The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is a great resource for learning about all the nonprofits in the region helping students go back to school.
One of my favorite education focused nonprofits in the Catalogue is ThanksUSA because I have so much respect for military families and their hardships.
ThanksUSA began in 2005 when Virginia sisters Rachel and Kelsi (then ages 10 and 8) saw first-hand the hardships faced by a military family when a friend’s father returned from Iraq severely injured. In appreciation of the family’s sacrifice, the sisters launched ThanksUSA the following year. Through its scholarship program, it empowers military families – children and spouses of military personnel – to expand their education and skills through college, technical school, or vocational training programs. Some scholars train in new, higher-earning fields, while others enroll in college for the first time, or seek out more “portable” careers in real estate, healthcare, and education. Priority is given to families of the wounded and fallen, and while all scholarships are based strictly on financial need, scholars go on to earn an average 3.5 GPA. To date, more than 4,000 scholarships totaling more than $12 million (with 11.5% awarded in DC, Virginia, and Maryland) have helped say “ThanksUSA!” Now you can, too.
