By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd
Class (SW) Mikelle D. Smith, Defense Media Activity - Navy
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Family and friends
gathered at the Naval Heritage Center for Our Military Kids' Celebration of
Star Power awards ceremony held in Washington D.C, April 19.
Five youths of military service members
and one military family were recognized at the ceremony for their outstanding
accomplishments made possible in part of receiving grant money from Our
Military Kids' grant program.
"We are honored to recognize out
littlest warriors heroism, courage and continued resilience," said Linda
Davidson, co-founder and executive director for Our Military Kids'. "The
children were selected for their service to their families and communities
during the deployment of their military parent, and their willingness to share
their talents."
Our Military Kids grant program is a
public/private partnership that supports the children of service members in the
National Guard, all reserve branches of the military, wounded warriors and
fallen heroes.
"The grant has really been a
blessing because without it we wouldn't have been able to afford the
tae-kwon-do lessons," said Ann Karnbach, award recipient of the military
family of the year award. "I was really thankful to have something to keep
the kids occupied while my husband was away on his second deployment to
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."
As a surprise to the military family of
the year, Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Karnbach, father of two award
recipients and husband to Ann, returned early to attend the ceremony and be
reunited with his family.
"This charity has been remarkably
successful," said the honorable G. Kim Wincup, chairman of the board of
directors for Our Military Kids'. "Eighty percent of children experience
increased anxiety and stress from having a parent deployed. As a result of adding
additional activities to their daily routines while that parent is absent, 95
percent of those children do better because of the support."
Last year Our Military Kids' grant
program distributed $3.7 million and 9,000 grants to military children.
"I'm so thankful to Our Military
Kids for giving all of us grants," said Jonathan Harrell, Star Power award
recipient. "I think that is it really cool to be here, and just to be one
of the military kids that got a grant."
Our Military Kids was founded in 2004 to
support children ages three to 18 of National Guard and Reserve families during
a deployment. The organization provides $500 grants for extracurricular
activities while a parent is serving overseas. Additionally, the program is
available to children of Wounded Warriors in all branches of the military. Our
Military Kids is funded by corporations, private donors, and government grants.
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