to be brave and strong for not just myself but also my family." Alexa's full story: https://lnkd.in/giq4FhiG Stay tuned all month long to meet all 14 Courageous Kids Contest winners, thanks to Presenting Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union and HII! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/eqd-5dHY Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Carol Brooks Macrander Michelle Criqui Terri Mateo, M.A. Michelle Tran

During the Month of the Military Child, we believe every child deserves the chance to just be a kid even when their family is facing the challenges of military life. Our Military Kids story is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do ❤️ By supporting military families, we’re helping children grow, play, and thrive! We’re proud to have the backs of these incredible children and families #GotYour6 #SupportMilitaryFamilies #MilitaryKids #StrongerTogether Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Michelle Tran Terri Mateo, M.A. Carol Brooks Macrander Margaret (Meg) Harrell, Ph.D.Anne Marie Dougherty Lee Woodruff Craig Newmark Eric Phillips Dave Woodruff Todd Duso Emily Bader

Xavier (16) from Georgia was selected as the winner of the 5th Annual Our Military Kids Courageous Kids Contest in the National Guard - Combat Injured Veteran category! 💜 #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild Xavier's mother is a Army National Guard Veteran in treatment for combat-related injuries. Throughout her treatment and multiple cross-country moves, Xavier has stepped up within his family and community through his passion for cooking and helping others. In the future, Xavier aspires to open his own café, run a #triathlon, and travel the world. “The best advice I could give another military kid is to be proud of your title,” Xavier said. “Being a military kid means you are adaptable, resilient, and capable of dealing with change. Always wear that with pride, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.” See Xavier's full story at: https://lnkd.in/ef8GRTHt Stay tuned all month long to meet all 14 Courageous Kids Contest winners, thanks to Presenting Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union and HII! 🌟 Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Michelle Criqui Michelle Tran

"Thank you for the Our Military Kids grant! Our three children, Stella, Athena, and Fiona enjoyed taking swim lessons while my husband was deployed thanks to this grant. Their swim skills are already improving. Thank you for providing this opportunity!" 🏊♀️ Thanks to support from the DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, at least 86 additional extracurricular activity awards have been made possible this year for #militarykids in sports like Stella, Athena, and Fiona during a parent's deployment or combat-injury treatment! Thank you, Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation! #ThankfulThursday Becky Goettman LaRoy Carff Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A.

In honor of the #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild, Ace (13) from Pennsylvania was selected as a winner of the 5th Annual Our Military Kids Courageous Kids Contest in the Army National Guard category! 💜 Ace is a student-athlete who served as a role model and leader within his family and wrestling and football teams throughout his father’s deployment with the Army National Guard. In the future, Ace aspires to join the military, wrestle at Penn State University, and work in sports broadcasting. “Being a military kid makes me feel proud,” Ace said. “It means we have to help — to be leaders and help others.” Read Ace's full story at: https://lnkd.in/e7GqFZ2B Stay tuned all month long to meet all 14 Courageous Kids Contest winners, thanks to Presenting Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union and HII! 🌟 Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A. Michelle Criqui Michelle Tran

When their father activated with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, siblings Kayla, Tyler, and Ariana were able to grow and thrive in Taekwondo funded by Our Military Kids activity awards! 🥋 Thanks to support from the Primerica Foundation, 31 additional extracurricular activity awards were made possible for resilient #militarykids like Kayla, Tyler, and Ariana. Thank you, Primerica Foundation! #ThankfulThursday Lola (Anne) Soutter Margaret Halbert Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander

Throughout his father's deployment with the Air National Guard, 11-year-old Bryce thrived and found new mentors in martial arts funded by Our Military Kids activity awards! "Thank you approving the grant," his father told us. "Here are a few pics from his last belt ceremony he got last month!" Thanks to support from The PenFed Foundation, 32 additional Our Military Kids activity awards have been made possible this year for #militarykids like Bryce. Thank you, PenFed Foundation! #ThankfulThursday PenFed Credit Union Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A. Andrea McCarren Katie Watson Rachele Belt, MBA James Schenck

Our Military Kids is thrilled to welcome Jake Murphy to the Our Military Kids Board of Directors! Jake Murphy, Captain (Retired) is a U.S. Army Veteran and United States Military Academy at West Point graduate who sustained combat injuries while serving in Afghanistan, resulting in bilateral amputation. Jake medically retired from the Army and is now a Program Manager with Lockheed Martin, where he began in Quality Engineering within the PAC-3 Program with Lockheed’s Missile & Fire Control division prior to transferring to the Aeronautics division and assuming his current position as a Program Manager with the F-16 and F-22 platforms. Please join us in giving Jake a warm welcome to OMK's Board of Directors! Read his full bio and meet the rest of OMK’s Board of Directors at: https://lnkd.in/ezY_mX5a Kara Dallman Meagan Campion Timothy K. Karen Henneberger Roger Schultz John F Sampa Sharon Smoot Barry Miller Kim Wincup Meg Kabat Tiffany King Dean Acosta Angel DelCueto

“I wanted to thank you for all of your generosity over the past year and a half. Being away is always difficult, but Our Military Kids truly steps up to help fill the void. You are truly an outstanding organization.” - U.S. Navy Reservist and OMK Grant Recipient Parent Since 2019, Abigail (10) and Ethan (9) have received Our Military Kids grants to cover soccer and dance fees throughout their father’s multiple activations with the U.S. Navy Reserve, thanks to support from KBP Foods and dedicated KBP employees during the biannual KBP Charity Coupon Drive! #ThankfulThursday "We cannot thank you enough for this! The relief of the support and financial help during this hard time was beyond appreciated." ❤️ Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A. Michelle Criqui Matthew Hansen Kristen Deladurantaye KBP Brands