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A Caregiver's Song

6/29/2018

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By Geri Maples

“I think I’ve already lost you, I think you’re already gone, I think I’m finally scared now, you think I’m weak, I think you’re wrong”
Lyrics from “If you’re Gone,” recorded by Matchbox Twenty in 2000

It was a warm August night on the lawn of an amphitheater in August. The year was 2001. My husband, Robert, and I locked arms and joined in singing the lyrics to our favorite song, performed live by our favorite band, Matchbox 20.

​That night still holds precious memories for me, but those lyrics have an entirely different meaning today. On Tuesday morning September 11, 2001, like many other families I learned our family’s future would be forever altered. Eventually, Robert, a member of the Ohio National Guard, was activated and sent to Iraq. 

I was working in a restaurant several years later when I missed a call from Robert. After waiting on a table, I ran to the break room to listen his voicemail. I fell to my knees with tears flowing down my face when I heard: “Honey, I know you are at work, but I have to tell you the unit has been extended and placed on a new mission. Therefore, we will not be coming home as scheduled.”  

Later that evening he called me back to explain that his unit had been assigned to convoy mission duties and he had no idea when they would be home. I knew I had to hide my heartbreak and be strong, but it wasn’t easy. His anguish must have been so much worse.

During our conversation out of the blue, he asked if we could renew our wedding vows when he got home. “Will you marry me?” he asked. “Will you marry me again, when I come home?” “Yes.” I exclaimed.  
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ThanksUSA scholar Geri Maples and her husband Robert

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Military Spouses Recognizing their Dreams through Higher Education

5/11/2018

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​On Military Spouse Appreciation Day and throughout the month of May, ThanksUSA will recognize special military spouse scholars who have shared their stories and life lessons with us. Thank you to all of the spouses who remain committed to the well-being and readiness of our service members.

​When Navy spouse Josefina Howard became the primary caregiver for her elderly mother, she began relationships with numerous social-service agencies on her mother’s behalf. Inspired by her parents and those who helped her find the necessary resources, Josefina decided to pursue studies that would allow her to help others in the caregiving community. With the assistance of $9,000 in ThanksUSA scholarships from 2013-2017, this Dallas native is completing Gerontology studies at Fort Hayes State University. 
 
Josefina’s life was forever changed after completing 450 hours of service through AmeriCorps National and Community Service Program last year. She said that her eyes were opened to the social problems in Dallas and the resources available. This experience inspired Josefina to expand her curriculum, and she is in the process of completing a Substance Abuse Counseling Practicum. Ultimately, Josefina envisions herself working for the VA Hospital or a non-profit organization to serve Veterans and their families, the disadvantaged, or disabled individuals.
 
This drive to help others who are struggling stems from her upbringing as part of a family of seven children in the poor section of Manila, Philippines, where money, jobs and other resources were scarce. The family found ways to make money as a show band in the 1980s, but Josefina’s parents always dreamed of higher education for their children.
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Josefina is pictured (left) at Rudy's BBQ, a ThanksUSA scholarship sponsor, and (right) with her husband and two sons.
​Josefina currently attends school part time while caring for her chronically ill veteran spouse who suffers from Gulf War Syndrome after serving for more than 23 years as a Naval Aviator. Like many military spouses, Josefina’s career and educational pursuits were often set aside as she homeschooled their two sons – the eldest is now a Naval Aviator himself and the youngest is intending to commission as an Army officer through ROTC and the Texas National Guard. She is proud to say that she is only nine courses away from earning a Bachelor of General Studies with concentrations in Human Services and Gerontology and will graduate in 2019.

Army spouse Leslie Caleb was awarded a full-tuition Purdue University Global/ThanksUSA Associate’s to Bachelor’s scholarship valued at over $33,000. Leslie currently majors in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Purdue University Global.
 
Leslie’s journey as a military spouse is unique in that she was born outside the U.S. and came to this country with no transferable education. Knowing that education would be a valuable asset for her future, she began with a GED program and has continued to advance her education through personal determination and financial assistance from various scholarships. Leslie found out about the ThanksUSA scholarship program through connections made within her community. Having completed an Associate degree in Business Administration in 2016, Leslie qualified for the full-tuition Associate’s to Bachelor’s scholarship and ultimately transferred to Purdue University Global to complete her degree.
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Watch Leslie tell her story here and share a message to other military spouses. She is pictured with her husband Master Sergeant David Caleb.
As a military spouse of six years, Leslie encourages other military spouses to be open to starting fresh, even letting go of a past way of life, to make a better situation for yourself and your family. She has also found it beneficial to enlist the help of mentors, whether it be another military spouse, service member, or a respected member of the community.
 
Outside of school, Leslie is currently employed in a leadership position at Amazon. She looks forward to graduating next year, fulfilling a lifelong dream made possible by generous donors of ThanksUSA. 

