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Operation Support Our Troops-America Veteran Assistance Program Endowment Fund

Established 2017

Operation Support Our Troops America was founded in February 2003 when a group of military moms and supporters decided to coordinate a Valentine’s Day project to ship boxes of items to the troops already deployed to support the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The idea for the project stemmed from the reality that while out in the field or in remote places, troops were unable to get some core necessities. As word spread about the project, the community pitched in and helped to fill the boxes. The momentum continued to build and items for the boxes kept coming in even after the project was over. As the operation evolved it outgrew the founder’s home. That was when a Vietnam era veteran stepped in and donated warehouse space for the comfort and care packages to be assembled and shipped. By 2018, more than 67,000 packages of comfort and care items weighing nearly 2 million pounds have been shipped to troops deployed in dangerous places around the world.  

Since 2003, the following additional programs have been created to provide support to their military family who are deployed or that have returned home and to families of the fallen. 

  • G.I. Yoga – offered at no cost to veterans and their families. All instructors are certified and have learned adaptive techniques for veterans that have suffered an injury. 
  • Allen J. Lynch Veteran’s Assistance Program – provides reintegration support to veterans working to improve their lives through employment networking and other services to help them in their healing process. 
  • Leap of Faith – a three-day seminar and healing experience for families of the fallen led by a clinical psychologist, spiritual and nutritional experts, as well as peer supporters from OSOT-America. The seminar also includes an opportunity to participate in a tandem skydive with either an active duty military member or a veteran.  

Being a part of the Community Foundation scholarship committee is the highlight of my year. For many, a scholarship from the CFFRV is the reason they are able to continue reaching for their dreams and changing the future of our world. I hope each recipients knows just how inspirational they are to those of us who are lucky enough to read their stories.

Jessica Breugelmans

Scholarship Committee Member and Board Member

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Zari Foundation Scholarship and the Community Foundation in supporting my education. I am majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institue of Technology. In my spare time, I volunteer on campus, in the community and I’m also the principal violist in the symphony orchestra. I hope to make an impact on the next chapter of space exploration by eventually working at a groundbreaking aerospace company such as SpaceX or NASA.

Taytum Newell

Albert M. Zari Scholarship Recipient

YEP was a great experience to have in high school. I became a more confident person, someone with a lot more perspective. Coming from a small school, YEP allowed me to branch out into my community, meet students from other schools, and learn about their backgrounds. I made some great friends and still keep in touch with them today.

Abby Vagnoni

YEP Alumni

Grant funds from the Community Foundation helped provide updated technology. These upgrades were transformative. By creating new time saving processes, it turned us into a more efficient organization.

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

Grantee

YEP has made me realize the importance of being involved in my community, and how to make a difference. There are a lot of problems in the world but if we can do everything that we can to help the world will become a better place. YEP has helped me realize this and encouraged me to help more people in the future.

Madi Porter

YEP Member

Give your gift of time and see what it means to the people you impact. Helping others is what life is all about.

Neal Ormond

Donor & Fund Advisor

Education is important to us. We support causes that touch our lives and align with our values. We believe in paying it forward. We are here for a short time,, and it is the next generation that will take on what we leave behind.

Michelle Emanuel

Donor and Past Scholarship Recipient

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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