Empowering Young Heroes: Michelle Tran and Chelly Criqui on Transforming the Lives of Military Children Through Extracurricular Grants

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How do extracurricular activities transform the lives of military children? Join us as we uncover the heartwarming stories behind Our Military Kids with special guests Michelle Tran and Chelly Criqui. Chelly, the Director of Marketing and Communications, reveals her personal journey from a grant recipient to an advocate, sharing the profound impact of the program on her own family during her father's deployment. From local swimming lessons to elite gymnastics camps, Chelly discusses how these grants provide vital opportunities for children of deployed Guard and Reserve and injured service members to explore their passions and build resilience. Michelle Tran, the Combat Injured Kids Director and Program Manager, delves into her crucial role in outreach and application processing, particularly for families affected by combat injuries, and highlights the special support offered to these deserving children.
Listeners will gain insight into the different types of grants available, tailored to the unique needs of children of both deployed and combat-injured service members. Chelly recounts memorable success stories, including that of Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, and underscores the importance of promoting the program through social media and word of mouth. We discuss the vital need for consistent funding and community support to ensure these grants can continue to enrich children's lives, strengthen family bonds, and improve mental health. This episode is a touching tribute to the resilience of military children and the extraordinary role Our Military Kids plays in supporting them.

Hoofdstukken

1. Supporting Military Kids' Extracurricular Activities (00:00:00)

2. Military Kids Grant Program Overview (00:08:34)

3. Promoting Our Military Kids Organization (00:19:02)