Blue Star Families

Military and veteran families, join us on Dec. 5th at 3 PM ET for Seeing Our Spaces: How Vision Shapes the Places We Live. Discover how the right colors can turn any space into a comforting home—and enter for a chance to win one of five $145 Warby Parker gift cards! Hosted by Maria Mendez Reed & Tiffini Skuce, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision. ??Maria Reed: Creator and Host, Moving With The Military ??Tiffini Skuce: Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision's Uniformed Services Advisory Board RSVP here: https://bit.ly/48ZH8Jq Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program #BCBS

Last week, 100 members of the Puget Sound Chapter of Blue Star Families were treated to an incredible night watching the Seattle Kraken for Military Appreciation Night! But that's not all! Prior to the game, a Blue Star Families service member was honored on the ice before the National Anthem. The Puget Sound Chapter was also presented with a $50,000 Puck Drop Donation from Starbucks and Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken. A portion of proceeds from the auction of the Kraken's philanthropic arm, One Roof Foundation, on Military Appreciation Night will also be contributed to Blue Star Families. Additionally, at the December 14th home game, the Kraken and Starbucks will be holding a toy drive so Blue Star Families will be able to distribute toys to local military families for the holidays. The generosity of our partners at the Kraken and Starbucks helps to build a community of support for military families, which is what the Do Your Part movement is all about. Whether inviting a new neighbor to root for the home team or lending a helping hand, we can all do our part. #DoYourPart is made possible by the generous support of Craig Newmark and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. Kathy Roth-Douquet Brian Whiting Vin Duncan Lindsay Knight, PhD Ryan Callahan Douglas Rozman Meredith Terrian Sabrina Huda David Song Rachael Duncan

#BlueStarFamilies is thrilled to announce a transformative $25M investment from Craig Newmark to expand our chapter-based community model across the nation. This incredible gift will help us establish 11 new chapters, nearly doubling our reach and strengthening local programs that support military families. Unveiled last night at our annual #BlueStarCelebration in Washington, D.C., alongside #BSF CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet, military leaders and advocates, this investment comes at a crucial moment. With military families playing a key role in our nation’s resilience, this expansion will provide the resources and community networks needed to face the challenges ahead. This milestone highlights the growing impact of our work: over 15 years, we’ve delivered $330M in benefit value to military families, serving over 1.5 million annually. Craig’s generosity reinforces the vital link between military family well-being and national security. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3CBLXwu Thank you to all our members for being a part of our community and doing your part for military families. #MilitaryFamilies #CraigNewmark #BSFCelebration #15YearsStrong

We are filled with gratitude as we reflect on an incredible evening celebrating 15 years of supporting military families during #BlueStarCelebration. A heartfelt thank you to: ??Our amazing celebrity and military chefs for creating a truly unforgettable dining experience. ??Our speakers —? #BSF CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet, Lieutenant General Gwen Bingham, USA (Ret.), #BSF Tampa Chapter Director Suzy Malloy, and CNN Co-Anchor Brianna Keilar. ??Our award recipients — The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, and Mrs. Betty Del Toro, and United States Representatives Don Bacon and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. ??And to everyone who joined us — your support makes our mission possible! ?? We also had a special announcement that marks a watershed moment for #BlueStarFamilies: a $25M investment from Craig Newmark to dramatically expand our chapter-based community model across the nation. This transformative gift will help establish 11 new chapters, nearly doubling our reach and strengthening local programs for military families. This investment recognizes that supporting military families isn’t just about quality of life — it’s about national security. Thank you, Craig, for your continued unwavering support of military families. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3CBLXwu Together, we can #DoOurPart and create a bright future for military families. Thank you for being a part of the effort! Dave Allvin, Gen Steve Nordhaus, Sheila Casey, Anne Witkowsky, Ron Keohane, Alex Wagner, Terri Tanielian, Vice Admiral Daniel Dwyer, James Adams, David Wilson, DASD Patricia M. Barron, Ross Cohen, Elizabeth Van Every, Richard Huggins, Alisa Dalton, Cecilia Charter, MBA, George L. Askew, MD, Fred Hannett, AJ Jones II, Matthew Paynter, Katerina Bakh Simonetti, CFP?, Jandria Alexander, Lisa Darr Feldner, Tracy Freedman, APR, CSX, Starbucks, Equinox Restaurant, 1310 Kitchen & Bar, Patrice Cleary, Angel Barreto, David Guas

Tonight, we gather to honor 15 years of supporting military families at #BlueStarCelebration. ?????? This evening will be filled inspiration, gratitude, and incredible flavors as celebrity and military chefs collaborate to create an unforgettable dining experience! We’re also thrilled to spotlight our 2024 award recipients: ?? The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, and Mrs. Betty Del Toro — Lifetime Military Family Champion Award ?? United States Representatives Don Bacon and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan — Civil Leadership Award Stay tuned for highlights and join us in the celebration! #BSFCelebration #BlueStarFamilies #DoYourPart #15YearsStrong #MilitaryFamilies

???????????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ??????????. We welcome Shawn Moore, LMSW, Director from Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Heather Diehl, LMSW, Blue Star Families, in honor of National Caregiver Awareness Month. We are supporting this LIVE webinar discussion recognizing the incredible military and veteran caregivers who dedicate their lives to serving those who served us. ? What to Expect in this live discussion: Hear about programs supporting caregivers and how to navigate the challenges and rewards of this critical role. Our guests will share their experiences on how we can all help our nation's hidden heroes. Whether you're a caregiver, a family member, or someone who wants to understand the caregiver experience better, this webinar is for you. Let's come together to honor and uplift the vital contributions of our caregiver community. ???Set your notifications, join us, comment, and bring your questions! ?#HiddenHeroes #CaregiverAwareness #MilitaryCaregivers #ElizabethDoleFoundation #BlueStarFamilies #BSFCareers #BSFSpouseforce #BSFSurvey #BSF #BSFNeighborhood?

