[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 59 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR MILITARY KIDS ORGANIZATION AND THE 
                     2010 STAR POWER AWARD WINNERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 26, 2010

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
April as the National Month of the Military Child. I also ask that my 
colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the Our 
Military Kids organization as well as its 2010 award winners. I am 
honored that this program, founded in McLean, Virginia, is located in 
the 10th District of Virginia.
  Our Military Kids is an organization that offers support to children 
of deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel in addition to 
children of severely injured servicemembers, through grants for 
extracurricular activities. In honor of the sacrifices military parents 
make, Our Military Kids helps to ensure that children of military 
families have the chance to have access to enrichment activities such 
as fine arts, sports, or academic programs.
  I particularly wish to recognize the dedicated staff of Our Military 
Kids. They are joined by a Board of Directors, as well as an Advisory 
Board, who help make important decisions on behalf of the organization. 
The organization launched its original program in Winchester, Virginia, 
in connection with the Virginia National Guard in 2005. Today the 
success of Our Military Kids has gained national recognition and now 
reaches 14,633 children in all 50 states.
  Each year Our Military Kids recognizes outstanding military children 
and families for their service to and sacrifice for our country. This 
year's award ceremony was held on April 13 in the Cannon Caucus Room 
here on Capitol Hill and I was honored to attend the ``Celebration of 
Our Military Kids' Star Power'' event at which four military children 
and one military family were saluted. The 2010 award winners are: 
Valerie Gonzalez of Alhambra, CA, in the 7-10-year-old age category; 
Jasmine Warren of Douglasville, GA, 11-14-year-old category; Taylor 
Ulmen of Madelia, MN, 15-18-year-old category; John Stefan Jenkins, Jr. 
of Jamaica, NY, 15-18-year old category, and four children from the 
Sonnen Family of Annandale, VA, whose father Tom was deployed to Iraq.
  Through many generous partnerships with individuals, foundations, and 
corporations Our Military Kids is able to award grants to children each 
year. The Star Supporters of 2009-2010 include: General Dynamics; 
Target; Bob Woodruff Foundation; Leonsis Foundation; Lockheed Martin; 
American Legion Child Welfare Foundation; Emerson Charitable Trust; 
USAA; AUSA; General Dynamics-AIS; Jeong H. Kim Foundation; Oshkosh 
Defense; Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ansari; ASMBA Star Foundation; Association 
of Military Banks of America; Avion Manufacturing; Binder Foundation; 
Careerbuilder.com; EADS North America; Janning Family Foundation; PGA 
Tour Wives Association; Mr. & Mrs. Roger C. Schultz; Silicon Valley 
Community Foundation; Tiger Woods Foundation; Aspen Capital, LLC; Mr. & 
Mrs. Peter J. Barris; Bechtel; Binder Foundation; Booz Allen Hamilton; 
Congressional Country Club; Dorothy G. Bender Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. 
Shawn Hendon, Mr. & Mrs. John H. Hiser, Kipps DeSanto; Mr. & Mrs. 
Gerard R. Lear; Lillian Adams Charitable Trust; Mr. & Mrs. Philip 
Odeen; Gen. & Mrs. Peter Pace; Triple Canopy; Walter B. Slocombe; Mr. & 
Mrs. Paul A. Weaver, Jr.; Mr. & Mrs. William Wolpert.
  In closing, I would like to particularly thank Linda Davidson, Our 
Military Kids' executive director, for dedication and tireless efforts 
to support our Nation's military families.

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