Camp Hometown Heroes

One of the best parts to being on the Board of Got Your Back or volunteering with many national organizations and being part of the lives of so many surviving families is being able to provide opportunities for them to have fun!

About 8 weeks ago I met Neil through his organization CampHometown Heroes, he was looking for children affected by the combat related death of a loved one for his upcoming camp. A camp that is designed to be fun, designed to offer a normal camp experience to the children who attend. From my first conversation with Neil I knew that we were meant to work together. I took his information, the information on his camp and began to disseminate it to surviving families that I knew… word got around QUICK! Within 2 days 12 children had signed up and were going to be flying from all over our country to attend camp. To be part of the 62 inaugural campers at Camp Hometown Heroes Wisconsin summer camp experience.

Hometown Heroes is a volunteer led non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children, families, first responders and veterans in need through a "pay it forward" approach to volunteerism and giving. By creating opportunities for thousands of inspiring volunteers, Hometown Heroes not only benefits the recipients but also those who serve.

As the weeks got closer I saw mom’s get nervous, their babies attending camp in another state (even on the other side of the ocean) but there is a sense of pride in their fear.   I was honored that they trusted me enough to suggest this trip - I have always said that I love their children as my own.  Then the day came, each camper was headed to Wisconsin. I anxiously followed their flights through Facebook posts, then I spent the week following their camp experiences through their moms status updates and finally they were all back home. When I started reading the AAR (After Action Reviews) from the mothers and campers my heart was filled with happiness and warmth.

Being part of an organization is about the people that you can help; the small moments where one phone call brings about the happiness of 62 children. Next year I am sure the camp will be bigger, I also hope to be going as a counselor/volunteer with raise my goal of children attending by double. I am proud of the girls that attended, I am proud to watch their growth and look forward to seeing them all again soon.

Thank you to Camp Hometown Heroes for their generosity and support to the children that have lost a loved one during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and those that have been lost on our homefront. If you would like to see more photos or read what some of the campers and their parents had to say please visit their Facebook page at CampHometown Heroes

Life is 2/3 Planning

To quote my husband, “Everything is 2/3 planning with 1/3 execution” which is a concept that I have chuckled at more often than not simply thinking it was his military brain rational but not reality.  The more involved I have become with various non-profit organizations and events I realize that non-profit work is just that – far more planning than execution.  Currently I am in the midst of being on planning committees for two major events for Got Your Back, our annual Project Gratitude event with Miss America as well as Martini’s & Makeovers which is our only fundraising event.  This is in addition to coordinating 4 separate nights with the Anaheim Angels for Got Your Back Heroes and being on the committee for an upcoming Portrait of the Fallen art show. 

Being part of these wonderful organizations that give so much back to honor our fallen service members and their families is a joy that is indescribable.  The upcoming events are ones that I have enjoyed immensely in the past; whether it has been the planning, the execution or seeing the visible aftermath in smiles, each moment is worth it.  I wanted to better describe some of our events as they are so important to each family that attends.

These smiles make every moment of planning worth it!

Project Gratitudeis an annual VIP event to honor and celebrate surviving spouses and daughters of our fallen heroes in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Miss America Organization as well as celebrities and corporations. This event starts 3 days before Miss America with daily excursions and fun for both mom and daughter. This trip provides a great opportunity to further increase the bond between parent/child, the children and their moms.

Martini’s& Makeoversis the only fundraiser for Got Your Back Network each year. In 2012 I Co-Produced this event as our first on the West Coast. 10 Surviving Spouses of our fallen were treated to makeovers by 3 salons; they were the VIP honored guests for the evening. This event raised $10,000 for programs and services provided by the Got Your Back Network

Portraits of the Fallenis an organization that commemorates the sacrifice if those America military service members from California who have died while serving our country during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization pairs a grieving family with an artist to render an image as a creative means for remembrance and healing.

Nights with the Angelsis such a fun night! For the past 2 years Got Your Back Heroes has coordinated these nights with the Anaheim Angels major league baseball team for a night of simple giggles. This is one of our smaller events because the intimacy of it keeps ‘once in a lifetime moment’ therefore each of 4 nights per season includes 5 families of the fallen. The families are able to attend batting practice on the field, meet some of the players as well as attend the game. We have had a great time with this event each year. Last season one of our families was also invited to throw out the first pitch on Memorial Day – which was something I was so humbled to be a part of as I couldn't have picked a better family to honor their father in this way.

I never imagined that I would admit that my husband was right, but the man and his military brain make sense more commonly than I will admit to him. I’m lucky that I get to learn from the best!