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Blue Star Families is the source for all things military family-related. With chapters and members located across the country and around the world, we offer a constantly-growing resource for the media to get in touch with real families, from all branches of service and all walks of life.
Members of the media, please feel free to contact us with any and all inquiries.
Media Contact:
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(844) 202-7827, ext.4
In the News
Pentagon confronts Gold Star divide among grieving military families
First Lt. Daniel Weiss was a 25-year-old Army Ranger preparing for his fourth combat deployment to Afghanistan when he died by suicide at his Tacoma, Wash., apartment in 2012. There were difficult days after that, recalled his father, Andy. But what proved both surprising and hurtful, he said, were efforts to ensure his son’s death was viewed differently than those of fellow service members who had been killed in action.
The family learned, for instance, that Daniel’s name would be excluded from a monument at Joint Base Lewis-McChord memorializing casualties of war. A few years later, at a brunch for military survivors back home in Illinois, the Weisses were told their invitation had been an accident. Though they were allowed to stay, he said, it was made clear the event was for Gold Star families.
Congress should vow to ease military housing burden in WA
For military families stationed in the Pacific Northwest, an assigned base doesn’t often double as home. Most service members — roughly three in four at Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, the region’s largest installation — bring their families to live in surrounding communities. They face the same sticker shock as anyone living here — but Congress has failed to appropriately cover housing costs in Western Washington, as it has elsewhere for men and women in uniform.
How Ford’s Off-Roadeo Sites Are Supporting Veterans And Their Families
In Horseshoe Bay, Texas, just outside of Austin, pods of veterans and their families whooped and whistled as they exited a challenging off-road course in borrowed Ford vehicles. The exhilaration was palpable and camaraderie apparent across all the military branches represented: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and more.
At the Urging of Moms First and Nearly 15,000 Moms, CNN Asked the Candidates About Child Care at the First 2024 Presidential Debate — but the Candidates Barely Answered
Last night, at the urging of Moms First and nearly 15,000 moms and allies, the presidential debate moderators asked the candidates about child care at the first debate of the 2024 election. In a victory for American families, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked President Biden and former President Trump how they would lower child care costs for American families, citing a new report that found that the average cost of child care for two children is now higher than the average cost of rent in all 50 states.
A National Security Issue: Child Care Increasingly a Challenge for Military Families
The child care crisis in the United States—which affects families’ ability to find affordable, accessible, quality options—now has growing national security implications, too.
A nationwide shortage of qualified workers has affected the U.S. Department of Defense, which is the largest child care provider in the country, and that has meant that an estimated 9,000 children in military families have been placed on wait lists for classroom spots.
Disney Donates Thousands Of Books To Military Children Through Blue Star Books Program
Disney has donated thousands of books to help make magic for military kids on a recent visit to a Marine Corps Base Camp.
Coach Partners With Blue Star Families in Celebration of Military Spouse Appreciation Day
In honor of National Military Spouse Appreciation Day last month, COACH and nonprofit partner, Blue Star Families – a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families and strengthening their communities, teamed up to host events in Jacksonville, FL and at our New York City Hudson Yards HQ to recognize military spouses and the vital role they play in supporting our military.
Celebrating Our Military Spouses at Comcast NBCUniversal
At Comcast NBCUniversal, we recognize that military service is a commitment made by entire families, not just those in uniform. This past Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we were proud to honor the incredible sacrifices of military spouses and celebrate our teammates who are driving meaningful change for the military community.
Military families struggle with child care shortages
A lack of affordable child care is pushing many U.S. military families to the brink, creating hardships that threaten troops’ ability to remain in service, according to a nonprofit military family advocacy group.
In a survey by Blue Star Families, active-duty military parents cited child care availability as one of their top quality-of-life concerns. With an estimated 9,000 children on waitlists for military-run child care centers, many military spouses are unable to pursue careers due to child care challenges.
Troops are eligible to receive housing stipend when attending training
Troops in the Air Force, Space Force, Navy and Marines Corps who attend professional military education or training classes are now eligible for a daily stipend to cover housing costs at their training location. A new policy allows service members to collect extra pay based on their Basic Allowance for Housing at the without-dependent rate to cover housing expenses at their second location.
Press Releases
Blue Star Families Annual Military Families Lifestyle Survey Results: Women in Uniform Show Strength, But Military Families Face Readiness Challenges as 83% Expect Conflict
Blue Star Families, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing military and Veteran family support organization, today published the results of its Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS), marking the 15th year of this transformative research. Conducted from March to May 2024, the survey garnered more than 5,500 responses globally from active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members, Veterans, and their families.
Read MoreFrom Omaha to Guam: Announcing the First Recipients of Blue Star Families Outpost Grants Expanding Nationwide Network of Support
Blue Star Families (BSF) announces the first recipients of the Blue Star Families Outpost grants, an initiative aimed at expanding support and connection for military families across the nation. With generous support from craig newmark philanthropies, these grants empower local organizations to enhance their services and strengthen community ties for military families.
Read MoreBlue Star Families Celebrates Landmark Quality-of-Life Gains for Military Families in 2025 NDAA
BSF’s Advocacy Efforts Drive Key Provisions in the Law, Including Pay Raises, Child Care Access, and Spouse Employment Support Washington, D.C., January 7, 2025 – Blue Star Families, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing military-connected organization, marks the inclusion of essential…
Read MoreJennifer Akin Announced as Blue Star Families’ Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak Collaborative
Blue Star Families (BSF), the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to providing support to military and Veteran families, announces Jennifer Akin’s return from sabbatical as she steps into a new role as Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak…
Read MoreBlue Star Families Applauds the Unveiling of Landmark NDAA to Make Critical Improvement in Lives of Military Families
December 9, 2024 – Blue Star Families, the nation’s fastest-growing military and Veteran family support organization, congratulates the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel on the unveiling of the landmark Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 following months of negotiations between the House and Senate.
Read MoreBlue Star Families Marks 15 Years with New $25 Million Gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Blue Star Families (BSF), the nation’s fastest-growing military family support organization, announced a $25M investment from Craig Newmark, philanthropist and founder of craigslist, to dramatically expand its proven chapter-based community model across the nation.
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