Thank you to all who contributed to our Holiday Gift Card Campaign! Through your generosity, we were able to provide gift cards to our families in our Financial Assistance Program. A big thank you to our Educational Sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, for their support with this special campaign.
RF-LAMBDA - A Year of Gratitude 2020
Thank you to our amazing Scholarship Sponsor, RF-Lambda! We are grateful for their continued support of our mission, Gold Star families, the military, and the community. As they grow they are helping us build our educational programs and opportunities for Gold Star children.
Congratulations to Gold Star wife Jenna Henderson Our Most Recent Coaching Scholarship Recipient!
Jenna Henderson
“I just wanted to thank everyone for allowing me the opportunity to work with Sara through this scholarship. My husband, SFC Christopher D. Henderson, was killed in Afghanistan in 2007. At the time, our daughter was 8 years old. I threw all my energy into raising her and making sure she was okay. Fast forward to today, Kayley is 22 now about to graduate college and living her own life. I also went back to school and recently graduated. With all that being said, I have found myself struggling with direction and a desire to grow as a person, mother, and all the aspects within my life. I’ve felt a little lost lately on who I am and where I want to be in life. This is the first time I have the chance to “grow” me, and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to do so.
Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to sharing with you all the results in the future.
Jennifer (Jenna) R. Henderson”
Chris Afghanistan 2007
Chris and Kayley 2005
Chris and Jenna 1999
Chris 2000
Jenna and Kayley 2019
Jenna 2019
Help Sponsor a Gold Star Family for the Holidays
Today our Chairman and Gold Star wife had the opportunity to share a little about our mission and work with Gold Star spouses and children. Your support enables us to provide our programs and services to these amazing families.
Congratulations Captain Pierce (Ret)
Congratulations to our friend Captain Pierce (Ret), who we first met when he completed the Powerman Zofingen Championships in honor of Sugar Bear. Captain Pierce recently published his second book and would like to share some copies. If you are a Gold Star Spouse or military member and would like a copy, please see his attached contact information. We greatly appreciate his support and continued service!
Congratulations to Rah Freestone - Our Latest Coaching Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations to Rah Freestone! Rah is our latest Coaching Scholarship Recipient and we are honored to share her story and to work with this amazing Gold Star wife.
“I am honored to have been selected for this coaching scholarship with Sarah Davis!
A lot has changed since I became a Gold Star Spouse on 30 January 2007 when my late husband Milton A. Gist, Jr. was killed in Iraq. First, our children were just one and four years old. Today, they are 14 and 17!
SGT Milton A. Gist, Jr. and our family
That first year, I hired my very first coach. It helped me set goals that as a fresh widow in the thickest fog of emotions, I couldn’t do for myself and was too independent to let those around me watching me hurt muddle through with me. I made some really great decisions after that. And it looked like I had it all together. Then, less than two years after coaching ended, life fell apart again. I didn’t know what I was doing and ended up divorced and starting all over.
Over the years since, I hired coaches off and on getting better and better at knowing when to ask for help and also not knowing where the money would come from or whether it was okay to use military benefits for myself.
As a coach-in-training and early in my practice, I made connections and kept moving forward the best I could. It wasn’t until I realized that the constant source of my strength came from God (He has a very special relationship with the widowed and fatherless), that I could best understand where coaching fit into my life.
Today, as a wife, mom/stepmom and Proactive Stress Management coach, I have a whole new set of challenges and goals. I specifically need help and accountability stretching my mindset in preparation for reaching my career and business goals. I am confident that Ms. Davis is a good fit for me exactly where I am, and that the timing and opportunity for this honor has been orchestrated beyond my understanding.
Thank you so very much!
Sincerely,
Rah Freestone”
Rah, her husband, and new family
*Photos provided by Rah Freestone
College Workshop & Career Transitions Podcast Replays
If you are a Gold Spouse (active duty death) or teen and you missed either of these events please send the following Required Documents to Admin@TheSugarBearFoundation.org to receive the link to the presentation and workshop packet:
Required Documents:
Attach a copy of the DD1300 or other proof that you are receiving benefits due to your spouse’s death from military service (PDF Files or legible photos are acceptable)
Sign the Waiver & Release (Must be signed by Parent or Guardian if child is a minor)
Request access to the “College Workshop & Career Transitions Podcast Replays”
Sponsor a Gold Star Family During the Holidays
Thank you to Our Scholarship Sponsor - RF-LAMBDA
We are incredibly grateful to our scholarship sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, for their continued belief in our mission and support of our work. In the last few years they have enabled us to provide scholarships, internships, STEM events, and now a tutoring program for Gold Star children. We appreciate all they are doing and so do the families enrolled in this amazing new program.
“I can’t thank you all enough for your gratitude for Tony’s sacrifice. I remember when he was first killed, ten years ago, the amount of love and support coming our way was overwhelming. A fear struck inside me that eventually, Tony would be forgotten. Here we are, an entire decade later and being given this gift, in the name of his sacrifice truly proves that my fears were unfounded. All 3 of the kids’ grades have improved since we began the tutoring. It’s an invaluable resource that we would not have otherwise had access to. This pandemic and distance learning turned school in to this dreaded task for the kids. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for offering them a path toward enjoying learning again. Judah, in particular, looks forward to his sessions. I can’t tell you how HUGE that is. He is thirteen years old and I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve heard of him looking forward to anything instructional. Thank you again Sugar Bear Foundation!
Love, Tony’s Gold Star Family, Erica, Judah, Lulu and Mila”
This was us a few months after he died and then again in 2017 at his grave at Arlington.
Tony with baby Judah, Halloween 2007
The kids on the first day of “school” this year. No shoes because, distance learning haha
“Tutoring is going great! Robert, Alex's tutor, is very engaging and Alex enjoys working with him. Alex has always struggled with math and it has become a subject that he hates. Having the math tutoring is really helping Alex build his confidence in his own abilities. The one on one time with someone that is knowledgeable in the subject and dedicated to helping Alex grow has been an invaluable blessing during such a difficult time of transition in regards to my son’s education. I really can’t say thank you enough for helping relieve this stressor from our lives.
Thank you”
Resume Scholarship Now Available
Are you a Gold Star spouse looking to return to work, enter the workforce, or start a business? Apply now to receive two independent consultations with a resume professional to address your needs and objectives, then update, revise, or create your resume. This opportunity is limited to funding and the availability of resume professional.
To Register, please send the following Required Documents to Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org (if not already on file):
Attach a copy of the DD1300 or other proof that you are receiving benefits due to your spouse’s death from military service (PDF Files or legible photos are acceptable). You cannot move forward in this process without submitting your DD 1300 as well as signing the waiver.