DeCoste Memorial Foundation

05/30/2026

Congratulations to our daughter in law, Navy Chief Stephani Pavoni, on her retirement today! We are incredibly proud of you and I know Scott is smiling from above!

05/30/2026

I am so excited to finally share the front and back our new DeCoste Memorial Foundation tri-fold brochures!
What started as a single scholarship in Scott's memory has grown into something so much bigger over the last 10 years. Seeing our mission, programs, and vision all come together in a professional brochure is both humbling and exciting.
From scholarships and youth activity grants to service dog support, emergency assistance, and our Pay It Forward initiative, we're continuing to find new ways to honor Scott's legacy and support military, veteran, Gold Star, and service-connected families.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. This is just the beginning of the next chapter.
💙⚓ "Go Big or Go Home" — Senior Chief Scott DeCoste

05/25/2026

What this man does for military, Gold Star, Service Connected, and First Responders’ families is amazing! We are EXTREMELY GRATEFUL for all the opportunities and experiences he has given to Alexis and myself! Thank you “Uncle Gary” for helping us keep Scott’s memory alive!

05/20/2026

After months of planning, brainstorming, rebranding, and more coffee than I’d like to admit ☕… I’m excited to officially introduce the new website for the DeCoste Memorial Foundation!

What started almost 10 years ago as a scholarship program ($86,000+ awarded to date!) created in Scott’s memory has grown into something much bigger. While scholarships will always remain at our core, our new mission now expands into direct support for military, veteran, Gold Star, and service-connected families through grants, community programs, and acts of kindness.

Our mission is simple:
“No military family should be overlooked—no matter when the sacrifice came.”

While our grant programs will be limited during 2026 as we continue building and growing, we are already planning several fundraising events to help expand our impact — including bringing back a comedy night fundraiser this fall here in Rhode Island!

This foundation was built on Scott’s favorite motto:
Go Big or Go Home.
And that’s exactly what we intend to do.

As part of our continued growth, I will be creating a local Board of Directors and am looking for volunteers for events, grant review committees, and a local military selection committee for our Rhode Island military scholarships. Please reach out if you are interested.

Our Woonsocket High School winners will continue to be selected by family, and our Hampton Roads military selection committee will continue to be led by Gail McLemore.

I’m also looking forward to networking with local military and veterans' organizations throughout Rhode Island and becoming involved with the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce as we continue building community partnerships and expanding our impact.
Please take a few minutes to check out the new website, share it, and follow along as we continue growing this mission together.

DeCoste Memorial Foundation operates as a DBA (“doing business as”) under Scott DeCoste Memorial Scholarship Inc., a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.   All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law 

05/20/2026

As Memorial Day approaches, we are reminded that honoring our heroes is not just something we do one weekend a year — it is something military families carry with them every single day. 🇺🇸

Recently, our 16 year old daughter Alexis and I had a heartfelt conversation about whether her dad still sees the lives he continues to impact. My answer was simple: absolutely. In the 10 years since his passing, there have been too many signs, moments, and reminders of his presence to believe otherwise.

That conversation inspired these small appreciation bags we created for our flight crew as we travel to Washington, DC on Thursday. We will be with the Gary Sinise Foundation for Memorial Day weekend, where we will honor Scott’s legacy and represent his memory in the Memorial Day Parade.

Always Remembered and Forever Loved.

04/27/2026

$86,982.00 in scholarships… in 10 years!!!! 🤯💙

Still hard for me to wrap my head around that number. What started as a way to honor my husband Scott with a $500 scholarship in 2016, has turned into something so much bigger—and moments like this are exactly why.

Huge congratulations to our 2026 Woonsocket High School scholarship winners, Nataly Gonzalez and Jeremy Dubois! 🎓

Making those calls and hearing the excitement on the other end will never get old. Ever.

To both of you—go chase it all. Work hard, make the memories, and don’t forget where you came from.

And my one ask… someday, when life gives you the chance, pay it forward in Scott’s memory.

Because around here, we live by one rule: Go Big or Go Home.

04/04/2026

Something big is coming… 👀

10 years of honoring Scott’s legacy has led to this moment.

A new chapter.
A bigger mission.
An even greater impact.

Stay tuned. 🇺🇸

Go Big or Go Home.

03/31/2026

Woonsocket High Seniors, get those scholarship applications in! Deadline is tomorrow, April 1st, at midnight! Please share!!

https://sdecoste.org/applications

02/17/2026

Congrats to Juan Ibarra, our 1st Rhode Island Military Student winner of the Senior Chief Scott DeCoste Memorial Scholarship. Juan is a student at Middletown High School and his dad is stationed at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport. Wishing Juan the very best in his college journey!

01/31/2026

⏰ Last Call – Deadline is TOMORROW (Feb 1)! ⏰

Rhode Island high school seniors with a military-affiliated parent—whether active duty, a veteran, or no longer with us, this is your reminder to apply for the Senior Chief Scott DeCoste Memorial Scholarship.

Honoring Scott’s legacy by supporting military families—because service matters. 🇺🇸

Please share!