news and events
2024
Patriot Foundation attends the Fort Liberty Best Squad Luncheon and Awards
Matt Majuri, founder of Endurance Group sponsored the lunch. Matt is a Patriot Foundation Board Member. This prestigious event announces Winners of the Best Squad Competition, including Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
The most influential level of leadership is at the Squad. The Squad is where the majority of our Soldiers reside. “Squad” extends beyond a traditional infantry squad to any small-unit group of Soldiers, connected by a squad leader, who has the most direct impact on their lives. Soldiers never fight alone, the unbreakable bonds forged through shared hardship and unending support for one another are the hallmark of our most successful small units. The week-long competition assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team.

Patriot Foundation presents scholarships to JSOA recipients
BG Ferd Irizarry, USA-R, and Kim Gilley attended the 2024 Joint Special Operations Association awards ceremony. They are pictured here with guest speaker Sal Hill and his wife, Natalie.

JSOA scholarship award recipients.
Patriot Foundation presented certificates to over 40 students for the 2024-25 academic year. We are pleased to have granted over $1,500,000 through the years.

Rotary Club of Pinehurst
Patriot Foundation was invited to present to the membership. We thank the Rotary Club for their generous donation.

Liberty Ambassador Induction Ceremony
Fort Liberty Commanding General, Lieutenant General Chris Donahue of the XVIII Airborne Corps, inducted 17 new Liberty Ambassadors. Left to right are Patriot Foundation Advisory Board members CSM Steve England, USA-R, and GEN Dan McNeill, USA-R. CAPT Chuck Deleot, USN-R PF Chairman Emeritus, and Marshall Carlson (Hendrick Family Foundation Corp Partner) were all inducted. Patriot Foundation Military Advisory Board Member, LTG Bennett Sacolick USA-R attended, supporting the foundation.

CAPT Chuck Deleot and Marshall Carlson celebrate their induction into the Liberty Ambassadors. Carlson represents the Hendrick Family Foundation and Hendrick Motorsports, which has been a corporate partner for many years.

Vertex Hosts Military Appreciation Day at the 2024 US Open Men’s Championship
L-R: COL Paul Ambrose, US Army Ret; Amber Johnson-Carter, PF Scholarship Administrator; PF Founding Board Member Mike Girimont and LTC Ken Riggsbee, US Army Ret. Share a moment at the 2024 US Open. Corporate Partner Vertex (Berwyn PA) hosted military appreciation day in their hospitality suite overlooking the 18th Green of Pinehurst #2 Course.

L-R: Michele McEvoy, Vertex Event Manager; PF Founding Board Member Mike Girimont; Lauren Breeze, Vertex Dir. Corporate Marketing and Kim Gilley, PF Exec VP, enjoy Vertex Military Appreciation Day at the 2024 US Open in their hospitality suite overlooking Pinehurst #2 Course.

Patriot Foundation invited to present at the NCACVA
COL Barry Huggins, USA-R, and Amber Johnson-Carter addressed the NC Association of Coordinators of Veterans Affairs training conference in Wilmington. The NCACVA meeting is a great opportunity to interact with certifying officials for North Carolina colleges, universities, and community colleges.


2023
October, 2023
Civic Leader Day with the 82nd Airborne and Patriot Foundation
We hope this photo will bring back fond memories of a great day interacting with our soldiers. Please take a moment and donate to support their families.

May 22, 2023
JSOA Annual Scholarship Presentation
Joint Special Operations Association (JSOA) presented their Annual Scholarships to over 50 deserving students on Monday, May 22, 2023. The JSOA Program funds post-secondary scholarships for the children of disabled or fallen servicemen and women. The program is partially funded through the Patriot Foundation, who has provided scholarship assistance to military and
veteran families nationwide since 2003.
The Joint Special Operations Association is an organization designed to bring together people with the common interest of supporting Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the organizations that make up the JSOC enterprise, the unit members and their families.
In attendance to help present the scholarships were COL John Sannes, Assistant Commander JSOC, and Ron Haynes, President of JSOA. Also in attendance were Andrea Bowers, JSOA Scholarship Administrator, Patriot Foundation Chairman BG Ferd Irizarry USA (R), Foundation President Kim Gilley, Amber Johnson-Carter Patriot Foundation Scholarship Administrator, and former President MG Kurt Sonntag USA (R).

