HOPE FOR TIFFANY

​This beautiful young woman, Jesenya Sanchez is 17 years old she and her mother have blessed my life personally since 2008, Jess was in second grade. Her father was Sgt. Ian Thomas Sanchez and he was killed in Afghanistan on June 16, 2006 tomorrow is his angelversary. He and another soldier were doing a security sweep when they hit an IED. Tiffany Rios is her mom and they reside in NY. Her mother is disabled, bedridden and currently hospitalized. Tiffany is a beautiful person who came to our organization for assistance many years ago and now does some volunteer work for our foundation. This family has had so many struggles from the devastating loss of Ian, the loss of Ian’s mother, her father’s diagnosis of cancer, his stroke and Tiffany’s ongoing and life-threatening conditions that led up to her inability to complete her own education and continue her work in the mental health field.

The heartbreaking news of Jesenya’s brain tumor in 2011 was the tip of the ice berg per se. Jesenya was diagnosed in 2011 with a tumor and had to undergo surgery to remove it. Her mother was determined to be near her daughter in Manhattan and our foundation made it possible. Jesenya had her surgery and was in in-patient rehabilitation for 2 months and out-patient for 3 years. Despite her health issues, Jess’ was a full-time honor student, she has an amazing voice and has taken voice and drama lessons for several years. She recently was invited to travel to Barcelona for a language emersion educational trip that our foundation paid for through a grant from our Children’s Enrichment Program. This family “our family” has shown such amazing strength through all of these and more life-altering challenges and has earned our admiration in so many ways. Jess’ own health is also declining and just this March was diagnosed with Lupus. One of the most difficult things for our children is the loss of one of their parent’s, then the loss of the other parent; yes, as unbelievable as it may seem we have these children. Jess’ has struggled with the loss of her father and the continual fear that her mother may be taken from her has taken a huge toll on her well-being as well.

The love, care and compassion that is shared with this family and others is what holds our foundation together and fuels our continuing passion to give back to those who fought for the very Freedoms we enjoy daily. This family “our” family needs your help. We are all fervently praying for Tiffany as her condition has worsened the past couple of months. Tomorrow June 16th is the 11th Angelversary of SGT Ian Sanchez’ death. Please share the love and if you can find it in your hearts to donate directly to the Hope for Tiffany Fundraiser, please do. You may also donate directly to our organization in Memory of SGT Ian Sanchez or on behalf of Tiffany Rios.

Thank you for your support, Becky Campbell, Founder

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Welcome to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that was founded in October 2003 as a means of providing College Grants and Financial assistance to surviving children and spouses of U.S. military service members who have lost their lives as a result of their service in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars.

The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund opened up our programs to assist the severely disabled veteran families as well with college, financial, emotional and morale support programs. Recently due to our limited staff and higher than usual applicants have had to place the disabled veteran financial program for new applicants on a temporary hold. If you are a severely disabled veteran and are in need of financial assistance, please contact your local VA Office who should be able to provide you with a number of outside resources and feel free to visit our other resources page. 

Our organization has provided more than $2,400,000.00 in educational, financial and morale support programs that includes, but is not limited to emergency housing, utilities, food, clothing, vehicle repairs, other lodging for families with life threatening medical needs, funeral expense that includes over $420,000.00 in funds to assist two other charitable organizations so that they can continue serving our severely disabled veterans and their families. ​​Many of our children have been a part of our programs for over ten years with some graduating High School and enrolling in colleges and universities throughout the States.

The Department of Defense has reported 6,919 casualties as of November 2011 and 32,223 wounded servicemembers from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. An estimated 5,000 or more military children have lost a parent to combat and more have come home and taken their own lives after their service or while still active in the service.

The Pentagon reported that, since the advent of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through March 2008, there have been over 78,000 American men and women wounded, injured, and ill from the wars. In addition, over 320,000 vets experienced traumatic brain injury while deployed in these wars. These vets were hospitalized for a brief period and then sent home to recuperate. The burden of caring for such vets fell on their parents, spouses, and other family members. An additional 200,000 became homeless because of mental and physical injuries from the wars. 

In 2014, the latest year available, more than 7400 veterans took their own lives, accounting for 18 percent of all suicides in America. Veterans make up less than 9 percent of the U.S. population. 

We have helped many of our military veterans and their dependents over the past 10 years and are amazed that so many others in the civilian sector have never heard of the 22 a day epidemic our veterans have succumbed to. The suicide rate amongst our veterans affect the very core of the family and the direct pain inflicted on their children is so devastating often leaving their children with feelings of guilt, shame and their own PTSD. PTSD and TBI are hidden wounds, silent to some, but very apparent to the veteran and his or her loved ones. 

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. 

Please remember all who have served and lost their lives and the many others who have returned home and fight through endless months and sometimes years of paperwork and VA appointments. Many of our veterans end up homeless waiting for benefits they and their family deserve and then so many others take their own lives after their return home.

Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in increased numbers of veterans with Traumatic Brain in Injuries (TBI). The Department of Defense and the Defense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center estimated that 22% of all combat casualties from these conflicts are brain injuries. Sixty to eight percent of soldiers who have other blast injuries may also have TBI. You can learn more about TBI and PTSD in search engines or visit 

Clarification of purpose: We are a non-partisan organization. Politics aside, whether you are a Republican,
Democrat or Independent; whether you were for or against these wars, our organization wishes to provide
emotional and financial support to these deserving families. We believe that you do not have to take “sides” to help
in this worthy cause.
We are committed to helping provide emotional, educational and financial support to our military and their families
and are so very grateful for the support of the public. We truly appreciate your support and interest in learning
more about our mission; please feel free to contact us. 
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CHILDREN OF FALLEN SOLDIERS RELIEF FUND, INC.
FEIN: 20-4526203
P.O. BOX 1099
TEMPLE HILLS, MD 20757
(301) 685-3421
(866) 96-CFSRF (23773)