WASHINGTON -The program Our Military Kids provides more than 17,000 grants for children of deployed National Guard and Reserve soldiers to pay for extracurricular activities such as sports, arts and tutoring programs. An event this week on Capitol Hill honored children and congressmen participating in the program.
Several members of Congress were recognized for their support for Our Military Kids including Reps. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas, Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio, and Jim Moran, D-Va. They received the Congressional Friends of Our Military Kids award.
Our Military Kids was founded in 2004 and supports children ages three to 18. It is also available to children of severely injured service members in all branches of the military. The organization will provide up to $500 per child.
“I heard someone make the comment today that the grants are very small,” said Tom Sonnen, a soldier in the 34th Infantry Division of the Army and father of four kids. “I might be small to some people, but it’s a significant amount to us.”
Sonnen and his family were recognized for their involvement with Our Military Kids. The family receives $2,000 from the program and Sonnen said the money paid for a tutoring program for one of his daughters.
“It helped my one daughter a lot academically,” he said.