Resources for survivors

SBF Registry - In order for a Gold Star/Surviving Spouse or child to take part in any of our events or programs a completed SBF Registry form as well as a DD1300 and current proof of benefits must be on file. CLICK HERE for the SBF Registry Form.
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Free Career Mentoring Program - We offer our Surviving Spouses and college-age teens (who must be enrolled in college, trade school, or want to enter the military) career mentoring through Cummins Veteran Employment Resource Group. This program matches our Gold Star/Surviving Spouses and teens being with a Cummins employee who can provide career mentoring through virtual and group forums. CLICK HERE for the Application, Waiver and more information.
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Financial Education Employment Program - Provides a holistic approach to helping our Registered Gold Star/Surviving Spouses attain their career endeavors, secure financial literacy, and a new sense of stability after the loss of their service members. CLICK HERE for more information.
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Free Educational Website Subscriptions - We are now offering free Educational Website Subscriptions for our Registered families who are looking for remedial, enrichment or merely want their children and teens to gain some extra support. CLICK HERE for more information.
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Free Resume Scholarship - Are you a Gold Star spouse looking to return to work, enter the workforce, or start a business? Apply now to receive two independent consultations with a resume professional to address your needs and objectives, then update, revise, or create your resume. This opportunity is limited to funding and the availability of resume professional. CLICK HERE for the Application, Waiver and more information.
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Free Tutoring Scholarship - The Sugar Bear Foundation is offering free online tutoring services for Gold Star spouses and children. Thanks to the generosity of our scholarship sponsor, RF-LAMBDA, you can sign-up for assistance as many of our Gold Star families transition to online or homeschool education. CLICK HERE for the Application, Waiver and more information.
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Free Virtual College Consulting - CLICK HERE for more information
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Hiring Our Heroes - Career Support for Surviving Spouses - We have an excellent opportunity for our Surviving Spouses to receive individual, direct, and ongoing career support for their employment needs. Even if you are only thinking of working, the team at Hiring Our Heroes truly understands especially for our very special community. CLICK HERE for more information.
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The Panther Group Service to Success - Career Support for Surviving Spouses - This is a wonderful opportunity for our spouses who are seeking employment opportunities. The Panther Group has a variety of roles, levels of employment and modalities in which one can work. CLICK HERE for more information.
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RF-Lambda Memorial Scholarship - We are excited to share our Memorial Scholarship in honor of our hero! To qualify you must be the son or daughter of a military service member who died while on active duty (the manner of death does not matter) and a senior in high school or attending college.

The loss of a parent can have a devastating impact  on a family and we  want to help surviving children create a path of success.   

Please direct any questions to Admin@thesugarbearfoundation.org. 

To apply, CLICK HERE to Download the Scholarship Application. Applicants should state the estimated amount needed on the application. Funds will be paid directly to the institution for such items as tuition, housing, fees or academic tutoring needs that pertain to selected coursework.
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College Workshop and Career Transitions Podcast Replays - CLICK HERE for more information
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Other Resources

  • A Soldier’s Child Foundation - A Soldier's Child Foundation supports children of fallen military members by providing birthday celebrations, transformational camps, mentorship programs, and assistance with scholarships.

  • A2Z Healing Toolbox - A2Z Healing Toolbox provides education, resources, and therapeutic workshops—including specialized guidance, speaking engagements, and an award-winning guidebook—to help individuals and professionals navigate the grief and trauma healing process.

  • America the Beautiful National Interagency Parks Pass (Free) - Information and resources for current U.S. military members, veterans, and Gold Star Families to obtain free annual or lifetime passes for entrance to national parks and other federal recreational lands.

  • Angels Of America's Fallen - Angels of America's Fallen supports the children of fallen military, firefighter, and law enforcement personnel by funding and facilitating their participation in long-term extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and arts.

  • “Better Money Habits” - Bank of America's Better Money Habits provides free, accessible financial education through articles, videos, and interactive tools designed to help people make informed decisions about saving, budgeting, debt management, and investing.

  • Community Cultivator - Community Cultivator is a nationwide organization that empowers military spouses to thrive by providing career support, professional networking, mentorship, and community-building events to help them navigate the challenges of military life.

  • Cummins - Brochure: Sales & Service Career Programs; Video: “Powering Your Potential - The Cummins Technician Apprentice Program”

  • DOD Starbase - STEM Programs - DoD STARBASE is a Department of Defense youth outreach program that provides hands-on, 25-hour STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) instruction to students, hosted at military installations to expose them to positive civilian and military role models.

  • Folds of Honor - Folds of Honor provides life-changing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military personnel and first responders.

  • Gold Star Family Resources - Gold Star Family Resources provides a centralized hub of information, personal guidance, and support for military families navigating life after the loss of a loved one, helping them connect with relevant resources and organizations.

  • Great Days by Sarah - Great Days by Sarah offers personal training, yoga instruction, wellness coaching, and fitness memberships specifically designed to help busy mothers boost their energy, strength, and confidence through manageable, time-efficient routines.

  • Heroes Tribute Scholarship Program - The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation provides need-based educational scholarships to the children of fallen or disabled Marines and Navy Corpsmen, specifically through its Heroes Tribute Scholarship Program.

  • Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation - The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation provides educational support, including $50,000 college scholarship accounts, for the children of service members who lose a parent while serving on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps or as a federal law enforcement agent, as well as financial assistance for cranial helmets for children of active-duty Marines and Navy Corpsmen.

