Operation Homefront is Accepting Nominations for Military Child of the Year

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency financial and other assistance to military families, has announced that nominations for the Military Child of the Year Awards are being accepted online at MilitaryChildOfTheYear.org through December 15, 2012.  Winners will be recognized in April 2013.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110623/DC25541LOGO)

The Military Child of the Year Award recognizes children who stand out among their peers. Ideal candidates for the award demonstrate resilience, strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life. These young heroes embody leadership within their families and communities.

This award is presented to an outstanding child from each branch of service – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.  The winners each receive $5,000 and a laptop, and are flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for a special recognition ceremony on April 11.  In previous years, recipients have had the honor of meeting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, and First Lady Michelle Obama, who were guest speakers for the event awards ceremonies.

"With so much uncertainty living in a military family, from constantly having to move to knowing that a parent is fighting for our country, it is amazing to see how strong these young people are to excel in the face of these challenges," said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront. "It's not just the military members who serve, but their families as well.  We think these young patriots deserve to be honored for their sacrifice and their leadership."

For more information on how to nominate a child in your community, to become a sponsor, or to see photos from past events, please log on to MilitaryChildOfTheYear.org. 

About Operation Homefront:  A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence covering 41 states, and has met more than 590,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to assist service members.  For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

SOURCE Operation Homefront