Hundreds of wonderful charities that have military-affiliated missions do great work for the military community at large. You have likely heard of some of the more prominent foundations and organizations that support active duty service members, veterans, and those with combat-related difficulties. What you may not be as familiar with are those who do meaningful work for service member families: the spouses and children that proudly support their loved ones in uniform.
There are many charities that are making a difference, but these five truly know what it means to come alongside military families and meet needs great and small. Whether it is monetary gifts in the form of scholarships, access to programming like free museum memberships, events like concerts, or tangible products like books, military families are being served in incredible ways.
Each of these organizations shares its personal mission in their own words in the Guide Star* watchdog database. They read as follows:
“Founded in 2009 by military spouses, we empower military families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors, both people, and organizations, to create strong communities of support. Our Vision Blue Star Families is establishing and fostering engagement and partnerships to create recognizable, consistent communities that support health and resilience that military families need to succeed. We engage military families and community members by delivering solutions to the challenges faced by military families. Our Impact More than 1.5 million military family members around the world have benefited from our programs, and that number continues to grow as we expand our programs and, working with our community partners, discover innovative new ways to help.”
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation:
“The mission of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. We bridge the gap between existing sources of grants and scholarships and the total cost of college.”
“Since 2007, the Folds of Honor has carried forth this singular, noble mission. To stand in the financial gap of the more than one million dependents adversely affected by war, providing educational scholarships to the children and spouses of those fallen or disabled while serving our nation.”
“At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.”
“Together, we unite military families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud. From more than 200 locations at any given time in the U.S., on overseas military installations, and on Navy and Coast Guard vessels as well as via the United Through Reading App, United Through Reading offers military service members the opportunity to be video-recorded reading books to their children at home. Once recorded, the videos and books are provided to the family at home to enjoy over and over again. UTR recordings build emotional connections between military parents and their children, reduce the anxiety associated with family separations, and bolster the literacy development of military children, an emotionally and academically at-risk population.”
*Each of these charities has received Guide Star’s highest Platinum rating as well as Charity Navigator’s 4-Star rating.
