Reston, VA – Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots) is proud to serve children of fallen military heroes alongside Gary Sinise Foundation at Snowball Express. “Each December, we host a five-day experience for 1,750+ children of the fallen and their surviving parent or guardian,” according to the foundation’s website. Snowball Express gives Gold Star families the opportunity to have fun, create friendships, and connect with additional resources and organizations such as Fallen Patriots.
The impact of Snowball Express is evident in the life choices of Fallen Patriots’ scholar Dale Mundell. Dale’s father, Army Major Michael Lewis Mundell, lost his life when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Iraq. Dale says “he laid down his life so we may be able to continue doing freely what we do today, no matter what it is.” With the help of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, Dale is studying Aviation at Eastern Kentucky University. He decided he wanted to become a pilot while attending Snowball Express as a child. “I began wondering how the planes worked and what not on the way home from one of the trips,” he said. Dale’s dream is to become a pilot for American Airlines, a presenting sponsor for Snowball Express, so he can help give other Gold Star families the same opportunity that inspired his future.
Fallen Patriots is on a mission to ensure children of fallen servicemembers receive the financial support necessary to fund their college education. The foundation helps bridge a $32,000 funding gap between government assistance programs and the cost of a four-year degree. Enrolling with Fallen Patriots is easy – simply fill out an enrollment form then wait to be contacted by a scholarship administrator who helps take care of the rest.
As 63% of surviving spouses report having trouble making ends meet earning less than $50,000 per year, the vision of Fallen Patriots is to extend peace of mind to Gold Star families in all 50 states, in all branches of the military.
About Fallen Patriots
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes by ensuring the success of their children through college education. Since 2002, Fallen Patriots has provided approximately $26 million in total assistance, including college scholarships and educational counseling to over 1,280 military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Nearly 20,000 children from across America will need future assistance. Help today by visiting www.fallenpatriots.org.
About Gary Sinise Foundation
At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. “Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our hand in times of need to those who willingly sacrifice each day to provide that freedom and security. While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more.” -gary sinise