(NOTE: My vacation and the summer holiday have me a week behind so I will post two Grant Gazings this week.)

My children and I were very fortunate to spend the 4th of July with my folks. My dad is a Korean War Veteran and he’s expressed what it cost him to be a part of that conflict. He is one of my personal heroes. Since his tour happened before I was born, I didn’t have to feel the fear and separation a child has for a parent away from home while serving their country. I do currently have relatives in the army, air force and marines and I know the worry that is part of the families’ daily lives. Our next funder tries to keep the child in childhood for military families.

This week’s pick: Our Military Kids, founded in 2004, exists to support children whose parents are deployed in U.S. military service. The type of activities that may receive grants “ensure that the children have access to activities and support that help the children better cope with challenges arising during a parent's deployment or injury recovery.”

Eligible activities include:
Youth Sports Programs
Fine Arts Programs
Tutoring Programs
Miscellaneous Other

There are two separate applications; one for the Air Force Reserve or National Guard, and one for the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve. Links for these can be found here. No grant request or award can exceed $500. Family income is not a consideration when applying for a grant and specific documentation is needed to complete the submission process.