State Leaders Join Military Friends Foundation to Recognize 2011 Military Friends Patriot Scholars at State House
MFF Patriot Scholar Hillary Savoy of Wincester is joined by MFF President SGM Jim Kelly, State Treasurer Steve Grossman, Major General Joseph C. Carter and House Chair of the Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee Rep. James Vallee.
Local Children of Recently Deployed Troops Receive Recognition at State House
BOSTON – This week the Military Friends Foundation, a non-profit organization serving Massachusetts National Guard, Reserve and Families of Fallen Service Members, was joined by State Treasurer Steven Grossman and the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard Major General Joseph C. Carter and at the State House to award nine military children with a $1000 scholarship. The Military Friends Foundation Patriot Scholar program is open to high school seniors and college freshmen with a parent or guardian who has deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard or Reserves since September 11, 2001.
Our military families are our greatest source of inspiration and strength. On behalf of the Massachusetts National Guard, I commend the 2011 Military Friends Foundation scholarship recipients for their commitment to excellence and personal courage in the face of the repeated deployments and sacrifice of their military parents in the service of our Nation,” said Major General Joseph C. Carter, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard.
“During a deployment, military families face many new challenges. When a service member is called up to serve their family also serves beside them. We are very pleased to have this opportunity to recognize these military children for both their scholastic and community achievements,” said Sarah Keller-Likins, Executive Director of the Military Friends Foundation. Nicole Doniger of Sharon, Kaitlyn Clark of Stow, Giulia Murphy of Quincy, Blancaliz Diaz of Brockton, Hillary Savoy of Winchester, Sally Cringan of Townsend, Cristiana Araniz of Medway, Lauren O’Connoe of Charlton and Khris Cintron-Perez of Worcester all received scholarships.
The Military Friends Foundation proudly administers the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund, which was created by the State Legislature to recognize the unique contributions and sacrifices made by the National Guard and Reserve after September 11, 2001. The Military Friends Patriot Scholar program and other programs to aid local military families receives support from thousands of people across the Commonwealth through this Fund. Taxpayers can directly support the Mass. Military Family Relief Fund on their Mass. State Income Tax Form with an annual voluntary contribution under check-off box Question 32E.
“The Military Friends Foundation’s recognition of these students is an acknowledgment of the sacrifice not only of our soldiers, but of their children,” said Representative James E. Vallee, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “I appreciate the opportunity to recognize these outstanding young men and women. I value the Military Friends Foundation’s mission to help soldiers and their families. This scholarship program is yet another example of that mission in action.”
“A $1,000 scholarship is just a small down payment on what we owe these young men and women,” said State Treasurer Steven Grossman. “These individuals and their families acutely understand what it means to go to war, to be apart from their families, and in one case, to pay the ultimate sacrifice. We’re honored and humbled by their contribution to our freedoms.”
The Military Friends Foundation has provided over half a million dollars in assistance to Massachusetts military families and families of Fallen Service Members through a range of financial grants and support programs. For more information on Military Friends Foundations programs and how you can support local military families, visit www.militaryfriends.org or call (617) 733-7994.
