Blue Star Families

This year, the Official White House Christmas Ornament by White House Historical Association is centered around our 39th President, Jimmy Carter. The ornament features historic moments from President Carter’s life including the USS Jimmy Carter, his environmental impact, and peanut flowers signifying his background in farming. Use our password, Bluestarfamilies24, at the link below and get yours today! https://bit.ly/3UcYeh0 #WhiteHouseChristmas #ChristmasOrnaments #MilitaryFamilies

This #MilitaryFamilyAppreciationMonth, we’re proud to share a heartfelt story from Ryan Callahan, EVP of Digital Marketing and Innovation here at Blue Star Families, and a lifelong Patriots fan. Growing up, Ryan and his dad, a Marine Corps Veteran, bonded over the Patriots’ mantra, “Do Your Job.” That same spirit came alive this November at a special Patriots training camp event. Thanks to the New England Patriots Foundation and Bank of America, military families enjoyed a day of unforgettable experiences, including Patriots players personally gifting brand-new bikes to 20 Blue Star Families kids. For many, these bikes were more than gifts — they were symbols of support and gratitude. Blue Star Families of New England is honored to be a 2023-2025 Community Captain with the Patriots Foundation, working together to uplift military families. Let’s all “Do Our Part” to make a difference. Read more about Ryan’s story and the impact of this event in his op-ed: https://bit.ly/4i8vssg Learn how you can get involved at https://bit.ly/42TtGE4. Josh Kraft, Andre Tippett, Jeffrey Chin, Joe Cardona, Hannah Arroyo, Leah Love #BlueStarFamilies #DoYourPart #DoYourJob #PatriotsNation

The Anduril Industries Gear Store is officially LIVE, and we’re thrilled to be the launch partner for Drop 1! This exciting initiative features limited-edition Anduril gear with proceeds benefitting military families. Every purchase from this first drop supports #BlueStarFamilies and our mission to strengthen military families by building connected communities. We’re so grateful to Anduril Industries for choosing us as their partner for this launch — a meaningful way to give back to those who serve. Shop now, make an impact, and snag some incredible gear while it lasts. #AndurilGearStore #MilitaryFamilies?

Military and Veteran families, join us on December 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