Yellow Ribbons United Celebrates Military Kids In Tysons

From Yellow Ribbons United: Yellow Ribbons United, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the relationship between civilian and military kids, kicked off its first Kid2Kid birthday party at American Girls in Tysons, VA on Sunday, November 12th. This party is part of Yellow Ribbons United’s newest program: Kid2Kid Civilian Military Kid Appreciation challenge.

80 kids, approximately 15 civilian and 65 military kids with parents stationed at military installations in the Northern Virginia area, including Ft. Belvoir, MCCS Quantico, USCG Tiscom, and the Pentagon, attended the birthday celebration and were treated to an unforgettable birthday breakfast at American Girl, complete with crowns, crafting experiences, cookie decorating, birthday cake, and American Girl goodie bags. This inaugural party marked the beginning of Yellow Ribbons United ongoing birthday project which encourages civilian kids to use their birthday as an opportunity to celebrate their military peers. Yellow Ribbons United believes if civilian parents encourage small acts of gratitude early on for the sacrifice military families make, that gratitude will follow a child throughout his or her life. For the Kid2Kid birthday challenge, this can be anything from giving gifts away to a military family to repurposing a birthday party as an opportunity to celebrate a military child who may need a little extra attention.

“Military families make huge sacrifices for our country and civilians acknowledging their sacrifices by showing appreciation for their service can make all the difference,” said Emma Dockery, founder of Yellow Ribbons United. “Yellow Ribbons United created Kid2Kid, a project that promotes a simple two-step appreciation challenge among civilian children by connecting them to military children through thoughtful acts of kindness, to do just that. Our goal is to inspire civilian kids throughout the U.S. to show their military friends they appreciate their sacrifice.”

The Kid2Kid Civilian Military Kid Appreciation Challenge was inspired by Kerry Brophy and her daughters Kellen and Bellamy. While watching a military homecoming, Kellen and Bellamy wanted to know what was happening. Kerry, a former military child herself, explained. The children were so touched, they wanted to do something for military families. The girls had a combined birthday party and donated the proceeds to Yellow Ribbons United. Yellow Ribbons United hopes civilian kids across the country will be inspired to do something to show military kids their appreciation.

“We wanted to help kids who don’t get to see their mommies and daddies all the time,” said seven-year-old Bellamy Brophy.

To learn more about Yellow Ribbons United or Kid2Kid, visit www.yellowribbonsunited.org to download photos from the event, please visit YRU and American Girl Fall Birthday Photos and credit Joy Asico.

Image Courtesy of YRU