No Greater Sacrifice

Join our Enduring Tribute campaign today. It's a powerful initiative honoring Service members who sacrificed for our freedoms and supporting their families. Your contribution provides scholarships, mentorship, and coaching for their children. This year, we've accepted a record number of applicants, working to address the needs of the more than 50,000 children affected since 9/11. Click this link to make a difference: https://loom.ly/dEgI2wo

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is excited to announce the inaugural JTCC Veterans Championships happening on September 21-22 in College Park, Maryland! This tournament is open to all retired and active duty Service members. There are age groups for 18+, 30+, 50+, and 70+ in both men's and women's draws. Additionally, there will be open doubles draws for men, women, and mixed teams. The cost to enter two divisions (singles & doubles) is $50, which includes meals and a player gift. Veterans with disabilities can participate for free—simply email ghesse@jtcc.org your USTA number and a brief description of your disability/VA rating after creating a free account here. The tournament will run on Saturday and Sunday, with a social event on Friday evening for family and friends. JTCC invites everyone to join in doubles games and enjoy a meal together. Register for the tournament here. We appreciate your support in promoting this event—please share with those who might be interested!

As the new school year begins, NGS is proud to share the tremendous impact your support has on students like Christian Durham-Honer. This fall, Christian starts his college career at The Ohio State University, pursuing a major in mechanical engineering. His passion for building and problem-solving, combined with his dream of joining the high-speed world of Formula 1 Racing, drives his academic journey. Christian’s achievements include recognition in the Junior Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society, and receiving the Distinguished Student Award. Outside the classroom, he enjoys basketball, golf, snowboarding, and creating music. In 2007, when Christian was just a year old, his father, Air Force Captain Cartize Durham, tragically lost his life in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Treviso, Italy. Despite this hardship, Christian has remained resilient, focused on his education, and ready to make a difference. The NGS scholarship will allow him to concentrate on his studies and career aspirations without financial worries.

NGS is honored to celebrate the Pérez sisters, Tamara and Thanairy, and recognize their resilience and achievements in life despite various obstacles. Tamara is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a degree in Neuroscience. Currently attending St. George's University School of Medicine, she is on the path to becoming a neurologist, driven by her passion for preventing Alzheimer's and her extensive research experience in the field. Her goal is to make a positive difference in people's lives. Thanairy is about to begin her sophomore year at UIC, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Political Science, Pre-Law, with a concentration in Law and Courts. She dreams of studying law after completing her degree and aspires to own a criminal law firm in Chicago, where she can help others defend themselves and fight for justice. Tamara and Thanairy's father, U.S. Army Sgt. Moises Pérez, was injured in Iraq in 2005, suffering multiple injuries. The Pérez family lived in Puerto Rico until Hurricane Maria destroyed their home in 2017, prompting their move to Illinois to rebuild their lives. On NGS's support, Tamara says, "It is extremely important to have a program like No Greater Sacrifice to make the voices heard of many students who have great ideas to contribute to an academic field." Thanairy adds, “It is inspiring that foundations like No Greater Sacrifice are willing to help the children of the fallen and wounded, who many times are overlooked, and help them achieve what they want." Both sisters will attend the upcoming NGS Invitational golf tournament in Chicago, where they look forward to spreading awareness for the mission of NGS. Thank you to the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund for helping Tamara and Thanairy reach their dreams.

Congratulations to Calob Rodgers on his recent graduation from the University of Texas at San Antonio! Calob graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and is now a certified accountant. Notably, he is the first in his direct bloodline to earn a college degree. Calob was recently hired at the Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group in San Antonio, Texas. NGS is incredibly proud of Calob's determination and resilience! Calob’s father is Army Chief Warrant Officer Levi Rodgers. A Green Beret and Commander of Special Forces A-team, Levi was struck by an IED while traveling in a truck with three fellow soldiers and an Afghan translator on a mission in Afghanistan in 2009. The exploding truck was propelled into the air, engulfed in flames. None of the other four individuals in the vehicle survived. Levi sustained burns on more than 40% of his body and broke bones in both legs. He was placed in a medically induced coma for over a month and spent six months in the burn unit at BAMC for his extensive recovery. Thank you to Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund for supporting Calob!

NGS Welcomes Ian Musselman to Our Board! We're excited to announce that Ian P. Musselman, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at LKQ Corporation, is joining the NGS Board. Ian's deep connection to our mission, rooted in friendships with our founders and board members, and his commitment to service make him an incredible asset. As the son, grandson, nephew, and cousin of Veterans, Ian grew up in a family who prioritized serving others, and carries on that legacy by serving on NGS’s board and energizing LKQ’s veterans network to support our mission of supporting military families. As Ian says, “Education is freedom. I am honored to be given the opportunity to ensure that those who have protected the freedoms that we as American hold close are supported by giving education to those that they love most.” Please join us in welcoming Ian to the NGS family!

Meet Sam Walding! Hailing from Gunter, Texas, Sam is set to embark on an exciting journey as a freshman at Northern Arizona University. With a passion for graphic design and a keen interest in the gaming industry, he's pursuing a major in Visual Communications. Beyond academics, Sam thrives on outdoor adventures like hiking and is eager to immerse himself in diverse cultures worldwide. His father, Army Sergeant John Walding, sustained severe injuries during a firefight in Afghanistan when Sam was just three years old. Sam's future aspirations include a career in animation, marketing, or UI design within the gaming sector. He sees the NGS scholarship as a catalyst for personal growth and new opportunities.

A Big Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors of the 2024 No Greater Sacrifice Invitational! Thanks to our generous sponsors, the 2024 No Greater Sacrifice Invitational at Erin Hills Golf Course and Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run Golf Course was an incredible success. NGS is deeply grateful to directly benefit from the proceeds of this long-standing tournament. Special thanks to our title sponsors: Robert Fisher with Verizon, Frank Cavaliere with Microsoft, Myriah Jordan with Meta, and Bryan Anderson with Southern Company. Your support has made a tremendous impact on the lives of children of fallen and severely wounded Service members. Thank you to the dedicated event committee members who worked tirelessly to execute another successful NGS Invitational and to the representatives from Congressional offices who supported this year's event. Thank you also to NGS Associate Director and former recipient, Boston Gilbert, who shared the story of his father, Major Troy Gilbert, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2006 supporting a Delta Force Unit.

Zoe Blauvelt graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, maintaining honors student status. Next, she plans to obtain her license to become a certified mental health coach. Her long-term goal is to help people improve their mental health. Zoe's father, Army Reserve Master Sergeant Christopher Blauvelt, was severely wounded in action when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. On her graduation and NGS's impact, Zoe says: "My dad got wounded in combat when I was seven. Despite the challenges he faces daily, I cherish every moment with him, knowing how close I came to losing him. Now, at twenty-one, as I graduate from college, having him here to witness my achievements is a blessing beyond measure. Your support, not only during my college journey but also for my siblings, means everything to me. The Blauvelts are profoundly grateful for everything you've done." Thank you to the Gary Sinise Foundation for supporting Zoe's academic career and helping her reach her dreams! #NoGreaterSacrifice #HonorTheSacrifices #InvestInTheirChildren #GarySiniseFoundation