The 98 Fund was originally founded in 2008 by members of West Point's Class of 1998. Initially focused on scholarships for the children of our Fallen, we have expanded to support veterans and their families in need and have created a mentor retreat (The Alaska Project) where we provide mentorship opportunities between families of the Fallen and those who served with their loved ones in uniform. MI
SSION: The 98 Fund raises and invests monies to provide support to veterans of the United States, their families, and their children. The intent of this fund is to show solidarity and help veterans and their families by supporting, partially or fully, their needs following service to our nation. Three Pillars of The 98 Fund:
1) Educational Support to the Children of our Fallen
2) Assistance to the Veteran and their Families
3) Mentoring retreat for Families of the Fallen (The Alaska Project)
Birth of The Alaska Project
During the lead-up to the 2018 reunion, The 98 Fund continued to evolve through the creation of the “The Alaska Project.” Based on the input provided by our surviving families on how to best provide support, we learned that financial support is always needed, but the loss of a parent leaves a hole that is hard to fill by the surviving parent. The 98 Fund’s president, Mark "Rock” DeRocchi, supported by his parents, 1SG (Retired) and Mrs. DeRocchi, led a pilot program with the eldest son of Major Paul Voelke. Together, they spent time experiencing some of the natural wonder of Alaska while learning how to build a log bridge over a creek; at the end of the week, the bridge was dedicated to Paul and stands today as a living memorial. Refined over the years since then, the core of The Alaska Project remains providing mentorship to our surviving families with volunteers that knew their loved one. In 2020, The 98 Fund purchased approximately 50 acres of rugged and undeveloped wilderness near Hatcher’s Pass, and adjacent to the property where earlier memorials had been built. Work immediately began to transform this wilderness to what will be the base camp for all future iterations of The Alaska Project. The current state of The Alaska Project
The Alaska Project is a veteran led, mentor-based retreat near Palmer, AK. Born from the realization that Gold Star and Survivor Families feel isolated after the death, The 98 Fund updated its mission from solely focusing on providing educational scholarships to providing support. In 2020, The 98 Fund purchased 50 acres to dedicate to the Project. Since The Alaska Project's first iteration in 2015, it has focused on pairing Good Star / Survivor Families with someone who knew and served with their loved one. The retreat provides a basecamp for Alaska-unique activities and facilitates time to share stories and memories about their loved one, while creating lasting memorials throughout the property. This helps create and nurture lifelong mentor opportunities, reinforces the connection between the Family and those who served with their loved one, and honors our most solemn promise that we Never Forget the Fallen. We look to partner with organizations looking to support Gold Star Families
