Ep. 40 Transforming Lives Through Educational Aid: A Conversation with Kelli Campbell-Goodnow from Heart of America Patriot Foundation

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery. In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Kelli Campbell-Goodnow, Executive Director of Heart of America Patriot Foundation, discuss her personal journey through navigating the benefits available to military children, the education benefits for military families provided by the organization, and the impact education can have on the wellbeing of military families. “Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. Ep. 40 – Transforming Lives Through Educational Aid: A Conversation with Kelli Campbell-Goodnow from Heart of America Patriot Foundation This episode takes a deep dive into the topic of Heart of America Patriot Foundation Scholarships with guest Kelli Campbell-Goodnow. Kelli serves as the Executive Director of the Heart of America Patriot Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to providing scholarships to the spouses and children of 100% disabled and deceased service members. Kelli’s own journey has been a powerful driving force behind her work. After losing her husband, a Marine, in a tragic helicopter collision, Kelli faced the daunting task of starting a new life. She highlights how educational scholarships were pivotal in helping her family navigate their loss and change, as they enabled her children to attend school in Kansas City. Education Benefits for Military Families Kelli then talks about the various education benefits available to military families and the mission of the foundation to provide scholarships for the dependents of disabled veterans. She details the Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) program, the Fry Scholarship, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, explaining how these programs are designed to help the families of military personnel further their education. However, she acknowledges that these programs often fall short in covering the full cost of education. She highlights the financial struggles many military families face when trying to pursue higher education, indicating the need for additional support and assistance. Kelli shares her own experiences navigating these programs, giving listeners an intimate look at the challenges and intricacies involved. She also discusses her advocacy work for military families and her plans to reform the Chapter 35 benefit. Education's Impact on Family Well-Being Kelli then discusses the profound impact education has on the well-being of military families. She shares how the foundation has been providing scholarships for the families of disabled or deceased veterans, and the transformative effect this has had on their lives. She describes how the foundation works in partnership with schools to provide scholarships to those with high financial need, doubling donor. This unique approach not only provides significant financial assistance to deserving families but also encourages more people to donate, knowing their contribution will have double the impact. Additionally, the foundation gives autonomy to the schools in administering the award process. Kelli explains that this approach fosters a community-oriented model of support where the schools become active participants in the process, ensuring the funds are used effectively and responsibly. The discussion then delves into the tangible impact education has on the well-being of these military families. Education provides a lifeline, helping these families build resilience and open up new opportunities. Expanding Volunteer Opportunities and Scholarships Kelli talks about expanding volunteer opportunities and scholarships for military families. As the Executive Director of the Heart of America Patriot Foundation, Kelli discusses how they are forming an intern program in partnership with their school affiliates. This program aims to provide students, not just Heart of America scholarship recipients, but any student, with valuable internship experience. These students would have the chance to work with the foundation, gaining invaluable practical skills and experience in fields such as non-profit operations, marketing, and data analysis. By establishing this program, the foundation can leverage the academic and professional resources of their partner schools, while offering students an opportunity to gain real-world experience and contribute to a cause they care about. Kelli also talks about the expansion of scholarships for military families. The foundation is continuously partnering with more schools, which results in a growing number of scholarships available. The foundation's model of matching donations means that as they grow and receive more donations, the impact on students is doubled. The more funds they raise, the more students they can support. Kelli then shares the story of a student in Missouri who was able to continue her education because of a scholarship from the foundation. She also talks about a mother and daughter who were able to attend Johnson County Community College together, thanks to the scholarships. Another heartwarming story Kelli shares is of a grandmother who was able to pursue her dream of opening a business by going back to school with the help of the foundation's scholarship. These stories underscore the foundation's impact and the life-changing power of education. Kelli stresses the importance of providing support to veterans and their families, who often face unique challenges due to their service. She passionately advocates for education as a crucial tool for these families to build new lives after service or loss. The foundation's expansion efforts aim to make these opportunities available to more veterans and their families. Military MinuteJodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.●     Last episode’s Military Minute: What are the first names of the founders of Johnson & Wales University?●     Answer: Gertrude and Mary●     This week’s Military Minute question: How many partner schools currently support the Heart of America Patriot Foundation?●     Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.●     Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.●     John Broda also pledged a matching donation to the charity and the winner of this week’s Military Minute.●     After a winning selection, Military Minute participants are eligible for another selection after 12 months. Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two. Visit www.afbank.com