Category Archives: Youth Projects

Scholarship Opportunities from Veterans Organizations

Posted on by vfwlady

What child (or parent) can afford to pass these up?  Here are 9 scholarship opportunities offered to youth of all ages from various Veterans Organizations across the country.  Please share them with educators, parents, and students everywhere.

Most of these scholarship opportunities do not receive the national recognition they deserve because they are sponsored by non-profit veterans groups, and therefore not heavily publicized:

Patriotic Art Scholarship Contest:

Officially known as the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, this annual scholarship contest gives talented art students in grades 9-12 an opportunity to compete for up to $10,000 for college.

Voice of Democracy:

The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

Patriots Pen Essay Contest:

The Patriot‘s Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

ASYMCA Youth Art and Essay Contest for Military Children:

The annual Armed Services Young Men’s Christian Association (ASYMCA) Art and Essay Contest is officially launched every November and is open to all eligible children of U.S. active duty or retired service members. Winners are chosen the following spring.

Heroes’ Legacy Scholarships:

The “Heroes’ Legacy Scholarships” program honors not only those who have fallen in battle, but all who have died or have become disabled through their active military service since September 11, 2001. The program is open to their dependent unmarried children under age 23.

A disability is defined as one that results in the service member being eligible for, and receiving, Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) or a permanent and total disability compensation rating of 100%.

The American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest:

National High School Oratorical Contest Scholarship (9-12).  Scholarships are awarded to the three finalists. First place receives $18,000, second gets $16,000 and third takes $14,000.

AMVETS National Service Organization:

AMVETS annually awards scholarships to veterans, their sons, daughters or grandchildren. A son, daughter or grandchild of a deceased veteran is also eligible. Awarded on the basis of academic excellence and financial need, the scholarships go to deserving high school seniors, high school JROTC students and veterans pursuing a higher education. The following scholarships, funded by the National Service Foundation, are awarded annually:

The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund:

*Students are eligible if they are the dependent child of an active duty service member who was killed or permanently disabled (100% VA rating) as the result of an operational mission or training accident, or who is currently certified as POW or MIA.  The applicant must also be a senior in high school, a high school graduate or enrolled in an institution of higher learning, including colleges, universities, or vocational schools.

Disabled American Veterans’ Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship:

*Scholarships can be awarded to any volunteer who is age 21 or younger and has volunteered for a minimum of 100 hours at a VA medical center during the previous calendar year. All volunteer hours must be credited to the Disabled American Veterans.

Pictures for Patriots Contest Voting Begins June 20th on Facebook

Posted on by vfwlady

From May 25th through June 15th K-12 students nationwide were invited to enter the “Pictures for Patriots” Contest.  Sponsored by Operation Gratitude and True Religion Brand Jeans, the top 10 entries will be shared on Facebook beginning June 20th so that all of America can vote for their favorite picture.

•All 10 Finalists will be featured in the next Operation Gratitude Magazine (that will be sent in 100,000 care packages this year), and the entry receiving the most votes will be featured on the cover!

So here’s what we have to do, America:

  1. Visit the Operation Gratitude Facebook page on June 20 to see the Top 10 Finalists in their photo album.
  2. “Like” the Operation Gratitude Facebook page to vote for your favorite drawing between June 20 – July 3
  3. “Like” your Favorite Drawing; Each “Like” equals one vote
  4. The three drawings with the most “Likes” at 11:59 pm PDT on July 3 will be the Grand Prize Winners! The entry with the most votes will be placed on the cover of the next Operation Gratitude Magazine.  The top 3 winners will also receive  (3) $500 Donation to each Winner’s school and an iPod!

So get on Facebook and support this program!  Thank you, Operation Gratitude for finding this creative way to “Support Our Troops” and America’s Youth.

The National Flag Day Foundation’s Americanism Center

Posted on by vfwlady

If you’re a Yankee Doodle Dandy like me, then you’re going to love the National Flag Day Foundation.  Located in Waubeka, WI on former “school grounds”, the National Flag Day Foundation is keeping Flag Day Observance alive by getting America‘s youth involved.

In 1995 the National Flag Day Foundation built what they call the “Americanism Center” that contains a museum, a commemorative courtyard, and (my personal favorite) an “Avenue of Flags“.

Along side each fringed flag is a political , economic, and military history of our great country. The National Flag Day Foundation also utilizes the Avenue of Flags as a teaching tool for school groups that are invited to tour the facilities free of charge.

The balance of their building is occupied by Scouts, American Legion, 4-H groups, the Lions Club, and senior citizens. It is open continuously and there is no charge for using the facilities.

The whole museum is open to the public anytime by request at:

(262) 692-2385 *or* (262) 692-2811.

Buy your American Flag from the VFW Store Online

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Blankets for Boots Campaign and “Never Forget” Ride

Posted on by vfwlady

Most 17-year-old girls aren’t thinking about ways to help honor America‘s Veterans.  But Jacqueline Mullholland of Utah, doesn’t fit that mold.  Jacque considers blankets to be “like a symbol of a hug”, and thanks to her hard work, thousands of Military Veterans in VA hospitals and nursing homes have received “hugs” in the form of fleece blankets.  She even spent $200 of her own money to have baby T-shirts and onesies screened with the phrase “My Mommy‘s a Hero” in support of female soldiers.

Watch the video about this High School Hero

Join the group on Facebook

Blankets for Boots 2nd Annual “Never Forget” Ride

Wounded Warriors for our Youth in Roseville, CA

Posted on by vfwlady

I ran across this group of wounded Veterans giving back to their community of  Roseville, California and loved what they are doing.  You can find more information about their efforts on Facebook.  The information below is taken directly from their “Info” page:

“We believe that the culture of America is at risk due to the absence of strong leadership in the communities on a grass-roots level. We believe that Warriors are needed to stand in the gap as coaches and mentors. We believe that many of America’s Wounded Warriors are looking for ways that they can re-connect and re-invest into the communities where they grew up or live today. Most people who played sports in their youth can attest to the values and discipline that are taught in participation of athletics. We believe that when these values and discipline are taught by someone who is already respected, like a Wounded Warrior, they will take hold on a deeper level and change the lives of the young people who get to be coached or mentored.

“Wounded Warriors for Youth” with the tagline of “Rehabbing the Troops through Coaching our Youth”. Our plan is to take Veterans who are initially in the Wounded Warrior Program or Rehabbing with the Troops and have a desire to do something in the community (like coach youth sports) and give them the basic coaching training, fingerprinting/background checks, get them through the state coaching certification course, then put them through a training program that takes their leadership potential that they learned in the military so they can apply it in a positive way in the community. We believe that they can start coaching and will have the tools they need to have success. I have spoken with several college athletic departments in California who will allow the warriors are going through the program to “shadow” the coach’s for practice, film sessions and coach’s meetings so they can see how a top notch program is run and give them goals/drills/plays/coaching tips to help in whatever coaching level they will be working at.

We are looking for Warriors to “re-enlist” to stand in the gap ~ to be that person that the youth of today can look to and up to. Someone who isn’t just coaching them in X’s and O’s but coaching them in life…

Wounded Warriors for our Youth wants to provide the background and training for Wounded Warriors who want to re-connect with their communities by coaching or mentoring. We want to be a resource for communities who need strong warriors to stand in the gap for the youth of today.

Wounded Warriors for our Youth is a 501(c) non-profit organization that trains Wounded Veterans/Warriors to coach and mentor the Youth of America.”

woundedwarriorsforyouth@gmail.com

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