Thank You to Our Military, Veterans and Gold Star Families

As I am writing this note my heart is breaking with the attacks in Afghanistan. I know what lies ahead for the families of these heroes and the pain they will endure. Our team is praying and will continue to do so, and we stand ready to assist in any manner to help, not just today, but tomorrow and in the months and years ahead.  We also want to say thank you to our veterans who have served and have kept our nation safe. We are very grateful! 

As we continue to work to provide more programs and opportunities for our families, we are thrilled to offer these two upcoming virtual events (Online College Planning Workshop and Online Career Transition Course) and our college consulting for Gold Star teens and spouses.  

As such we are also happy to now partner with Patriots Path and for the Online Career Transition course, they have put together for Gold Star and Surviving Spouses. This class is not only for those who have identified their career goals, but it is also for spouses who would like to explore employment opportunities and how to best achieve future endeavors. Patriots Path will provide additional virtual events for us such as networking opportunities, as well as career coaching and personality assessments. 

As part of our Virtual Tutoring Program, we also offer college consulting. This program is available to spouses and children (8th grade and up) and will enable our families to work with an experienced consultant with years of experience helping families with the college planning process. 

We are also excited to announce that we are working with Eagle Rock Camp and co-hosting our first retreat in North Carolina for Gold Star and Surviving spouses. The retreat will take place at the end of March in 2022 and will focus on providing these spouses with four days to focus on themselves, their healing, health, and well-being. Applications will be available soon and we look forward to sharing soon. 

All these programs and opportunities are free to our families thanks to the generous support we receive from our educational sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, donors, and grants.  Our mission has been and will continue to focus on providing educational, career, and financial assistance to the families we serve so they might know an easier path after the loss of their service member. Now more than ever we need to provide such support and we thank you for helping us do so. I am personally so grateful that we are able to continue to grow and do more and we are working to do just that.  

If you are a Gold Star/Surviving spouse and are interested in the above opportunities or any of our programs for your children or yourself, please contact our Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org. Also, make sure to sign up for our newsletter and complete our Registry as we are working on several new resources and programs such as our Surviving Spouses Network and Virtual STEM Club.  

Thank you,

Jennifer Carazo 
Gold Star wife/Chairman

Thank You for Participating in Sugar Bear's 2021 Virtual Memorial Run!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Sugar Bear's Virtual Memorial Run. Your support of this event will help fund our programs for the coming year. If you are a Gold Star/Surviving Spouse or child, we hope you will check out the various programs and opportunities we are currently offering as well as stay tuned for new offerings. If you have not already, sign up for our newsletter, complete our registry and follow us on social media. Additionally, I would like to thank our Sugar Bear Foundation Ambassadors for helping us share our mission, promoting the Virtual Run, and raising awareness on behalf of Gold Star spouses and children. We are very grateful for your time and support! If you are interested in learning more about our Ambassador Program, please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org. It is a great way to give back, get involved with your community, and even earn service hours. We hope you will join us! 

We especially appreciate the Marine Corps Association's belief in and support of our mission and work with Gold Star families. 

As always, if you have an idea or would like to share your time/talents with us, we hope you will reach out to the above email address. We could not do any of our work without such support. 

Thank you,

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star wife and Chairman

Counting My Blessings

July 22nd will mark eleven years since losing Sugar Bear and although this is a day of tremendous loss for both the kids and me, I have chosen to live life just as Mario had requested. I continue to count my blessings and focus on all that is positive in life. Although we miss his physical presence his spirit lives on in our home, lives, and the work we are doing. I am so fortunate that we have not only been able to sustain our programs but are continuing to grow them. Such endeavors would not be possible without all the support we are receiving. One of my blessings! These programs are so important to me because we have seen the impact they are making on our families. These are also areas (education, career, and financial) that were so important to Sugar Bear. We are literally working to help alleviate the burdens that have been placed on these spouses and children after losing their service member. We want them to have an easier path in life. One that will provide a sense of joy and fulfillment. If you feel so inclined, I will ask if you have not already signed up for Sugar Bear’s Memorial Run to please do so. Your participation will not only help honor all the men and women we have lost in service to our country but help support the spouses and children they leave behind. This event is truly another blessing for me because it not only raises funds for our work but also sheds some light on Surviving Families and supports programs for Marines. Additionally, I would ask you to watch the video, If There’s a Chance to have a better understanding of that day and the incredible Marines that ran to James and Mario. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to continue Sugar Bear’s legacy of service while supporting our mission.

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star wife and Chairman

Memorial Day Message from Our Chairman

Today we recognize the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. You can help honor their sacrifice by remembering the spouses and children they leave behind. If you know a surviving family, please reach out to them. Take the time to call, text, or send an email. Such a gesture will mean everything and can make a real difference. We want to talk about our loved ones and share their stories. They are still so much a part of our lives and always will be. To families like mine and the spouses and children we serve we live with this day all year long. Part of our mission at The Sugar Bear Foundation is to raise awareness on behalf of Gold Star families so that others might understand what our lives are like after loss. It is an absolute honor for me to carry on Sugar Bear’s legacy of service, work alongside our amazing team, and give back to the families who have given their all.

Thank you,

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star wife and Chairman