  • Military Officers Association of America - The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) provides extensive resources and advocacy for surviving spouses, including expert financial and retirement planning guidance, a dedicated Surviving Spouse Advisory Council, and a Virtual Chapter for nationwide connection. Their support encompasses educational publications on benefits like the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), legislative advocacy to protect survivor benefits, and local chapter networks that offer camaraderie and hands-on assistance with administrative and transition-related tasks.

  • Navy Gold Star Program Information - Navy Gold Star is the U.S. Navy’s official program providing long-term, dedicated support to the surviving families of Sailors who pass away while on active duty, offering resources for administrative, educational, financial, healthcare, and housing benefits, as well as opportunities for connection and memorialization.

  • Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society - The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial, educational, and community assistance—including interest-free loans, scholarships, budget counseling, visiting nurse services, and thrift shops—to active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines, and their families.

  • No Greater Sacrifice - No Greater Sacrifice provides debt-free, post-high school educational scholarships and dedicated mentorship to the children of the nation's fallen and severely wounded service members, funding the unmet costs of degree programs from enrollment through graduation.

  • Operation We Are Here - Operation We Are Here serves as a comprehensive resource hub for the military community, providing practical insights, emotional support, and curated lists of organizations, literature, and programs to assist loved ones of the fallen, military families, and their supporters.

  • Patriot Military Family Foundation - The Patriot Military Family Foundation serves military families and veterans by providing support through programs that include holiday assistance, service dogs, and educational scholarships to help improve their quality of life.

  • Rat Race Rebellion - Rat Race Rebellion provides vetted, legitimate work-from-home job leads and remote employment opportunities across various industries, connecting job seekers directly to employer websites.

  • San Diego Financial Literacy Center - The San Diego Financial Literacy Center (SDFLC) provides financial education, counseling, and resources to help individuals and families—including military members and their families—improve their financial health, manage debt, and achieve long-term financial stability.

  • Service to Success - The Panther Group - The Panther Group’s "Service to Success" program provides tailored staffing and recruitment services specifically to help veterans and military spouses transition into civilian careers by connecting them with job opportunities across various industries.

  • Soaring Spirits International - Soaring Spirits International supports widowed individuals through a variety of programs, including Camp Widow events, the Widowed Village online community, peer-to-peer pen pal programs, and grief literacy training for professionals, all aimed at helping those who have lost a partner connect, heal, and rebuild their lives.

  • Special Operations Warrior Foundation - The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides comprehensive "cradle-to-career" educational funding, tutoring, and advocacy for the children of fallen Special Operations personnel and Medal of Honor recipients, while also offering immediate financial assistance to severely wounded, ill, and injured active-duty Special Operations personnel.

  • Spouses Education Career Opportunities - The SpouseWorks program (formerly known as SECO) provides military spouses with comprehensive education and career support, including personalized career coaching, professional development training, skill-building resources, and assistance finding jobs tailored to the unique challenges of military life.

  • Stop Soldier Suicide - Stop Soldier Suicide is a national non-profit dedicated exclusively to reducing military and veteran suicide by providing free, confidential, and personalized suicide-specific care, crisis intervention, and mental health counseling through its ROGER wellness service.

  • Surviving Spouse and Family Education Benefits - A comprehensive overview of education benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children of fallen or disabled service members, including federal programs like the Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program and the Marine GySgt John D. Fry Scholarship, as well as guidance on state-specific benefits, private scholarships, grants, and federal student aid.

  • The Rosie Network - The Rosie Network empowers veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members to achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency by providing no-cost, college-accredited entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and support services to help them launch and grow small businesses.

  • The Work at Home Woman - The Work at Home Woman provides resources, vetted job leads, career advice, and guidance for women seeking to find legitimate work-at-home jobs, start home-based businesses, or develop remote career paths.

  • Time Out For Moms - Time Out for Moms is a Facebook community designed to provide a supportive space for mothers to connect, share experiences, and find encouragement, focusing on helping them prioritize their well-being amid the challenges of parenthood.

  • Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors - The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides compassionate care, emotional support, and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstances of the death, including a 24/7 helpline, grief counseling, peer mentoring, seminars, and specialized youth and suicide loss support programs.

  • Travis Manion Foundation - The Travis Manion Foundation empowers veterans and families of the fallen through programs that focus on character development, leadership, and community service, including youth mentorship, personal development resources, survivor expeditions, and various community-based events.

  • Tunnel to Towers Foundation - The Tunnel to Towers Foundation honors the sacrifice of first responders and military personnel by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and the families of fallen first responders, constructing specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured heroes, supporting the eradication of veteran homelessness, and providing educational scholarships to the children of their home recipients.

  • US Army Survivor Outreach Services - Army Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) provides dedicated, long-term support to surviving families of Soldiers, offering a network of support that includes financial counseling, information on benefits and entitlements, and connection to grief support and community resources to help families navigate the loss of their loved one.

  • Veteran Bridge Home - Connect to Resources - Veterans Bridge Home (VBH) serves military-connected individuals in the Carolinas by acting as a holistic "bridge" between service and civilian life through its C.A.R.E.S. process—Connect, Assess, Respond, Empower, and Sustain. By coordinating with a network of over 400 partners, VBH provides personalized assistance in securing stable housing, navigating employment, accessing healthcare and VA benefits, and fostering community connection for veterans, service members, and their families regardless of their service era or discharge status. While VBH does not provide direct financial aid, it excels at linking individuals to tailored resources and advocating for their long-term success, typically responding to requests for assistance within 48 business hours.