? Attention #MilSpouse! ? Join us on Dec. 5th at 3 PM ET for "Seeing Our Spaces: How Vision Shapes the Places We Live," a special webinar with hosts Maria Mendez Reed and Tiffini Skuce. Discover how the right colors can transform any space into a comforting home. From calming bedroom palettes to energizing kitchen colors, we'll share room-by-room tips tailored just for military and veteran families. Plus, you'll have a chance to win one of five $145 Warby Parker gift cards—ensuring your vision is as sharp as your design! Sign up today! https://bit.ly/48ZH8Jq Webinar courtesy of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program #BlueStarFamilies #MilitaryFamilies #BCBS Penny Bolden, Michele Bradfield, Paul Kingsbury Molly Frederickson

Last week in Glendale, California, Disney VoluntEARS and members of SALUTE, Disney’s Veteran employee resource group, gathered to assemble 500 welcome kits for Blue Star Families members. These special kits were filled with essentials to make military and Veteran families feel supported as they transition into new communities. The Walt Disney Company's steadfast commitment to those who have served was on full display, underscoring the profound impact of giving back to military families. Through our longstanding collaboration, Blue Star Families and Disney are showing how they do their part to help share happiness, ensuring our nation’s heroes and their loved ones feel welcomed and connected. The kits are now on their way to Tampa and San Diego where they will be distributed to Blue Star Families members at various events in the coming weeks. #DoYourPart is made possible by Craig Newmark and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. Kathy Roth-Douquet Brian Whiting Lindsay Knight, PhD Douglas Rozman Vin Duncan Meredith Terrian Suzy Malloy Maggie Meza

We are thrilled to welcome Lucas Strader the Blue Star Families team as a Talent Acquisition Partner! With seven years spent as a Navy Recruiter and another seven in Naval Intelligence, Lucas developed a deep understanding of recruitment strategy, critical thinking, and organizational success. After transitioning to civilian life, he excelled in roles such as Talent Acquisition Manager at Gavin De Becker & Associates, Director of IT Recruitment and Retention at Texas Health and Human Services, and most recently, Technical Recruitment Lead at Macquarie in Houston. Lucas' broad experience spans security, health care, and finance, equipping him with a strategic mindset to build high-performing teams and drive organizational success. In addition to these roles, Lucas holds two master's degrees from the University of Southern California — one in Business for Veterans and another in Human Resources Management, giving him a strong foundation in organizational leadership and human resources strategy. Lucas has an unwavering commitment to service. As a devoted family man who is passionate about supporting military families, Lucas is deeply aligned with the mission of Blue Star Families. In his own words: “Joining Blue Star Families is important to me because it provides a meaningful way to continue supporting my fellow Veterans and military families while fostering a strong sense of community and camaraderie.” Welcome Lucas! We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact you’ll make! Kathy Roth-Douquet Brian Whiting Vin Duncan Meredith Terrian Ryan Callahan Maria Tedford Ashley Molina, PHR

We’re excited to introduce an amazing lineup of celebrity and military chefs who will be creating a culinary experience like no other at our?15th Anniversary Celebration event on Thursday, 11/21 in Washington, DC! #BlueStarCelebration Military and Celebrity Chefs: ??United States Space Force: Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery Chef David Guas paired with Master Sergeant Jordan O. Olson ??United States Air Force: Equinox Restaurant Chef Todd Grey paired with Master Sergeant Asia McClain ??United States Air Force: Anju Chef Angel Barreto paired with Technical Sergeant Sarah Izor ??Army National Guard: Tonari, The Daikaya Group Chef Katsuya Fukushima paired with Master Sergeant Kevin Arwood ??United States Coast Guard: Santa Rosa Taqueria Chef Spike and Catherine Mendelsohn paired with Chief Anthony Decker ??United States Army: 1310 Kitchen & Bar Chef Jenn Crovato paired with Master Sergeant Maria Sandoval ??United States Marines: Purple Patch Chef Patrice Cleary paired with Sergeant Patricia Gonzalez Ochoa ??United States Navy: Bas Rouge Chef Harley Peet paired with CS1 Cal Abdinoor We'll be celebrating in Washington D.C. this Thursday and can’t wait to see (and taste) all the delicious dishes! Kathy Roth-Douquet Lindsay Knight, PhD Vicky Perkins Tom Hausman Ryan Callahan Meredith Terrian Maria Mahoney Tom Porter Daniela Hines, M.Ed.,Douglas Rozman Sheila Rupp Karly Howell Noeleen T. Ashley Saville Susan Messina Amanda Yeram Brian Whiting Vin Duncan John Barr Sierra Martinez Adriene Engstrom Jessica Strong