Thank you to Dave and Patty Davis for driving all the way from Des Moines, Iowa to hand-deliver a generous donation to the Marine Graduation Foundation. Their son, LCPL Josh Davis, was KIA in Afghanistan only one year after graduating from high school. His memory lives on through the annual Josh Davis Memorial Poker Run, which raises money to help so many military focused nonprofit organizations. The donations come at the cost of a handshake, which we were honored to give. Please take a moment to honor and remember all those that served and died for our freedom. Freedom is not free. Never forget that.
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Thanks to EVERYONE for the May donations!
Linda Keefe, Ken Reeder, Jill Fales, Linda Perry and Dawn Harris
We couldn't do it without you!!
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Thanks to EVERYONE for the April donations!
Deborah Martinez, Jennifer Winfield, Jennifer Griswold, Francine Carson, Evelyn Pilla, Erica Howard, Kimberley Misner, Marsha Barisano, Jeanine Gentile, Charles LeGeyt, Diane Elmer, Ronald Points and Danielle Koenig
We couldn't do it without you!!
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Thank you so much to
Laurie Roy and William Curran
for your donations for the March 3 & 10 graduations! We appreciate it very, very much!
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Thank you so much to all who helped for the February graduations!
Steve Greene, Vanessa Rose, Gary Simons, David Jennings, Danny Parmenter, Charlynn Caruthers,
Danny Parmenter and Damie Simons all helped!
Special thanks to the Ken Reeder and the Cpl Brandon Hardy Memorial Fund for everything you've done for these families. You have both been supporters for many years and we thank you for that.
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Thank you so much to all who helped for the January graduations!
Special thanks to the Kathleen Cavanna for your $500 donation, Larry Cavanna for your $1,200 donation and Lisa Welz for your $1,000 donation!
You all helped a lot of families who wouldn't have been able to go otherwise. Thank you.
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Thank you so much to all who helped for the October graduations!
Special thanks to:
Robert Hubbard for donating $1,000 and Conrad Depinto for donating $250! It was very much appreciated!
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Thank you so much to all who helped for the September graduations!
Special thanks to:
BRANDY RAPER for donating and getting the word out,
ANN LOUDERMILK who promptly donated $1,000 when she heard of our funding shortage
And to PAUL DUBSKY who donated a total of $1,300 to make sure everyone got help for September 30.
Solid proof there are awesome, caring people in the world. Thank you!
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Foundation President, John Weant, receives $1,600 from a Columbia, Missouri store!
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Thank you to the Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy Memorial Scholarship Fund!
They gave $1000!
If you are not familiar with this organization, please read the story here.
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Thank you Ann Loudermilk for your continued support!
Ann gave $1,500!
We are so very grateful for you, Ann. You are our angel!
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Thank you to Cristina Castro for donating
25,000 Miles
through the American Airlines Flights For 50 Program!
Flights for 50 was designed to recognize American Airlines employees for their volunteer efforts by awarding nonprofit organizations with a mileage donation. We appreciate it very much, Cristina!
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Thank you to Jake Visser for sponsoring the online auction that raised
$10,000
so new Marines would not stand alone at graduation! Thank you to all those who participated. You have made a difference in many peoples lives and we thank you very much!
In addition to the auction, friends and family of the November 20, 2015 San Diego Hotel Company graduates raised an additional
$3,955!
Thank you very much for your support! Special thanks to Brandy Raper and the Group Admins who worked so very hard this year to make sure No New Marine Stands Alone!
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Thank you, San Diego Alpha Company Friends & Family!
This September 4 graduation group raised:
$2,836!
This group of friends and family of Platoons 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014 and 1015 raised this money by raffling 7 platoon themed gift baskets at their Meet & Greet! They raffled one basket for each platoon. Special thanks to Alison Graham who organized the fundraiser. Thank you to all of you. YOU made a difference in many new Marines' lives and we thank you very, very much.
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Thank you, San Diego Echo Company Friends & Family!
This August 14 graduation group raised:
$2,325!
Thank you one and all. You're amazing. Your donation will touch a lot of lives. Thank you.
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Thank you, Bob Gresham!
$5,000.00!
Thank you, Bob, for your continued support!
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OOH-RAH AND SEMPER FI TO THE MCRD SD ECHO COMPANY FAMILIES - 2/27/2015 GRADUATION
These families raised...drum roll, please...
$7,460.00!
Thank you so much for all your efforts and most of all...thanks for caring!
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Thank you Ann Loudermilk for your continued support!
Ann gave $1,500!
We are so very grateful for you, Ann. Thank you!
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Thank you to the Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy Memorial Scholarship Fund!
They gave $500!
They are long time supporters. Read their story here.
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8 Applications for Assistance through June 16.
We have 8 families who have requested assistance for the upcoming graduations. At a minimum, $2,800 is needed to help these familes. Please donate if you can. Thank you so much!
