SEALKIDS

By Dr. Gretchen McIntosh Executive Director, SEALKIDS, Inc.

Navy SEALs are some of the most courageous and strong individuals in the world. SEALs make up just 1% of all Navy Personnel. While we may not always see what SEALs are up to because of their privacy and protection, SEALs are sent on missions daily that are unimaginable to most of us. SEALs spend up to 9 months of the year out of the home on mission and in training. With SEALs being gone for most of the year, their spouses and families must make sacrifices to keep SEALs on mission. Dad doesn’t get to come home at 5 pm and eat dinner with the family; SEAL families accept a unique normal and may need help to support children while one parent is away on life-threatening missions.

Because even our bravest individuals need support, the National Nonprofit SEALKIDS exists to help provide additional team members and support for SEALs and their families.

SEALs are never out of the fight, and neither is SEALKIDS.

A SEALKIDS SUCCESS STORY

Since 2011, SEALKIDS has helped over 1,000 children reach their academic goals across the USA. SEALKIDS works as a partner with parents, schools, and the Naval Special Warfare community to address the unique challenges faced by some of our heroes’ children.

SEALKIDS, through its programs, supports the children of Naval Special Warfare—everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. This encompassing approach of academic testing, tutoring, therapy, advocacy, and enrichment fosters the success and wellbeing of the child, critically reducing family stresses and ultimately keeping today’s Navy SEAL in the fight.

Lauren, a recent SEALKIDS graduate, shares her story: Being an active-duty service member’s child is many things. Mostly it’s a challenge. I am so proud of my father for choosing to serve; but I won’t pretend it’s easy on the rest of the family. It’s a challenge in that deployments bring a natural fear of your parent not returning home. It’s hard when you see your friends lose loved ones. Emotional stress is always lurking around. We, military kids, learn to either push the stress down or use it to grow us. Being an active-duty service member’s child is many things. Mostly it’s a challenge. I am so proud of my father for choosing to serve; but I won’t pretend it’s easy on the rest of the family. It’s a challenge in that deployments bring a natural fear of your parent not returning home. It’s hard when you see your friends lose loved ones. Emotional stress is always lurking around. We, military kids, learn to either push the stress down or use it to grow us.

Deployments seemed harder the older I got. I moved a few times so changing schools had its challenges as well. Each school had new learning styles. I would often feel as though I needed to “catch up” to the new styles of learning. I was diagnosed with a neuro/ visual condition at a very young age that added to my struggles.

Once my mom found out about SEALKIDS and I began tutoring, things changed quickly and for the better. I learned SO much about learning different techniques, especially in math! It all began to click. My tutors were so smart and really plugged in to work with me several days a week until I graduated (in the top 5% of my class!).

SEALKIDS made me feel honored. Heard. Important. SEALKIDS made all of the difference for me. They know a little help can go a long way. SEALKIDS provided me access to the necessary resources which fostered my growth and success. SEALKIDS knows the struggles and knows how to help us.

Now, I am a fulltime college student at SMU in Dallas, TX on a pre-med/pre-law tract with a BioChem major and a minor in math. To handle the everyday challenges of military life, it takes teamwork and SEALKIDS became part of my team. SEALKIDS gave me the confidence to push myself harder and to excel in school, despite my obstacles.

HOW TO JOIN THE SEALKIDS SQUAD

SEALKIDS is able to work with the over 300 children they currently serve due to generous donors who have decided to sacrifice for those that sacrifice for us. By raising funds for SEALKIDS, you are helping the only non-profit organization devoted solely to children’s educational support and success in the Navy SEAL community. Your generosity will help children living in a world most cannot comprehend, improve their grades and confidence to pursue their own mission in life. You can fund their future.

Ways to Get Involved With SEALKIDS:

• Learn about SEALKIDS - www.sealkids.org • Attend local events - www.sealkids.org/calendar • Add SEALKIDS to your Amazon Smile

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F

• Companies can reach out to contact@sealkids.org to create a partnership with SEALKIDS to raise funds and awareness for SEALKIDS and their companies.

IN NEED OF SERVICE?

If you are in a SEAL family or know a SEAL family that could benefit from SEALKIDS services, please go to www.sealkids.org/request-help and fill out the form to request service.

MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD

EDUCATION IS A BATTLEFIELD

We make sure that no child gets left behind.

SEALKIDS provides professional tutors that give a tactical advantage to the children of Navy SEALs, providing the academic skills necessary for a brighter future. Our tutoring services take aim at learning challenges and eliminate those issues with the precision of a a designateddesignated marksman.marksman.