The Hartwell Foundation: Supporting TAPS Kids

The Hartwell Foundation began a search to find the charity doing the best work for military families, and especially for children who have lost a loved one who served in our country’s military. 

The foundation embarked on a 12-month listening and learning tour. They met with countless organizations, asked probing questions, and checked financial records. The Board had one recommendation – the Hartwell Foundation should support the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. The Hartwell Foundation saw the incredible support, care, and comfort TAPS provides all those grieving a military loss, but it was the Good Grief Camps that really aligned with Hartwell’s mission to invest in projects that “directly benefit the health and well-being of children of the United States.” 

Every child that has attended a TAPS Good Grief Camp or Camp Out has benefited from the incredible gifts that, since 2012, amount to over $3.5 million from The Hartwell Foundation. 

In addition to monetary support, TAPS also benefits from their involvement in our programs. They provide sound advice and look for other opportunities for TAPS engagement and outreach. This includes the creative spark and subsequent funding for two public service advertisements which are bringing awareness and contributions to TAPS and connecting us with new survivors. 

"We are so grateful to our partnership with The Hartwell Foundation, said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS Founder and President, "They are providing a safe space for our TAPS children to have fun,share their stories of love and loss;learn ways to cope with their grief, and find healing in their shared experiences.  Thank you for partnering with us on the life-saving mission to care for the children of our military heroes." 

The Hartwell Foundation also provides emergency support through the TAPS Hartwell Economic Fund for Children. Working through our Casework Team, they help the children of military survivors with desperate financial needs. Very often, they are helping to keep the electricity turned on or allowing the family to stay in their home by providing these short-term grants. 

The Hartwell Foundation was founded in 1997 with the serious mission of helping children. The Hartwell Foundation’s founder built SASCO, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary as one of the leading commercial electrical, data and systems contractors in the United States. He takes a very paternal interest in our TAPS children and is keenly involved in making certain TAPS has the resources needed to provide best-in-practice programming to support the children of our military heroes. 

TAPS is grateful to the Hartwell Foundation for partnering with us to provide care and resources for our youngest military survivors.