Donations
Current Donations |
Show All
Donations: 8 received
deidra b, Cleveland: |
$200.00 |
Douglas M, Camp Hill: |
$100.00 |
Mike J, Waxhaw: |
$50.00 |
Patricia M, Lorton: |
$50.00 |
cynthia t, Katy: |
$50.00 |
Sandra L B, Longs: |
$25.00 |
jeni h, Plain City: |
$20.00 |
Stephanie J, Hutchinson: |
$20.00 |
Donations Gross: |
$515.00 |
Paypal Fees: |
-$13.73 |
Donations Net: |
$501.27 |
Current Goal: $2800
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ASSISTED 1,302 FAMILIES IN 48 STATES TO GRADUATION!
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Donations are tax-deductible.
EIN 20-2932679
Would you like to give monthly? Please click the donation button below:
We would like to take a moment to thank someone who went above and beyond to make sure a mom got to the graduation. When her plans fell apart and she was left with no way to be there for her daughter when she graduated, a recruiter stepped in, contacted us and even took her to the airport to make sure she made the flight. Recruiters often times do not get the credit they deserve. They are not only leaders to the men and women they recruit but they actually care about their future and morale. Thank you, Christopher Pedersen. The world needs more people like you!
Hello and thank you for visiting our site! We are the Marine Graduation Foundation.  We were founded in 2005 after identifying a need to help families attend Marine Corps Boot Camp graduations. Why are we doing this? We do this to make sure that no new Marine stands alone on graduation day. These men and women volunteered to go through painstaking training to allow all of us to sleep at night knowing they are there to protect us. Only after they successfully make it through training are they called United States Marines.
Picture this: Family Day arrives. The stands are full of friends and families. The Marines are dismissed for onbase liberty. The crowd rushes from their seats to hug their new Marine. They are so proud. The Marines are so very happy to finally see their family. They stand in their uniform, totally transformed! But wait...then you see a group of Marines walking away...no one is there for them. After everything they've been through there is no acknowledgement, no hugs, no tears, no nothing. We just did not think that was acceptable so here we are, 10 years later, helping Marines have that moment with their families that they would not otherwise get to experience.
If you don't have the money to get to the graduation, apply for assistance. People donate, applications are reviewed and if all goes well we will help you with travel costs so that your Marine does not have to stand alone on graduation day. Please remember funds are almost always limited. There are many families to help and many times not enough money to help everyone. If you can get to the graduation without our help, please save the funds for the people who wonder how they are going to get the money to have enough gas to drive to the graduation.
If we all band together we can ensure that NO NEW MARINE STANDS ALONE! If you can help with our mission, even if it is $5, it counts! We definitely could not do this without you! Above, you will find upcoming graduations for which you can specifically donate. If you do not have a tie to any particular graduation but would still like to help with our cause you can do that too by clicking the button below. Thank you, in advance, for your kindness.
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A Message From the President: The Marine Bootcamp Graduation is PRICELESS for a parent to be at! Our mission is to help that become possible through generous donations (Tax Deductible) from you. Your donations go to those parents needing help. Won't you help today? We have many more applications for assistance than moneys to help. Thank you for helping and passing along our mission and website.
Semper Fi.
John Weant, Marine Veteran, MCRD Plt 336
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I would like to convey my heartfelt thank you and gratitude for the
assistance in helping to complete the funding needed to attend Darik's
graduation. I could never have gone through life knowing I had missed such
an amazing and beautiful ceremony. It is truly something I will never
forget, along with never forgetting his face when the Sr DI's dismissed
their platoons for the last time, welcoming the new Marines and families
into the greatest brotherhood.
I know that thank you's can never be enough
for the help you provided. My heart is overfilled with the love I have for
the Marine Graduation Foundation for what you do to ensure that each Marine
has someone there for them in this momentous occasion. You all will forever
be a part of our lives and one day, once truly back on my feet, I will be
paying it forward to help another single mom attend her son's or daughter's
Marine Corps graduation.
My sincerest gratitude,
Dawn M Wise
M.o.M. of Pvt Darik Wise
Did you know many employers will match your donation? Be sure and check with your Human Resources Department. It's a great way to double the number of Marines who will not stand alone!
Officers and Directors:
John Weant, CEO, Marine Veteran, Marine Corps League Life Member and father of two Marines; view bio
Gretchen Miller, Marine Mom, CFO and webmaster
Heather Miller, Manager, Air Force Veteran
LtCol Scott Payne, Director, Marine
Max Beerup, Director, FMF Corpsman Veteran
Steve Nelson, Director and Marine Dad
Stephen Escobedo, Director, Marine Veteran/Marine Dad
Holli Park, Volunteer and Marine Veteran.
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Rebecca Martin and Son January 2017
I went to family day today... Must have walked like 7 miles lol but it was ALL worth it to be able to see and hug my Marine tight!! Sadly this was the only pic I got of us together lol... Doesn't show his face. I plan on taking more tomorrow that I'll send!!! What an AWESOME BLESSING you all are for helping me with one of the most CHERISHED & PROUD Moments of my LIFE!!! Again, Thank you ALL so very much for giving me such an awesome opportunity to witness this blessed event in my son's life!!!!  ❤
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