2023 GRANT RECIPIENTSWe are proud to announce the recipients of the first ever Sienna Hicks Gold Star Sibling Grant! Each recipient was awarded a $1,000 Grant to assist with tuition along with a Certificate. The recipients are: Lauren Williams honoring her brother Phillip Ryan Watson - U.S. Army National Guard Harley Franson honoring her brother Trenton Franson - U.S. Marine Corps Angela Hernandez honoring her brother Jason John Hernandez - U.S. Army Rubi Galarza honoring her brother Vilmar Galarza Hernandez - U.S. Army David Griffith honoring his brother Samuel Mark Griffith - U.S. Marine Corps Delana Obenauer honoring her brother Ethan Lee Gander - U.S. Air Force Jim Levulis honoring his brother John Joseph Levulis - U.S. Army I was touched by each and every one of their stories in one way or another. I am so proud of what I have created and where these Gold Star Siblings are going with their journeys of life while grieving as well. Each of the recipients would like you to also get to know them a little. Down below are their "about me" sections in their own words along with some pictures to give you a glimpse of their stories. Lauren Williams
Harley Franson
Angela Hernandez
Rubi Galarza
David Griffith
Delana Obenauer
Jim Levulis
THANK YOU BIG DANA special thank you to Big Dan of American Legion Post 574 in Hudson Falls NY! Big Dan did a Gold Star Sibling Beard Challenge for me which raised and donated over $6,000 by challenging him to color his beard gold and add 22 gold stars for a month if he raised his goal of $5000. He exceeded that goal. He also helped me personally give out one of the Grants to our local recipient, Jim. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORTThank you so much to all who have helped make this dream a possibility. Each donation, small or big, allowed us to help these 7 individual Gold Star Siblings with tuition assistance. Thank you to the Legions, Legion Riders, Big Dan, and all the other organizations and individuals who helped make this dream a reality. Thank you to my parents for pushing me to create this Grant and helping me stay on top of it. Without you both, I literally would not be here today or have made it this far. Thank you to my Big Bro Macoy for always pushing me to better myself and keep fighting the good fight. Even though you're no longer here physically, you're still taking care of me and watching over me spiritually through my journey of life and grief. I miss you so much and it has been so difficult to keep going without you but I'm carrying on your legacy of helping others and that helps make each day a little lighter, even on the heaviest ones. I love you.
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