Ten Years

I cannot believe we will celebrate our ten-year anniversary this May. From day one, I have said the opportunity to form the Sugar Bear Foundation was an absolute gift. I knew when Mario died there was still so much more he wanted to do with his life, both in the military and beyond. I also knew he wanted more for us should he not make it back. He made that very clear to me. 

For me, I did not want his death to define our lives nor place any type of limitations on our future. So the foundation was the perfect way to continue his lifelong goal of service and giving back, especially to my fellow Gold Star and Surviving Families. The foundation has completely transformed my life for the better, and we seek to provide the same to the families we serve. The goal is simple: to offer programs that provide a new path of stability after losing their service members. We do this through our Financial Education Employment Program, Virtual Education Program, and other offerings that we know are needed for our community, and Sugar Bear himself considered important.

We believe, and we are seeing through our work, these areas ARE transforming our families’ lives. Our incredible Team is purposely small, and we always strive to provide personal connections and individualized attention, offering practical programming that is unique and needed. This will always be the goal!

In honor of our anniversary and a few other upcoming special days, I invite you to check out our Giving Campaign and our Honor Wall. The campaign helps us provide all of our programming, and the Honor Wall is our why! Sugar Bear will always be our inspiration, but so are ALL of these heroes and the families they leave behind. Our team and I know too well what life after loss looks like, and we remain committed to providing hope, tangible resources, and the support they deserve. 

As always, I thank you, our Team, our Board, and the inspirational families we serve. 

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star Wife/President 

Happy Spring!

I know in some parts of the country it might seem hard to believe, but spring is on the horizon, and our team is focused on new opportunities and programming.

First off, I need to personally thank Johnson & Johnson and their Veterans Leadership Council for their fundraiser this past November. We had an incredible night attending the 2nd Annual Sugar Bear Memorial Mess Night. I am beyond grateful for these awesome veterans and the community for helping us raise funds and awareness on behalf of our Gold Star Families. The event was once again fun, inspiring, and very impactful. It was definitely a night of service and support, and we look forward to this year’s event. Thank you!

We also extend our gratitude to our friends at the Marine Corps Aviation Association for their continued support of our work. Their belief in our mission is especially important to me, and I know Sugar Bear would be grateful too.

To our families, we are excited to share that we will be adding Spanish to our IXL subscriptions in May. IXL is the perfect educational resource as it not only provides individualized academic support, but it also offers invaluable test-prep review for SAT, ACT, ASVAB, etc. Please know we are currently working to provide more educational support and look forward to sharing. Interested families should contact us to learn more about this resource. 

We recently held a Virtual Information Session for the Survivor Community. A common theme we tried to share is our belief in not only creating unique and necessary programming but in the execution of our services too.  Our team strives to offer individualized support, so families receive an ongoing personalized experience. We believe this is the key to growth and the best way to meet the needs of our community. As always, I encourage our families to reach out to us, make inquiries, and stay connected. We truly are here for you. 

We continue to work with our incredible sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, and are currently planning for a virtual career symposium coming this fall. This event is not only meant to help educate teens and young adults, but also to inspire them as well.

As always, thank you to our amazing team and board. You all mean so much to me, our families, and I know Sugar Bear too. To our Sponsors and donors, please know you are helping us make an incredible difference. You are changing lives, and we see and hear it daily. Thank you. 

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star Wife/President 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Wishing all of our friends, sponsors, and families a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.

We would also like to thank our friends and sponsors for your incredible generosity this year. Because of your support, we have been able to provide hundreds of families with educational, career, financial, and wellness resources—and, most importantly, hope as they navigate the unimaginable loss of their service members. 

To the families we serve: please know that you are always at the heart of our mission. We look forward to sharing updated program information and new opportunities with you in the coming months.

Thank you for the opportunity to give back in honor of Sugar Bear. It is a privilege and an honor that I truly cherish. Please consider supporting our end-of-year campaign with a donation that helps us continue serving the families who need it most.

Thank you,

Jennifer Carazo
Gold Star Wife/ President

Tis The Season!

As I write this note, I can hardly believe we are already halfway through November. The holiday season is upon us! I wanted to share a few quick updates and reminders.

First off, we have officially kicked off our Annual Holiday Gift Card Campaign. Any and all support is greatly appreciated.

Last month, Erica Brophy, our Financial and Resource Counselor, shared helpful tips, resources, and answered questions on topics such as lowering debt, beginning to save, and accessing specific resources for our families. Spouses are always welcome to set up an appointment with Erica to discuss your family's individual needs. To make an appointment, review the recording, or request a copy of Erica’s Tips and Resource List, please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org.

For any of our San Diego families—or those who work with Gold Star/Surviving Spouses and children in the area—you won’t want to miss the Annual RF-LAMBDA Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 6th from 12:00-3:00 pm. This is always a fun and festive event that we look forward to all year. You do not need to have children to attend. RSVPs are needed by November 28th, so please contact Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org today. We will have a catered lunch, lots of goodies, and some special surprises.

Sugar Bear and I always counted our blessings, especially at this time of year, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back in his honor. It truly is a labor of love. Thank you to our Team and Board, our incredible friends, sponsors, and generous donors. We could not do any of this without you, and I know Sugar Bear would share my sentiments.

To the families we serve, please know we continue to work hard to provide programming, events, and opportunities that we hope will offer impactful support as you navigate the incredible loss of your service member. Thank you for your sacrifice and for your service to our country.

Jennifer Carazo 
Gold Star Wife/President