Thank you to our friends at MALAMA KAUHALE for their recent fundraiser! We wished we could have been there for some of their delicious homemade treats! For those of you in Hawaii please make sure to check them out. You can learn more through their Instagram. malama_kauhale
Thank You to Viasat and the Viasat Veterans Alliance
Our President and Gold Star wife, Jennifer Carazo had the honor of addressing the Viasat Veterans Alliance during their recent Memorial Day Observance Event. Jennifer was grateful to not only share Sugar Bear's story but also the mission of the Sugar Bear Foundation. We greatly appreciate this opportunity as well as the BBQ Fundraiser they held to support our work.
Marine Corps Aviation Association Symposium
We are grateful for the support and to have had the opportunity to share our mission recently at the MCAA Symposium. These events enable us to highlight the work we are doing with survivors and ensure the growth of our impact. Thank you, MCAA.
Thank You Burton Foods - Dunkin Donuts!
Thank you to our friends at Burton Foods for their support of our work and recognition of Sugar Bear's service. They recently held a plaque dedication at their Rosecrans Dunkin store in which they honored Sugar bear's service and highlighted the mission of the Sugar Bear Foundation. We cannot thank them enough for their kind words, beautiful gesture, and support of our work with Military Surviving spouses and children. CLICK HERE for news coverage of the event.
2022 MCRD Military Spouse Career Symposium
Gold Star/Surviving Spouses are invited to attend this virtual Symposium. Please be on the lookout soon for more career opportunities, especially remote positions. We are working to make such opportunities available to our community. If you have any questions or need help registering please reach out to Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org. The link to register is: https://virtualmilitaryspousecareersymposium-mccssandiego.eventbrite.com/
Memorial Day Message
This coming week I have the honor of speaking to a Veterans group about Sugar Bear, our work, and of course thoughts about Memorial Day. Although I know this is a day to honor and remember the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country, I also ask that we remember the families they leave behind. If you know a Gold Star/Surviving family reach out to them. Call, text, send an email, and let them know you are thinking about them. Invite them to the barbeque, offer to help with a home repair, or help with the kids. The outreach is so important! It is needed! The families want that connection. They also want to talk about their spouses. Their children need to hear stories and to know the men and women who served with their parents. Maintaining these ties can make all the difference to families who are grieving, especially at this time of year. The kids and I are blessed for the outpouring of support we have received from our Marine Corps/military community. We feel compelled to extend that love to the Survivor Community. We can attest it makes a real difference!
Thank you,
Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star wife & President
May is a Special Time for Us
May is a very special month for us. Six years ago we had the opportunity to form the Sugar Bear Foundation. Our mission then as well as today has been to support Military Surviving Spouses and Children as a means of carrying on Sugar Bear’s legacy of service. Sugar Bear was born on May 25th and we continue to celebrate his life. In lieu of these milestones, we hope you will sign up for Sugar Bear’s Memorial Virtual Run, donate or help spread the word of our work by serving as an Ambassador. Our work with our Surviving Families is needed. Our spouses require ongoing services so they can continue to heal and provide for their children. There is not a quick remedy or solution when you lose your spouse or parent in service to our country. Our work is constantly evolving as we stand ready to serve the families who have given their all. We hope you will stand with us.
Virtual Tutoring and College Consulting
If you are a Surviving Spouse or have a teen or child in need of remedial, enrichment, or general academic assistance CLICK HERE for more information and to apply for our free Online Tutoring Program.
We can also help with college consulting… It is never too early to start planning. CLICK HERE for more information and to apply for our free Virtual College Consulting Program.
Register Now - 5 Day Retreat
We are thrilled to work with Eagle Rock Camp and to be able to offer our first retreat for surviving spouses. The retreat is a five-day overnight experience. Funding may be provided for travel assistance and trip-related costs. Please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org if you need financial assistance to attend.
This overnight retreat in the lush, serene woods of Hickory, North Carolina has been meticulously planned for military surviving spouses. It is the perfect escape to bond with your fellow widows while taking a break from the world to focus on "you" and your well-being… hiking, yoga, cooking classes, and time to simply bond with others who just "get it". Infused with this respite is a faith-based curriculum (not preachy or hardcore) that will discuss the unique trauma military widows face and take the steps to rebuild a new life.
CLICK HERE access the retreat application, our registry application and our waiver release form. Please complete both by scanning and emailing back to us along with a copy of the DD1300 or a letter/document from the VA showing you receive benefits. Let us know if you have any questions or need any help in completing.
Online Tutoring - Surviving Spouses and Children
If you are a Surviving Spouse or have a teen or child in need of remedial, enrichment, or general academic assistance, the Sugar Bear Foundation is offering free online tutoring services thanks to the generosity of our scholarship sponsor, RF-LAMBDA.
We can also help with college consulting… It is never too early to start planning. CLICK HERE for more information and to apply for our free Virtual College Consulting Program.
To Apply, Parent/Guardian, please complete and 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.
Waiver and Release form for each child
(All forms must be signed by Parent or Guardian if child is a minor.)
*This opportunity is based on budget, needs and the availability of tutors.
