Scholarships - Fall 2012

The Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship program identifies, recognizes, and rewards spouses/caregivers for their strength, fidelity, and resolve despite adversity. Scholarships aid in continued education at a reputable, accredited university, college, or trade school for spouses/caregivers as they assume critical roles in the financial well being of their families.

Scholarship awards are $5,000 and are made payable to the scholarship recipient's institution for payment of tuition, books and supplies.  Recipients may receive a scholarship award up to four years for a maximum of $20,000.   

In addition, we have one additional scholarship which was donated by Mr. Ivins "Itchy" Popkin--a member of our Board of Directors and the owner of Furniture Fair in Jacksonville, NC.  The Sidney Popkin Memorial Scholarship, in memory of his brother, will allow a fifth scholarship in the amount of $1,250.

Since 2006, close to 50 scholarships have been awarded to spouses and family members who have served our country by taking care of our wounded service members.  Applicants may use the scholarship in pursuit of a Bachelor's or Master's degree or vocational program.

For more information on the scholarship, eligibility requirements and more, visit the Scholarship Program web page. 

We encourage you to share this information with anyone you know who is the spouse or caregiver of a wounded service member or, the spouse of a fallen service member.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Elvis stands at attention for the Marines.
Photo courtesy of Paul Oberle

A Warm Home - A Wish Granted

Today we share another Wish that was granted to a veteran in upstate New York.  The story surrounding this soldier reminds us how much our service members and their families sacrifice for our country.  When a service member deploys, they leave behind their family, friends and entire life.  A reservist has even more change in their life.  They leave behind another job that many times provides a higher income than their military pay, leaving their family with yet another challenge.

Post 9/11, an Army Reservist was activated and deployed to Iraq.  During his deployment, he was injured in combat and sustained a severe head injury.  This soldier returned home and began the long process of rehabilitation.

As a reservist, this soldier also owned and operated his own business.  During the deployment and long recovery process, he suffered another loss when both his home and business were foreclosed.  Now, he was not only injured physically, but emotionally devastated from the financial impact on his family.

As he slowly recovered, he visited a friend’s farm.  To his surprise, working with the cattle and horses provided this veteran with some much needed healing.  (He is not the first veteran to discover the therapeutic benefits to Equine Therapy and working with animals.)

To continue his rehabilitation, the family purchased an old Amish property in upstate New York with the plan to turn the property into a cattle ranch.  However, the farm and farm house required additional work.

Siding work being completed

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition stepped forward to help fund the cattle business for the family.  However, it was beyond their mission to finance work that needed to be done to the farm house.  Winters in upstate New York are frigid and without proper siding, this veteran and his family would suffer throughout the season.

Hope For The Warriors® was contacted to assist this veteran and his family by paying for the siding to the old farm house.  Through our A Warrior’s Wish® program, we granted his Wish so that this family could be together in a warm home.

True to the values of our military members, this veteran has already started giving back to others.  He has invited local veterans in his area to the farm so they too can benefit from working with livestock. In the future, he plans to host an Equine Therapy program on his farm, helping veterans to overcome their visible and invisible wounds.

Hope For The Warriors® was proud to work in cooperation with three nonprofit organizations to grant this Wish and support this American hero.  We were greatly helped by Michael Banker, our project manager, and his organization, HONORS.  Of course, we have already mentioned the Farmer-Veteran Coalition who has helped this family build a productive farm.  Finally, the support for this Wish was provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation. 

Hell and Back Again

Today, Hell and Back Again was nominated for an Oscar and Hope For The Warriors® congratulates Danfung Dennis, Mike Lerner, and their team for their remarkable portrayal of our combat wounded service members and their families. We applaud the efforts of Hell and Back Again and the awareness it continues to raise.

Hope For The Warriors® has been familiar with the Harrises for a few years – Nathan and Ashley are close to our “family.” In fact, Tina Atherall, our Executive VP, participated on the discussion panel for the film’s New York City premiere.

We’ve all walked out of the movie theater stunned and speechless. I have listened to combat stories, watched movies, and viewed pictures, but nothing compares to a genuine look at one Marine’s experiences abroad and home.

Through the lens of the director, I got a taste of Nathan Harris’ life. Hell and Back Again frames Nathan’s present day with images of his life in Afghanistan. These intermittent yet seamless flashbacks effortlessly depict PTSD and physical struggles.

Difficult to watch at times, Hell and Back Again intensely illustrates our service members' post-combat life. Furthermore, the film focuses on their wives’ new role as the caregiver. Nathan’s and Ashley’s relationship has changed. Tina’s input on the panel gave insight into the ongoing challenges faced by today’s military families. She drew attention to Ashley and to all military spouses for their “own bravery and heroism as the primary, full-time caregiver for returning service members.” This is all true. I am humbled constantly by our service members, their stories, their families. Hell and Back Again was no exception.

The documentary is now on sale and you can Donate 10% to Hope For The Warriors® when you purchase the documentary. At checkout, enter the code HFTW12 for a discount.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Honor given to the fallen during the New Jersey Run For The Fallen
Photo provided courtesy of Paul Oberle

Top 10 New Charities in 2012: Halogen TV

Halogen TV is "an empowering television network that entertains and motivates individuals looking to be the change they want to see in the world."


Hope For The Warriors® is excited to be on their list of "Top 10 Newer Charities of 2012."


We were chosen due to the strength of our programs and our fiscal responsibility.


Visit their website to learn more.

Hope Lights the Way

The quality of this photo is low but the high school seniors in this photo are top notch!  Meet Brendan or "B" and his friend Coti.  The luminaries you see on the sides of the road are part of B's annual Christmas project to raise funds for Hope For The Warriors® and to honor wounded service members.

For the past three years, B has purchased paperbags, candles and sand.  Then he solicits donations within his neighborhood and prepares the luminaries along the way.  His neighbors love the lights but the real benefit to B is knowing that he is doing something to help those that have served and sacrificed for our country.

"Some years the donations are high and some years they are low, but to know that I have helped benefit the men and women who fight for this country; it is worth all of the work.  After the bags are lit each year, I reflect upon all I have in my life and am grateful."

This is not the first fundraiser that B has done.  In fourth grade, his father, a Marine, was deployed to Iraq.  At that time, one of the Marines who returned wounded was Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell, whose wife Shannon, was one of the founders of Hope For The Warriors®.  In response, B organized a lemonade stand to raise funds for the new nonprofit organization. 

Clipping from Local Newspaper

B's own father has since deployed four more times--so he knows first hand the service of the men and women in the military.  B has also visited Bethesda and Walter Reed medical centers with his mom, bringing gift bags and talking to the wounded as they focus on their recovery.

"Their attitude and will to heal is a great inspiration to me,  and their spirit is contagious and makes me believe I can do great things as well."

For his future, B hopes to attend Virginia Military Institute and become a military officer.  On the school's website, they state "Virginia Military Institute is distinctive in the world of higher education because of its mission to prepare educated, honorable, and steadfast leaders."  I hope that VMI sees in B what his parents, neighbors, teachers, and all of us at Hope For The Warriors® see--a young man who is already an honorable and steadfast leader.  Thank you B!