Memorial Day 2023 Celebrations
SCMFO was honored to participate in the Memorial Day event hosted by the City of San Clemente by providing a wreath for display as part of the ceremony. Later that afternoon, SCMFO moved the wreath to Park Semper Fi where an additional ceremony took place celebrating our military heroes who have served our country.
April 14 - San Onofre ("SANO") School - Leadership Day
There are approximately 550 students at SANO ranging from TK thru 8th Grade, 35 teachers and 30 aides/playground supervisors (mainly military spouses). The Leadership Day focused on their “7 Habits Leader in Me” program fostered in every classroom and throughout the school. The day included a Flag Ceremony with the Marine Corp Color Guard followed by awesome performances by the 2nd graders and the Marine Corp Band. The remainder of the day included speakers from the base (including Commanding General, MCIWest - MCB Camp Pendleton Brigadier General Jason G. Woodworth), other student performances, students speaking on leadership and classroom tours - so visitors could see student leadership in action.
April 18 - SCMFO Selected to Receive 17 Bikes for Military Kids
SCMFO was selected as a non-profit serving military families to receive 17 bikes for military kids, as part of a Team-Building event at the Montage Resort in Laguna for employees of the UNUM Corporation headquartered in San Diego. In addition to the bikes, UNUM provided helmets, locks, and bike reflector lights for each military child. The bikes were distributed at the party noted below
April 21 - SCMFO Receives 25 Gift Bags from Lion's Heart Youth Group
The Lion’s Heart Youth Group of Ladera Ranch is a chapter of the national organization that helps teens improve the world through volunteering. About 15 boys from the group assembled the gift bags with donated goodies (gift cards to restaurants teens like - along with a nice supply of treats) and 4 attended the celebration (below) in order to meet the teens who received the gift bags. SCMFO dropped $10 McDonald's gift cards into the bags too!
April 23 - SCMFO Participation on Base for a Celebration of Military Children
SCMFO participated in the Month of the Military Child Party hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary Newport Harbor Post 291. There were 60 military kids and their families in attendance. Excitement during the day included: Moms & Dads helping their child pick out their new bike, families enjoying games and eating cotton candy (among many other kiddy delectables). Many Happy Families enjoyed time together and had a really GREAT day together!
For more pictures about the Month of the Military Child, please check out the Google Photo Album.
We had so much fun with the Moms-To-Be this year at the drive-in Baby Shower where SCMFO helped 48 expectant military moms (and sometime dads too) prepare for the arrival of their newborns. Each family received a quilt-wrapped layette containing diapers, wipes, formula, blankets, onesies, outfits & PJs, hats, socks, bibs, towels, books and more; a large items like a stroller or car seat; a $25 Target gift card; bottles, stuffed animals--even toys for the "big" brothers and sisters who accompanied their moms & dads to the shower. Nearly everything was donated by hundreds of amazing individuals from seven Churches from the surrounding community, the Reata Glen Retirement Community, two American Legion posts, the Surfside Quilters Guild, Hoag Hospital and many others!
It truly took a village (40+ people) preparing for and staffing the Baby Shower event. "The outpouring of love for our young and growing military families is truly heartwarming," said Judy Franz, chair of the Baby Shower. "We are so thankful to all our donors and volunteers. You made it happen!"
The event was held outside SCMFO's office using the parking lot of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea church.
"This [shower] means the world to us when our families are so far away."-- Abigail L.
"Due to upcoming deployment, we will not be able to have a "traditional" baby shower. I can't say thank you enough." -- The James Family
"Thank you for your kind donations and thoughtfulness. I along with so many others are so appreciative for everything you guys do." -- Kayla S.
Local News Segment - ABC 7 Salutes - Reports on the Baby Shower
For more pictures from the Baby Shower, please check out the Google Photo Album.
SCMFO works with members of our local community in South Orange Country who would like to be a Sponsor in this Thank-A-Family Event. SCMFO matches a Sponsor to a Family - usually a lower ranking military family on base at Camp Pendleton that we have previously provided emergency assistance or one referred to our office by our on base liaison. This year there were 24 Sponsors, with 28 families and 60 children.
Sponsors enhanced each Family’s Christmas experience by reaching out and determining their needs and wants – items such as Gift Cards, Toys, Clothes and Food - then met with them to deliver the gifts!
In November, like every year for the past 10 years, SCMFO helped Military Families celebrate Thanksgiving Day! We served over 900 families and approximately 10 units (lot's of hungry dudes)! SCMFO has earned the reputation of being best in class by providing over 1,000 Turkeys with all the fixings to both families and these units on base at Camp Pendleton. This year we had over 100 Volunteers from SCMFO, the community, San Onofre School and active duty personnel - who all helped make this event happen.
This week long series of event began with an On-Line Auction of 56 Items ranging from Angels Tickets to Dining Gift Cards, Movie Theatre Night to E-bikes and the coveted Cottage at Crystal Cove!
As the bidding for auction items progressed during the week, so did the ticket sales to the Annual Salute Dinner at El Adobe! It was a very exciting time for both the bidders and the diners!
In attendance at the event were 7 Military Couples, 3 Star Volunteer Award Winners and 120 Board Members / Volunteers / and Guests. The evening consisted of a silent auction, the cocktail hour, featured entertainment, a wonderful meal, acknowledgments of our Heroes present and excellent conversations around the room.
The results from the events were pretty incredible this year as we raised a bit over $27,000 (after costs). The following pictures are just some of the evening’s guests, please see our Photo Gallery.
We would also like to recognize some of the following individuals / businesses who made both the Auction and the Dinner a complete success:
Large Item Donors for the On-line Auction:
4 Star General and Colonel Level Salute Sponsors:
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, August 13 & 14, 2022 - SCMFO participated in the Annual Back-to-School Event for the students at San Onofre School. We distributed gift cards and pencil kits as parents and children drove through the parking lot at the Camp Pendleton Commissary. Assistance Leagues located in Orange and San Diego counties organize this activity annually, and they graciously allow SCMFO to join their comprehensive Back to School event.
SCMFO gave away 200 $25 gift cards to each family and 375 pencil kits to each child. The parents were delighted to get the gift cards, along with refrigerator magnets so they could get in touch with us if they need help. It was especially joyful to give the kids the pencil kits and see their happy faces. Numerous “Thanks You’s” were exchanged - from the parents and children and from our volunteers in gratitude for their service.
Forty guests—moms, dads and kids—felt the “aloha spirit” at SCMFO’s second Luau on the Lawn at St. Andrew’s by the Sea, UMC. They enjoyed lunch, goodie bags, beach related gifts, games and piñatas filled with small toys & candy. For the ladies a little pampering and an amazing array of cosmetics and lotions to select from. But best of all and the highlight of the afternoon was the a great hula show performed by talented young dancers from the Polynesian Entertainment Group! Each adult also received a beach chair, an umbrella or a beach mat, a fresh pineapple and a $25 Commissary Card.
This Luau is one of our organization’s “morale” events to thank enlisted families, E6 and below, for their service and sacrifice. Several dads came for the first time this year primarily because they are deploying soon and wanted to share a special time with their daughters.
Mahalo to our big group of volunteers who helped make the event a success!
During San Clemente’s Memorial Day Observance, SCMFO presented a floral arrangement in honor of military members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in war.
Our floral arrangement was then taken to the Park Semper where a plaque was dedicated to the 13 military personnel who lost their lives in August 2021 during the Kabul Airport evacuation, including 9 Marines and a Navy Corpsman from Camp Pendleton.
