Our Military Kids

"My wife is currently deployed overseas and I wanted to thank your organization for providing the funds to help pay for Ian and Ivy’s swimming lessons. It can be very tough for children when a parent has to leave for a long period of time, and keeping them busy during that process is essential. Thank you very much for assisting our family!" - Erick, an Air National Guard Spouse Ivy and Ian's activity awards to fund swimming lessons throughout their mother's overseas deployment were made possible thanks to the USAA Foundation! In 2025 alone, the USAA Foundation has funded 812 additional activity awards for children like Ivy & Ian all across the country. Thank you, USAA Foundation! #ThankfulThursday Kendra Mathews Laura Propp Jonathan Younger Jenna Saucedo-Herrera Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Kristy Gilbert

Every Our Military Kids activity award gives a child an outlet to grow, heal, and thrive while a parent is deployed, activated, or receiving care for combat-related injuries. If you have not had a chance to give yet, this is the perfect moment to make an immediate and meaningful impact. Make your #GivingTuesday gift count — donate today and help deserving military children thrive this holiday season at: https://lnkd.in/e6hEf_s6! ❤

🌟 Our Military Kids is Growing! 🌟 We’re excited to share that our team is expanding as we continue to strengthen our mission to empower military children through activity awards that build confidence, resilience, and connection. Every new milestone reminds us how important this work is — and how essential strong, passionate leaders are to driving it forward. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that we are hiring a Senior Development Manager! If you, or someone in your network, is an experienced fundraising professional who thrives in a mission-driven, collaborative environment, we’d love to connect. This role will help shape strategic partnerships, grow our revenue, and ensure we can continue supporting every eligible military child who turns to us. ➡️ Know a great candidate? Please share or tag them below! ➡️ Interested in learning more? Reach out or view the full position description. Together, we’re making a lasting impact on military families.

"I sincerely appreciate your generous support in helping my daughter pursue her passion for volleyball," said Marina, a United States Marine Corps Veteran who is receiving care for combat-related injuries. "Mia is truly grateful to have donors like yours who contribute to her enjoyment of the sport. Thank you once again, and may you be blessed for your kindness." This year, support from Lockheed Martin has funded an additional 754 Our Military Kids activity awards for military children and teens like Mia across the country. Thank you, Lockheed Martin! #ThankfulThursday Angel DelCueto Kimberly Koch Jacey Poppell Maureen Martin Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Kristy Gilbert

We are once again so grateful to #VetsAid and Joe Walsh for selecting Our Military Kids as a National Grant recipient and giving us the chance to invite Kansan Veterans and their families out for a fantastic concert experience. Eric, a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and his wife had an unforgettable evening out. Their 10-year-old son, Colton, has received multiple Our Military Kids activity awards to fund baseball, football, and basketball throughout his father's combat-injury care. Eric told us: "I wanted to reach out and express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to attend the concert. As a highly decorated Marine Corps Veteran and someone who is 100% disabled through the VA, experiences like this touch me more than I can ever fully express. The concert was incredible — more than just a show, it was a reminder that there are people and organizations out there who truly care about Veterans and our families. It meant the world to me to feel supported, honored, and remembered. I’ve attached the photos and videos from the night. Please feel free to share them with the donors and the VetsAid team. I hope they can see in my face how much their generosity impacted me. Their kindness makes a real difference, and I’m grateful beyond words. Thank you again to you, Our Military Kids, and VetsAid for making this possible. It was a night I’ll never forget." Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A. Carol Brooks Macrander

Our Military Kids is so grateful to be a National Grant recipient of the 2025 VetsAid benefit concert, and to have had the opportunity to invite some extraordinary Veterans and their families out to INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas to enjoy the show! #VetsAid2025 15-year-old Walter, an Our Military Kids beneficiary who has received two activity awards to pay for camp throughout his father's combat-injury care, attended with his father, Frank, a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Frank shared with us: "Wow, what a night. VetsAid 2025 was amazing. It surpassed our expectations. When we entered the arena to the sound of JFK’s 1961 Veterans Day speech — and beautiful armed forces photography up on the big screen — I could tell it was gonna be a different kind of night. Then the presentation of the colors by the Intertribal Warrior’s Color Guard and the national anthem sung goosebump-beautifully by the Wichita State University choir. Joe Walsh’s son was a great emcee. And of course, Joe Walsh rocked the roof off and was a lot of fun! Walter actually said something I realized I’ve never heard him say before: 'Thank you for your service' — followed by 'so we could go to this awesome concert tonight.' He was all smiles and seemed to be almost in a bit of a daze by the final curtains. He said, 'We have to make sure we go again next year.' *Mission accomplished* We had a wonderful time and are feeling so grateful today! Thank you so much for reaching out and offering us the opportunity to have such a fun experience together, and for us to make this memory together. I know we’ll remember this one for a long time. Thank you for everything you do to support us and the Veteran community!" #VeteransDay #JoeWalsh #VetsAid Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Kristy Gilbert

"We can’t thank you enough for Emilia’s activity award," said her father, a U.S. Air Force Reserve service member. "She struggles every time I leave and the activities that she is involved in always help to pass the months. Attached is a pic of her at gymnastics with her coach." Emilia's activity awards to cover gymnastics were made possible thanks to support from KBP Foods! During the largest biannual fundraiser for Our Military Kids, KBP Foods employees sell $1 Charity Coupon Books at participating KFC restaurants with proceeds benefiting Our Military Kids. This past Spring, the KBP Foods Charity Coupon Drive funded more than 710 additional activity awards for #militarykids like Emilia. Thank you, KBP Foods team! #ThankfulThursday This Winter's campaign begins on Nov. 17! Find a participating location near you at: https://lnkd.in/ewvpxNka Matthew Hansen Kristen Deladurantaye Jim Stanton Anthony Gianino Mike Daniel Bob Hynick Donzell Brown Jesse Ávila Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A.

Our Military Kids is incredibly honored to be among the National Grant recipients of the 2025 #VetsAid benefit concert, presented by Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh! The event will take place at 6PM CST on November 15th at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas and feature performances by artists such as Nathaniel Rateliff, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks! Tickets are on sale at: https://lnkd.in/gKdg_pvv The concert will also be streamed live via Veeps: https://lnkd.in/eH-BAiYk

Today, on Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of service members and those who serve right alongside them. Right now, amid the government shutdown, thousands of military families are facing delayed paychecks and financial uncertainty. For their children, these disruptions create stress, isolation, and anxiety, and your support can make all the difference. From now until midnight on Thursday, November 13, every gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000 by our Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Plexus Worldwide. Donate today to help military families find strength and stability when they need it most: https://lnkd.in/e6hEf_s6 #VeteransDay #100KandCounting Kara Dallman Kristy Gilbert Terri Mateo, M.A. Carol Brooks Macrander Michelle Criqui Michelle Tran Ebon Freeman James

"We want to thank you and everyone else at Our Military Kids for helping our son with gymnastics. So, very much. I sent correspondence earlier this year sharing that my son Calen is the 2022, 2023, and 2024 All Around Oklahoma Mens Gymnastics Champion in his age group! We are proud to tell you that Calen has once again achieved the highest score at the USAG Oklahoma Men's Gymnastics Championship for the fourth time in a row! Thank you for everything you do for us!" - Calen's father, a US Army Veteran Thanks to support from DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust, 954 additional activity awards have been made possible for children like Calen, who have a parent receiving care for post-9/11, combat-related injuries. Thank you, DAV Charitable Service Trust! #ThankfulThursday Bridgette Sorrell Kara Dallman Carol Brooks Macrander Terri Mateo, M.A. Kristy Gilbert