USS Midway Establishes Foundation Awards $210,000 to Local Organizations

November 7, 2011

Twelve years ago, the USS Midway began its final “deployment” as a museum. Today, it’s the sixth most popular museum of any type in America, according to Tripdadvisor. That success has spawned a new organization, the USS Midway Foundation.
Later this month, the Foundation will award its first charitable grants totaling $210,000 to support ten local initiatives operated by support organizations serving veteran, law enforcement and active-duty family needs. The Midway Foundation, formed to support the Midway Museum’s vision of becoming America’s living symbol of freedom, focuses on organizations that serve those who have historically protected and currently protect America’s freedoms.
“Freedom isn’t free, and the Midway Foundation is here to help ensure that those who protect our liberties receive the support they need,” said Malin Burnham, Midway Foundation Board Chairman.

Approximately $130,000 will support active-duty family service organizations for child care, day camp services for the needy, liaison services to community resources, transition programs, family financial crisis support, and for a program that enables active-duty personnel stationed overseas to read books to family members back home.
Several veterans’ organizations will receive a total of $50,000 for childcare and healthcare services for homeless veterans.
An additional $30,000 will be awarded to provide mass-casualty trauma kits in San Diego police vehicles deployed throughout city’s sprawling geography.

“Police officers often put themselves in harm’s way to keep the community safe, and in these uncertain times, we all know that danger could be extreme,” said Sara Napoli, President and CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation. “The funding of these mass trauma kits means that not only are our officers better equipped to save community members in the event of a crisis here in San Diego, but also officers’ lives may be saved. Bottom line: San Diego is safer because of the Midway Foundation’s support.”
The grants range from $10,000 to $30,000. In addition to the San Diego Police Foundation, recipient agencies include the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton, Interfaith Community Services, Reboot, Support the Enlisted Project (STEP), United Through Reading, USO San Diego, Zero8Hundred, and Veterans Village San Diego.
“With emergency financial assistance being STEP’s primary focus, this grant strengthens our ability to assist young military families move out of a financial crisis and as they develop budgeting and self-sufficiency skills,” said Tony Teravainen, STEP’s President and co-founder.

“This is a highly impactful way that the Midway Museum, as a non-profit, can give back to the community and we are already planning for the 2017 competitive grant process next fall,” added Daniel Beintema, Midway Foundation President.
Burnham has a grand vision for the new foundation. “We see grant awards increasing in the future. We will continue to identify the best organizations supporting our vision. In 2017, we will match contributions made by others to the Midway Foundation, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000. This will double the impact for these kinds of organizations that serve as pillars of freedom in our community.”