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Our Military Kids announces new program through Veterans Day

Crystal Kupper
by Crystal Kupper
September 2, 2020
Our Military Kids announces new program through Veterans Day

Gavin received his second Our Military Kids grant for motocross in 2018, while his father was deployed overseas with the Army National Guard. Gavin gained his love for the sport from his father, who first taught him to ride. He regularly rides with him, his mother, and sister Sophia.

An organization that supports children of the National Guard and reserves announced new activity grants through Veterans Day. 

Our Military Kids (OMK), an organization that empowers military kids with sports, arts and other activities while their parents are deployed or recovering from severe injuries sustained in combat, celebrated 15 years of serving children of guardsmen, reservists, and wounded warriors in 2019. To date, it has awarded 69,000 grants totaling $28 million. 

Abby received a OMK grant for volleyball when she was 15 years old, during her father’s overseas deployment with the Army National Guard.

With quarantine restrictions in effect, however, virtually all in-person activities have been canceled, postponed or modified. Consequently, the number of OMK grant applications decreased, leading the organization to adapt criteria for the types of programs it funds.   

“Since COVID-19 started, applications have dropped from 80 to 100 per week to maybe 20 to 30,” says Kara Dallman, OMK’s executive director. “But [these grants] are important; they’re an opportunity for National Guard and Reserve kids to be recognized and instill a sense of pride in being a military kid.”   

As of mid-July, the charity expanded not only what it will now pay for (online enrichment activities) but for whom: children ages three through 18 and with parents activated stateside for at least 120 days on coronavirus-related or Southwest Border missions, not just outside the United States. Kids with deployed overseas parent(s), meanwhile, are now eligible for a second grant through Veterans Day.   

In 2013, when he was nine years old, Abel’s father deployed overseas and he received a grant for hockey lessons.

The campaign, dubbed “Honor–120,” aims to give away a million dollars in 2020. In the first week alone, OMK staff saw applications skyrocket to 179 for a total of $52,000 in grant monies. Funding comes from corporations, foundations and individual donors.   

“One thing we’re very proud of is that the child gets to choose the extracurricular activity, so it’s something to show our gratitude for their service as a military child and to help them grow their self-esteem, because they’re doing something they love,” says Dallman, a Navy veteran and military spouse.   

Michelle Criqui, OMK’s social media manager, says the Honor-120 applications thus far are gearing up for a variety of online and (with-precautions) in-person classes and camps — everything from computer programming and tutoring to gymnastics and music. As the previous recipient of an OMK grant, she knows firsthand the value they provide to families of the reserve component.   

“It’s a weight we can lift off these parents’ and kids’ shoulders — Lord knows they have a million other things to deal with right now!” she said. “But someone is out there looking out for you, helping you, lending a hand during this time.”  

Visit https://www.ourmilitarykids.org for more information on grant opportunities.   

Read comments
Tags: Honor-120Kara DallmanNational GuardOur Military KidsReservesVeterans Day
Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper is a writer, photographer, runner, mom-of-four and Air Force wife living in Arizona. There's nowhere else she'd rather be than outside with her family, preferably clad in Oregon Duck gear.

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