WASHINGTON — Beer maker Anheuser-Busch has donated $1 million to create the Intrepid/Anheuser-Busch Fallen Heroes Fund, which will provide scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military and coalition personnel who have died as a result of the war in Iraq.
The Intrepid Museum Foundation contracts with a scholarship manager, who will contact families, said Fisher House spokesman Jim Weiskopf.
Foundation president Bill White said notification will take a few weeks.
“We’ll have a plan finalized [in a few weeks] and get notification out to those who left behind spouses and children, as defined by [U.S. Central Command].
“We estimate that 65 [percent] to 70 percent of those killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom will be notified,” White said.
The scholarships also will be provided to families of coalition members, all British, who lost a loved one in the region.
The foundation operates the Intrepid Family Support Fund that provides financial assistance for the families of U.S. military personnel lost in the line of duty; the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum in New York, a U.S. Armed Forces memorial, educational and charitable institution; and Fleet Week, an annual celebration honoring the men and women of the U.S. military.
The Intrepid Museum Foundation was established in 1982 by Zachary Fisher. It has provided more than $15 million to families of military personnel lost in the line of duty.
The group’s sister organization, the Fisher House Foundation, provides comfort homes at major military and Department of Veteran Affairs’ medical centers to house the families of hospitalized military personnel and veterans.
In addition to the scholarships, the museum will announce this week $10,000 cash grants to the same group — the spouse or dependents of anyone killed in OIF.
Anheuser-Busch also recently announced Operation Salute to thank servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices in the war.
The program includes free single-day admission to its SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place parks to active duty military, active reservists, U.S. Coast Guard, National Guardsmen and coalition forces and up to four of their direct dependents. The program began the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and concludes Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
To make a donation to the Fallen Heroes Fund, send a check to: Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Pier 86, 12th Ave. & 46th Street, New York, NY 10036. (Put "Fallen Heroes" in the "for" block on your check.) For more information:http://www.lastwishfoundation.org/