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Friendship, Faith and a Helping Hand

3/22/2018

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For weeks, 16-year-old Haley Childress watched as her best friend, confined to a hospital bed, succumbed to a rare autoimmune disease. As there often is in such circumstances, there were blessings in the tragedy. The two had time to talk about their dreams.
 
“Our biggest goal was to graduate college and she was within a couple of months when she passed,” Haley remembers with fondness and what resembles joy in her voice despite losing her friend. After all, because of that friend with whom she shared so much, Haley discovered her career path.
 
“I spent a lot of time in the hospital,” she says. “And watching the care that she received…I knew that I wanted to do something in service of people.”
 
That service began in March with Haley’s first job in her chosen field – healthcare administration – after graduating online from Liberty University with the help of a ThanksUSA scholarship. Haley’s husband, Air Force contract specialist Mckenze Childress, is stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Haley worked as a nanny on base, but the couple’s combined income made college costs a challenge. Haley’s $3,000 ThanksUSA scholarship eased the burden.
 
“I definitely would not have been able to graduate debt free and that blows my mind because a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to do that and I’m just grateful for that,” Haley explains.
 
Haley is also thankful for another opportunity that led to her new role supporting the recruiting team of MHM Services, a Vienna, Virginia based company that fills health care positions in government. As a 21-year-old military spouse, Haley worried that potential deployments risked her career path.
 
“I think that is something a lot of military spouses struggle with, that they will move in a few years,” says Haley. “MHM took a chance on me.”
 
Her chance to work with the company came through networking. ThanksUSA invited Haley to its annual gala, seating her at table with corporate sponsor Centene Corporation. Centene has a joint venture with MHM called Centurion. One discussion led to another ... to a job interview … to MHM.

​Haley is pictured above: 
With Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green at the ThanksUSA Treasure Our Troops Gala, where he was Master of Ceremonies;
Speaking at a ThanksUSA tennis event -- the annual All-American Family Day Bash -- at JTCC in College Park, MD; and
With her husband, Air Force contract specialist Mckenze Childress.


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A special call-to-action from Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Keith Hulet

12/28/2017

 
This holiday season, we are so thankful to have a community of donors, scholars and military service members who are committed to the growth and success of ThanksUSA. The following letter comes from the father of one of our scholars, Lieutenant Colonel Keith Hulet USMC (Ret), and is a heartwarming example of how ThanksUSA impacts the lives of military families. 

PictureAddie & Keith - Christmas 2017
Dear ThanksUSA Supporter,
 
After nearly 28 years of service to our country in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, I was forced to retire due to service limitations. Shortly thereafter, while pursuing a second career in the federal service, I was diagnosed with a degenerative and disabling disease connected to my service that soon made it impossible for me work any longer. With two daughters approaching college age and possessing meaningful dreams for their future, it was an extremely distressing time.
 
Fortunately, when my eldest daughter, Addie, was accepted to one of the world's premier aeronautical sciences universities, ThanksUSA and its generous donators were there to cover my back. Thanks to the scholarship Addie received from ThanksUSA, she is now attending her "dream school" and is proving ThanksUSA's confidence in her was well-placed. She is excelling in her studies and is well on her way to achieving her ultimate goal, which is to be a U.S. Air Force officer and become the first woman in her family's over two-hundred years of military service to serve her country.
 
ThanksUSA has helped make that possible, but only through the largesse of Americans who appreciate the many sacrifices—emotionally, mentally, physically and financially—made by their veterans and their families. I therefore respectfully ask you to consider donating to ThanksUSA, so they can help make the hopes and dreams of our children reachable stars.
 
Semper Fidelis,
 
Keith Alan Hulet
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)


Donate Today!
Donate today and The Kovner Foundation will MATCH your donation up to a total of $400,000. Your donation will help our organization grow and support our mission of providing scholarships and pathways to employment for military families. 
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Legal & General America donates $55,000 to ThanksUSA

12/15/2017

 
Legal & General America's Charitable Giving Campaign kicked off October 23rd and was followed by two weeks of fundraising events as well as donation collection from local businesses.

​LGA employees, with help from the community and their vendors, raised approximately $486,000, exceeding the $380,000 goal. Employees were able to pledge to the charity of their choice, while in-house fundraising events benefited the featured charities.
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Legal & General America matched the amount raised, so in total $972,000 was donated to hundreds of different charities.
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Rudy's BBQ/ThanksUSA Scholar Sierra Wineinger

11/24/2017

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Sierra Wineinger hopes to improve quality of life through nutrition. As the recipient of a $3,000 Rudy's BBQ/ThanksUSA scholarship, this Army spouse is just months away from completing a Dietetics major at Eastern Michigan University.

"Upon completion of my degree, I will be eligible to sit for the Registered Examination for Dieteticians. My career goal is to work with children and parents to set a solid foundation for healthy habits at a young age."

