Scholarship Application - The RF-Lambda Memorial Scholarship

We are excited to share our Memorial Scholarship in honor of our hero! To qualify, you must be a resident of San Diego or Orange County, the son or daughter of a military service member who died while on active duty and a senior in high school or attending college.  

The loss of a parent can have a devastating impact  on a family and we  want to help surviving children create a path of success.   

Please direct any questions to Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org. 

To apply, CLICK HERE to Download the Scholarship Application. Applicants should state the estimated amount needed on the application. Funds will be paid directly to the institution for such items as tuition, housing, fees or academic tutoring needs that pertain to selected coursework.

Second Forum Series - "Navigating Your Strengths"

In April we will join our partners from the MCRD Museum Foundation’s Family Forever program in hosting a very special workshop for Gold Star families, Navigating Your Strengths. This incredible seminar is conducted by Sarah Davis. Davis has a vast level of experience working with Gold Star families. She brings the perfect level of expertise in helping survivors find a renewed purpose and meaning to their lives after dealing with trauma and loss.

CLICK HERE for more Information about Sarah Davis.

Gold Star Family Gatherings

We are happy to share two upcoming events for San Diego Gold Star families in conjunction with our partnership through the MCRD Museum Foundation’s Family Forever program…

If you would like more information about joining the Family Forever program, please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org .

Marine West/Semper Fi Mixer

We had a great time attending Marine West and hosting the Semper Fi Mixer.  It was wonderful to have some Gunfighters in attendance. Make sure to join us next year!

Merry Margaritas

Thank you to some San Diego friends and supporters who held a silent auction in honor of The Sugar Bear Foundation. Additionally, guests donated toys that we were able to deliver to a special surviving family. Such donations and efforts enable us to do our work and we are always grateful.   If you are interested in fundraising or hosting an event for us, please contact admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org

Holiday Open House

On Saturday December 8th we joined our scholarship partner, RF-LAMBDA in holding a holiday open house for Gold Star families.  They provided families with a tour of their beautiful new facility, lunch, holiday gifts, crafts and a brief overview of the RF-LAMBDA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Mario “Sugar Bear” Carazo. Additionally, they introduced the new internship program, Science Saturdays, and a very special opportunity for a Gold Star student interested in a STEM career to attend a program this summer in Boston with the RF-LAMBDA team.

We are very grateful for RF-LAMBDA’s support of our work and Gold Star families. Please check back soon as we will have our scholarship, internship, and Boston conference applications available shortly.

Path to Wellness Women's Retreat Update

We recently joined our partner from the MCRD Command Museum’s Family Forever program in launching the first of a three-part forum series for Gold Star wives and families. Topics of discussion included: wellness, resiliency, and new beginnings. Gold Star children had their own activities during the forum to provide them comfort and healing in dealing with loss.

Giving Tuesday - Help Support the Sugar Bear Foundation

Mission

The Sugar Bear Foundation is a 501(c)(3) formed in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Mario “Sugar Bear” Carazo who made the ultimate sacrifice on July 22, 2010 when his AH-1W Super Cobra was shot down while supporting Marines engaged in a firefight.

The Mission of the Foundation is to support the surviving spouses and children of fallen United States military personnel through programs that meet their immediate and ongoing needs and foster their personal, emotional, and social well-being.

We focus on providing assistance through educational, career and financial initiatives because these were areas “Sugar Bear” deemed important and we know there is a vital need in the survivor community.

Programs

• We provide social, emotional and financial support through our partnership with the MCRD Command Museums’ Family Forever program which has included gift cards to Gold Star spouses to purchase school supplies for their children. Additionally, a three-part forum series was developed for Gold Star spouses and their families to provide support focusing on topics such as resiliency, transition, educational and career resources.

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• RF-LAMBDA Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Lieutenant Colonel Mario “Sugar Bear” Carazo

• STEM and Internship Program through our partnership with RF-LAMBDA (launching 2019)

• Financial and Academic initiatives coming in 2019

Women’s Forum

We are very excited to announce the first of a three-part forum series with our partners from the MCRD Command Museum’s Family Forever Program. Children are welcome and will have their own structured activities. We have spent several months working on this series and the goal has been to provide something truly unique to Gold Star spouses and their families. We will be joined by some amazing partners to not only share invaluable resources but to help women and families gain a new sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.

Sugar Bear Spirit

Thank you to Isabelle O’Donnell and her friends who recently celebrated Isabelle’s tenth birthday by donating to the Sugar Bear Foundation in lieu of gifts. We were touched by this incredible act of generosity and kindness. Happy Birthday Isabelle! We wish you a wonderful year ahead. You are truly a special young lady with a big heart.