May 12, 2023
Great annual visit on May 12th with
Temple Sloan Jr
Pictured with Mr. Sloan is Chairman Emeritus CAPT Chuck Deleot USN (R), NC House Rep Dean Arp and Tom Deleot Patriot VP of Corporate Engagement. CAPT Deleot presented Mr. Sloan with our signature challenge coin in appreciation for his continued support of the Foundation. He has been a Corporate Partner for many years, and we recognize his passion for our NC military and veteran families.

April 20, 2023
LTG Chris Donahue Commanding General invited Patriot Foundation on behalf of the XVIII Airborne Corps & Fort Bragg to the Spring Civic Leader Social.
The event was held at the Taproom at Huske in Fayetteville, April 20th. Pictured with LTG Donahue (center) is current Patriot Foundation Chairman BG Ferd Irizarry USA (R), Chairman Emeritus CAPT Chuck Deleot USN (R), right of Donahue is a member of our Advisory Board CSM Steve England USA (R), and President Kim Gilley. A great evening supporting our military community.

March 21, 2023
Patriot Foundation Scholarship Administrator Amber Johnson-Carter presented an update to The North Carolina Association of Coordinators for Veterans’ Affairs at their annual training conference on March 21st
In addition to Patriot Foundation, other representatives were the NC State Approving Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs representatives from Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Winston-Salem and National Guard and Reserve Education Service Officers. The VA offices are key information providers to potential scholarship applicants. Pictured with Amber is Chairman BG Ferd Irizarry USA (R).

February 23, 2023
Great visit on February 23rd with NC House Rep Dean Arp
BG Ferd Irizarry, USA (R) presented him with our signature challenge coin in appreciation of Representative Arp’s continued support of our NC military and veteran families. Thanks to Rep Arp and other members of the NC Legislature. They continue their commitment to assuring North Carolina is a Military Friendly State.

February 8, 2023
Kim Gilley, President of Patriot Foundation met with Fox News personality Pete Hegseth.
Pete was visiting Pete’s Diner in Carthage NC in February. We thank Hegseth for his support of our military and veteran families as well as his service to our Nation. SGM Eric Turk, US Army (R) is a Patriot Foundation volunteer and had the opportunity to speak with Pete. Eric is a 2-time winner of the US Army Best Ranger Competition.

February 1, 2023
BPOE Annual Scholarship Presentation
Goldsboro Elks Lodge #139 presented Air Force Family Scholarships (AFFS) to six deserving students. The AFFS Program funds college scholarships for the children and spouses of disabled or fallen Airmen. The program is administered by the lodge and funded through a grant from the Patriot Foundation, who has provided scholarship assistance to military and veteran families nationwide since 2003.
In attendance to help present the AF Family scholarships were President / CEO of the Patriot Foundation Ms. Kim Gilley, Patriot Foundation Scholarship Administrator Ms. Amber Johnson-Carter, and 4th Fighter Wing Vice Commander Colonel Bryce Silver. The scholarship recipients are: Kiera Alysse Negron, MaKenzy Ann Schinsky, Jakob Robert Volk, Brianna Catherine Martin, Taylor F. Grotjan, and Jessica Wilson.

2022
August 27th 2022
Article in The Pilot
Patriot Foundation Scholarships Help Care for Those Left Behind
Pinehurst, NC, Aug. 5, 2022 – On Aug. 27, Patriot Foundation supporters will once again gather in person at the Soldiers Appreciation Dinner to honor the sacrifices of military families and celebrate the more than $2.2 million in scholarship funds awarded since January 2020. Top military officials, veterans, active-duty personnel, state legislators, nonprofit leaders, and corporate donors will be among the approximately 300 attendees.

August 27, 2022
Patriot Foundation to Host Soldiers Appreciation Dinner at Pinehurst Resort, Following Two-Year Pandemic Break
2022 Soldiers Appreciation Dinner photos

We are pleased to announce the
2022 Honoree SGM Matt Williams, 3rd Special Forces Group

2021 - 2020
October 17th 2021
Washington Korean Women's Society Donation Presentation

January 7, 2021
Hardee’s Operated by Franchisee Boddie-Noell Donates $84,029 to Patriot Foundation in Support of Local Military Families