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Jackson Casey Fund/ThanksUSA Scholar Blake Rowe

11/22/2017

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Blake Rowe has set a goal that most of us strive for. "As cliché as it sounds, I would like to make the world a better place. With the right educational opportunities, I believe that I can." 

This Marine Corps dependent was awarded a $3,000 Jackson Casey Fund/ThanksUSA scholarship to begin Political Science and Economics majors at Seton Hall University. Though his collegiate journey has just begun, Blake is considering service in the Marine Corps or continuing his education and applying to law school.




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Strada Education Network/ThanksUSA Scholar Alicia Paddock

11/15/2017

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Including this year's $3,000 Strada Education Network/ThanksUSA scholarship, Alicia Paddock has received ThanksUSA scholarships totaling $6,000 for undergraduate studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.

The daughter of an Air Force Reservist, Alicia majors in Sociology with minors in Spanish and Human Life Studies. “I find my purpose in helping others. While one of my career goals is to become an elementary school teacher, back in my home state of California, I am also open to the possibility of working with children or older adults through social services or community work.”

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CVS Health/ThanksUSA Scholar Yolanda Quarles

11/10/2017

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With the assistance of a $3,000 CVS Health/ThanksUSA scholarship, Yolanda Quarles will graduate from Barton College in the spring of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An Air Force spouse from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Yolanda looks forward to working as a Registered Nurse. 

“After a couple years of working as an RN, I plan to return to school to pursue my Masters in Nursing Education. Through countless hours of leading group studies and tutoring sessions on nursing courses, I realize that I have a passion for teaching.”

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Lockheed Martin/ThanksUSA Scholar Joey Arnold

11/8/2017

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​With the assistance of a $3,000 Lockheed Martin/ThanksUSA scholarship, Joey Arnold has begun undergraduate studies at Drexel University. An Air Force dependent, Joey majors in Electrical Engineering with minors in Global Engineering and Chinese. “These studies will make me a versatile engineer upon graduation.”

Upon graduating from high school in 2016, Joey studied-abroad in Taiwan and China through the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth. He now serves as a NSLI-Y Pre-Departure orientation leader, preparing students for their own studies-abroad.

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Jackson Casey Fund/ThanksUSA Scholar Brian Fields

11/3/2017

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Army dependent Brian Fields received his third $3,000 Jackson Casey Fund/ThanksUSA scholarships to continue a Political Science major at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

After completing undergraduate studies next spring, Brian plans to pursue a Master's in Public Administration while working on the 2018 federal midterm elections. Until then, he is dedicated to serving fellow students through political advocacy.


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Heartland 4 Heroes/ThanksUSA Scholar Mariah Smith

11/1/2017

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Army dependent Mariah Smith explains how a mix of military life and competitive golf has helped her grow and mature. “Both experiences have taught me the importance of honesty, determination, persistence and a strong work ethic. These experiences have allowed me to become a leader in the community and a role model for others. With the social skills that I have developed, I am able to instill strong, developmental qualities in children while introducing them to the great game of golf -- a far greater reward than any trophy or medal.”

With the assistance of a $3,000 Heartland 4 Heroes/ThanksUSA scholarship, Mariah will draw from these skills as she begins a Kinesiology major at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. 

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CVS Health/ThanksUSA scholar Victoria Clark

10/30/2017

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Victoria Clark from Bonaire, Georgia, was awarded a $3,000 CVS Health/ThanksUSA scholarship to continue a Pharmaceutical Sciences major at the University of Georgia. The daughter of an active-duty Air Force Colonel, Victoria is humbled to be able to attend UGA and work towards a rewarding career. “The field of pharmacy is always changing and will push me to continue learning even after I have earned my degree.”

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Pershing Square Foundation/ThanksUSA Scholar Brianna Cupp

5/15/2017

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Air Force dependent Brianna Cupp was awarded a $3,000 Pershing Square Foundation/ThanksUSA scholarship to continue undergraduate studies at Stetson University in Florida.
 
The daughter of a Purple Heart recipient, Brianna majors in Sociology with a minor in Education and the Certificate of Community Engagement. “My dream is to be able to have a positive impact on the lives of children. For me this will be in the form of becoming a Social Worker and working as a case manager for children in the foster care system."

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Paladin Capital Group/ThanksUSA Scholar Karis Pitts

5/10/2017

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Air Force dependent Karis Pitts was awarded a $3,000 Paladin Capital Group/ThanksUSA scholarship to continue a Musical Theatre major with a Dance minor at Kansas State University.  

“I grew up in a family of musically and theatrically inclined people. After graduation, I would be interested in working in schools, theatres, or dance studios. Considering the competitive world of fine arts, I will keep my mind open to options that aren't necessarily performing on Broadway.”

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