Happy Spring!

I know in some parts of the country it might seem hard to believe, but spring is on the horizon, and our team is focused on new opportunities and programming.

First off, I need to personally thank Johnson & Johnson and their Veterans Leadership Council for their fundraiser this past November. We had an incredible night attending the 2nd Annual Sugar Bear Memorial Mess Night. I am beyond grateful for these awesome veterans and the community for helping us raise funds and awareness on behalf of our Gold Star Families. The event was once again fun, inspiring, and very impactful. It was definitely a night of service and support, and we look forward to this year’s event. Thank you!

We also extend our gratitude to our friends at the Marine Corps Aviation Association for their continued support of our work. Their belief in our mission is especially important to me, and I know Sugar Bear would be grateful too.

To our families, we are excited to share that we will be adding Spanish to our IXL subscriptions in May. IXL is the perfect educational resource as it not only provides individualized academic support, but it also offers invaluable test-prep review for SAT, ACT, ASVAB, etc. Please know we are currently working to provide more educational support and look forward to sharing. Interested families should contact us to learn more about this resource. 

We recently held a Virtual Information Session for the Survivor Community. A common theme we tried to share is our belief in not only creating unique and necessary programming but in the execution of our services too.  Our team strives to offer individualized support, so families receive an ongoing personalized experience. We believe this is the key to growth and the best way to meet the needs of our community. As always, I encourage our families to reach out to us, make inquiries, and stay connected. We truly are here for you. 

We continue to work with our incredible sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, and are currently planning for a virtual career symposium coming this fall. This event is not only meant to help educate teens and young adults, but also to inspire them as well.

As always, thank you to our amazing team and board. You all mean so much to me, our families, and I know Sugar Bear too. To our Sponsors and donors, please know you are helping us make an incredible difference. You are changing lives, and we see and hear it daily. Thank you. 

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star Wife/President 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Wishing all of our friends, sponsors, and families a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.

We would also like to thank our friends and sponsors for your incredible generosity this year. Because of your support, we have been able to provide hundreds of families with educational, career, financial, and wellness resources—and, most importantly, hope as they navigate the unimaginable loss of their service members. 

To the families we serve: please know that you are always at the heart of our mission. We look forward to sharing updated program information and new opportunities with you in the coming months.

Thank you for the opportunity to give back in honor of Sugar Bear. It is a privilege and an honor that I truly cherish. Please consider supporting our end-of-year campaign with a donation that helps us continue serving the families who need it most.

Thank you,

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star Wife/ President

Tis The Season!

As I write this note, I can hardly believe we are already halfway through November. The holiday season is upon us! I wanted to share a few quick updates and reminders.

First off, we have officially kicked off our Annual Holiday Gift Card Campaign. Any and all support is greatly appreciated.

Last month, Erica Brophy, our Financial and Resource Counselor, shared helpful tips, resources, and answered questions on topics such as lowering debt, beginning to save, and accessing specific resources for our families. Spouses are always welcome to set up an appointment with Erica to discuss your family's individual needs. To make an appointment, review the recording, or request a copy of Erica’s Tips and Resource List, please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org.

For any of our San Diego families—or those who work with Gold Star/Surviving Spouses and children in the area—you won’t want to miss the Annual RF-LAMBDA Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 6th from 12:00-3:00 pm. This is always a fun and festive event that we look forward to all year. You do not need to have children to attend. RSVPs are needed by November 28th, so please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org today. We will have a catered lunch, lots of goodies, and some special surprises.

Sugar Bear and I always counted our blessings, especially at this time of year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back in his honor. It truly is a labor of love. Thank you to our Team and Board, our incredible friends, sponsors, and generous donors. We could not do any of this without you, and I know Sugar Bear would share my sentiments.

To the families we serve, please know we continue to work hard to provide programming, events, and opportunities that we hope will offer impactful support as you navigate the incredible loss of your service member. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your service to our country.

Jennifer Carazo 
Gold Star Wife/President

Gratitude

I recently had the opportunity to return to the Naval Academy and see Sugar Bear's classmate make history as the first Marine Corps officer to become Superintendent. It was a special day, time with friends, and I definitely felt Sugar Bear's presence. Annapolis will always be a special place for me and provide reminders of what was important to Sugar Bear. I am blessed to have the opportunity to continue his legacy of service and give back to our families. 

In September another of Sugar Bear's classmates hosted a fundraising event for us in San Diego. This was also a great reunion and chance to share our work. Thank you to the BellyUp, BETAMAXX, and friends who attended this event, as well as the local companies that supported us. 

Thank you to the Marine Corps Aviation Association for their recent grant. I love attending the Symposium each year, and their support not only helps us sustain our programming but also enables us to launch new initiatives to help meet the evolving needs of our families. We could not do this without MCAA. 

We are very excited to share our three RF-LAMBDA Memorial Scholarship recipients. RF-LAMBDA is changing lives with this scholarship, and their yearly grant provides educational funding that enables us to provide our tutoring, college consulting, workshops, and other special programs. We are most grateful for all they do and the opportunities they give our families.

We have several upcoming events and new opportunities to share with our families that we encourage you to check out and attend.

First, our yearly Virtual College Planning Q&A event will be held on October 5th. If you have a middle school student (yes, middle school), then you should attend as Juliet Hawk will discuss the planning process for applying to college, review timelines, and give advice. This year, we will focus the session more on Q&A time. Juliet will answer your questions that you submit to Admin@TheSugarBearFoundation.org in advance of the session, even if you can’t attend. Please RSVP and submit your questions by Friday, October 3rd. Additionally, families will receive Juliet’s planning guide.

Next up is a special Virtual Financial Q&A session with Erica Brophy on October 20th. Erica, a Gold Star Spouse and creator of Gold Star Family Resources, is a Certified Financial Coach, holds an MBA, and has extensive financial experience. Erica is an expert in practical and simplified resources that she loves sharing with our families. You won’t want to miss this session. Please RSVP and submit your questions by Friday, October 17th, to Admin@TheSugarBearFoundation.org.

For our San Diego families, we have already begun planning the RF-LAMBDA Holiday Open House, which will be held Saturday, December 6th. This is always a fun event, and our RF-LAMBDA family goes above and beyond to provide a special time. Reach out and let us know if you can attend! 

Our families now have access to IXL Science in addition to Math and ELA subscriptions. They also have a special opportunity to receive a free, yearly subscription to Highlights magazine or the monthly I Can Read Book Club. We believe these opportunities, along with our other programs, provide much-needed educational support that is truly impactful. Please contact us to learn more. 

Thank you to all of our friends, our Team, our Board, and the incredible organizations and companies whose generosity enables us to continue Sugar Bear’s legacy of service.

Jennifer Carazo 
Gold Star Wife/President