LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Gwinnett Stripers, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, have announced the recipient of the club’s May “Military Programs” themed grant. Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families, received a $2,500 grant during “Salute to Armed Forces” on Friday, May 24 at Coolray Field.
Operation Homefront was selected in recognition of their annual Back-to-School Brigade® (BTSB), a nationwide collection of school supplies and backpacks that will be distributed to children of E1 through E6 military families as well as to all ranks of wounded, ill, or injured veterans this summer.
According to Operation Homefront, sending children back to school can often bring about financial hardships as families make purchases above and beyond their normal monthly expenses. The BTSB program helps relieve families of this cost and enables them to use their income for other household expenses. This year, Operation Homefront will provide its 375,000th backpack with school supplies to a military child, saving families over $40 million in back-to-school expenses since the program began.
The $2,500 grant from the Stripers will assist Operation Homefront in distributing over 250 backpacks filled with school supplies to military children at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga. The program will focus on active duty service members, reservists, and wounded warriors, and is especially helpful for families with multiple children as they prepare for the academic year.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Stripers for their contribution to our Back-to-School Brigade® program in Atlanta,” said Elizabeth Scott, Area Manager of Operation Homefront. “This grant helps us achieve our mission to honor and serve America’s military families by enhancing the morale and success of our military children, while easing the financial burden of back-to-school season.”
About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit serving America’s military families. Founded in 2002 shortly after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Operation Homefront’s mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Operation Homefront helps military families through difficult periods by providing relief through financial assistance and temporary housing programs, resiliency through permanent housing and caregiver programs, and recurring family support through a variety of programs all designed to ensure that short-term needs do not turn into chronic long-term struggles. Ninety-two percent of Operation Homefront’s expenditures go directly to programs that help military families. For more information, visit their website at operationhomefront.org.
About the Gwinnett Stripers Grant Program: The 2019 season marks the 11th in which the Stripers have partnered with the Atlanta Braves Foundation to award monthly grants to nonprofits. The Stripers will award a $2,500 grant each month from May through August highlighting four themes: Military Programs (May), Health and Wellness Programs (June), Service-oriented Programs (July), and Youth Programs (August). The application process for 2019 grants closed on March 31, and information regarding the 2020 Grant Program will be announced in the offseason at GoStripers.com/community.
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The Gwinnett Stripers are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, playing their 11th season at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Ga. For tickets, team merchandise or more information, visit GoStripers.com. Follow the Stripers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at GoStripers.