Our Military Kids

10/09/2026

Meet Terri Mateo, experienced dancer and Our Military Kids Senior Director of Development!

"I started dance lessons when I was three and continued through college," Terri said. "Jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, and lyrical gave me an outlet to express myself, connect with others, and grow my abilities under amazing teachers and mentors."

"Dance taught me discipline, confidence, resilience, and how to adapt to new challenges—lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life," she said. "Dance was also my first job. I started as a junior teacher and eventually moved up to become a lead. Along the way, I learned how meaningful it can be to support others, build community, and help someone else discover what they are capable of."

All of us at Our Military Kids understand how activities make a lifelong impact, especially on children and teens facing a parent's deployment or combat-injury care. Learn more about how we fund activities for eligible military children at: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org

Let us know: How have coaches, teachers, and other mentors impacted your life? 🌟

10/08/2026

Olivia from New Mexico is the child of an U.S. Army Veteran who is receiving care for combat-related injuries. Throughout this time, Olivia is able to pursue her passion for competitive wrestling with expenses covered by an Our Military Kids activity award, thanks to support from the Daniels Fund!

"She decided to wrestle up and join the high school girls' team as an 8th grader. She has become a vital part of the team, teaching new wrestlers skills," said Olivia's mother, an Army Veteran. "She is always helpful when I am experiencing chronic pain issues. She will help make dinner and help her siblings with homework or getting ready for bed."

"While wrestling in high school, Olivia experienced many hardships," she continued. "She continued to work hard and show up and rise above the losses. She has been an amazing teammate, helping new wrestlers and getting them prepared for competition."

Olivia's wrestling fees, along with competitive sports for military children and teens across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, have been funded thanks to the Daniels Fund! Our Military Kids is incredibly grateful for this critical investment in our mission.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming families: Applications are still OPEN for the Daniels Fund Scholarship through October 15th! Open to high school seniors living in CO, NM, UT, and WY. See full eligibility requirements and submit an application at: https://danielsfund.org/our-work/scholarships/

10/07/2026

Our Military Kids recently had the opportunity to attend the 14th Annual Lids Foundation Golf Outing in Indianapolis!

Executive Director Kara Dallman and Senior Development Director Terri Mateo hosted a Rucksack Challenge in which participants could take their tee shot while wearing a 35-pound rucksack, the same weight many service members carry during basic training.

Thank you to Brooke Nates, Sarah Lim, and the Lids Foundation team for investing in Our Military Kids and cultivating such impactful moments of connection and partnership as we work together to support military families.

10/06/2026

IT'S TIME: Specialty Washington Capitals jerseys, including autographed items and pucks, are now being auctioned off to benefit Our Military Kids via a Monumental Sports & Entertainment auction taking place TODAY through Thursday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. at washcaps.com/250auction

The specialty themed jersey was co-designed by United States Air Force Veteran Patrick J. Sargent and U.S. Navy Veteran Fidel GomezTorres in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

10/05/2026

Happy 22nd birthday, Our Military Kids! 🎂

More than two decades in, the Our Military Kids mission is more crucial than ever. The last two years have seen tremendous growth in requests for support from military families. As of August 2026, applications for activity funding has grown 19% over the same time last year.

Our Military Kids can only meet this increased demand through its generous donors. Help us celebrate 22 years of supporting military kids by making a gift of $22 today at: https://give.ourmilitarykids.org/campaign/835737/donate

10/02/2026

Meet Kara Dallman, retired U.S. Navy Veteran and Our Military Kids Executive Director!

Kara's favorite activities in high school were volleyball, basketball, and piano which led her to play Division I volleyball and join Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

Kara went on to serve 12 years on active duty with the Navy and retired from the Navy Reserve. As a Reservist, she was mobilized a month after 9/11 leaving her two young military children at home, making the mission of Our Military Kids very close to her heart.

All of us at Our Military Kids understand how activities make a lifelong impact, especially on children and teens facing a parent's deployment or combat-injury care. Learn more about how we fund activities for eligible military children at: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org

Let us know: What was your favorite extracurricular, and how has it impacted you today? 🏐

10/01/2026

"We sincerely want to thank you for the opportunity for my daughter to continue her gymnastics and my son to continue his passion for soccer," said their mother Maria, an Army National Guard spouse.

"Their daddy is the one who would always take her to gymnastics class and enjoys seeing her learn new things. Soccer also reminds our son of his dad. It’s a sport they both share together. We are thankful for the sponsorship!"

Cairo and Marily's activity awards were made possible thanks to support from KBP Brands! During the largest biannual fundraiser for Our Military Kids, KBP Foods employees sell $1 Charity Coupon Books at participating KFC restaurants with proceeds benefiting Our Military Kids.

This past Summer, the KBP Foods Charity Coupon Drive funded at least 500 additional activity awards for like Cairo and Marily!

We are excited to share that the dates for the KBP Foods Winter Coupon Drive have already been announced: November 9–January 17. Save the date!

Thank you, KBP Foods employees, managers, area coaches, and team members!

Tennessee National Guard

09/30/2026

JUST IN: Our Military Kids has released a new report highlighting the many positive and interconnected outcomes their programming has for children with special needs.

While OMK annually releases research highlighting the overall impact that activity awards have on recipients and their families, “The Impacts of Our Military Kids on Children with Disabilities,” prepared by OMK's Program Evaluation and Research Advisor Erica Hawvermale, is its first stand-alone report focusing on a particular demographic of beneficiaries.

Hawvermale’s analysis found that the impacts of OMK-funded activities on children with disabilities are positive, extensive, and interrelated. The study is a point of connection for OMK and other organizations serving the military community.

“The families in this research are our families,” said Michelle Norman - Military Spouse & Special Education Advocate, Founder and CEO of Partners in PROMISE. “We know through our own research that military children with disabilities face so much, from constant moves and frequent disruptions to delays in medical and educational services. To see them finding joy and building important life skills through these activities is exactly why this work matters. Partners in PROMISE is proud to stand alongside Our Military Kids in championing these children and the families who love them.”

Read the full report at: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/2026whitepaper

https://www.militarytimes.com/native/our-military-kids/2026/09/30/nonprofit-serving-military-children-releases-new-research-focusing-on-beneficiaries-with-special-needs/

OMK funds activities for the children (ages 1-18) of deployed Reserve or National Guard service members.

09/24/2026

LIVE NOW: The latest Our Military Kids Annual Report! This year's report is full of inspiring beneficiary stories, including that of our 100,000th activity award recipient and his family, new statistics on the powerful impact this program makes, and spotlights on the partners and investors who make this important work possible.

Check out the flipbook at: https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/report