In this issue: Description of NGS BootCamp and Invitation to NGS's 2026 Freedom Award Reception on June 25th; Partner Spotlight on Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund who granted $1 million to NGS; Family Spotlight on the King family; Partner Spotlight on UBS Manhattan Market for raising over $231 thousand for our mission; Announcement of NGS Scholarship application window opening, and Charity Tip of the Month.
February 2026 Edition
This edition of the NGS Insider marks one year of sharing the stories, outcomes, and impact made possible by the No Greater Sacrifice (NGS) community. Over the past year, we’ve highlighted what makes our model different — and our Freedom's Future Impact and Donor Report (https://nogreatersacrifice.org/about/financial-information/freedoms-future-impact-donor-report) puts data behind those stories, showing how intentional programming leads to real, measurable results for the children of fallen and severely wounded Service members.
One of the clearest examples of that impact is NGS BootCamp.
BootCamp brings our Scholars together for a transformative college-prep experience. From June 24–27, 2026, Scholars will gather for an immersive program designed to build confidence, resilience, leadership, and community — equipping them to navigate college and step boldly into their futures.
BootCamp will include our Freedom Award Reception, an evening honoring service, sacrifice, and the partners who make this impact possible. We invite you to be part of this moment by sponsoring NGS 2026 BootCamp.
https://nogreatersacrifice.org/event/2026-freedom-award-reception
BootCamp and Freedom Award Reception sponsorship provides:
✅ Impact: Directly supports the children of fallen and severely wounded Service members
✅ Recognition: Prominent logo placement and acknowledgment across NGS channels and events
✅ VIP Access: Exclusive access to the Freedom Award Reception
We invite you to explore our BootCamp sponsorship levels (https://nogreatersacrifice.org/event/2026-freedom-award-reception) and join us in advancing the outcomes highlighted in our Impact Report. Learn how you can help shape the future of these remarkable Scholars and join us for the NGS Freedom Award Reception (https://nogreatersacrifice.org/event/2026-freedom-award-reception) .
For more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at events (mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ;body=I%20would%20like%20to%20support%20military%20familes%20and%20need%20more%20information%20about%20sponsorship%20opportunities%20and%20the%20Freedom%20Reception.) @nogreatersacrifice.org (mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) .
Exciting News: NGS Receives Generous Grant from Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund
Pictured from left to right: Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund CEO Meghan Moretti, NGS Executive Director Rebekah Lovorn
NGS is honored to announce we have received a generous $1 million grant from Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund remains one of our most impactful partners, and their continued commitment allows us to expand our capacity to provide educational scholarships and individualized support to these deserving students.
“We are so grateful for the generous support of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund,” says NGS Executive Director Rebekah Lovorn. “The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund grant will have a direct impact on the children and families who we serve and will help us provide them with educational opportunities and resources which will empower them to succeed."
Since 2014, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has awarded over $38 million in scholarships to veterans and military family members, funding 8,000 Johnny Mac Scholars to date.
To learn more about Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, click
here (mailto:https://johnnymac.org/) .
Family Spotlight: The Kings
Pictured from left to right: NGS Scholar Amari King, MSG Cedric King, USA (Ret.),
NGS Scholar Khamya King
We are honored to recognize and celebrate Retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Cedric King and his family, and to welcome them into the No Greater Sacrifice program.
Cedric enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1995, graduated from Ranger School, and served multiple combat deployments before being critically wounded by an IED in Afghanistan in 2012, losing both legs and sustaining severe injuries to his right hand. His recovery and continued accomplishments—multiple New York City and Boston Marathons, a 70.3 Ironman finish, mountain summits, and the authorship of The Making Point—reflect extraordinary resilience and leadership.
But this family’s strength is not the story of one individual overcoming adversity. It is the story of a marriage, a partnership, and a woman whose commitment has been just as courageous.
Cedric’s wife has carried the weight of uncertainty, long recoveries, reinvention, and the daily leadership required to hold a family steady through profound change. Her love has not been loud; it has been consistent. Her leadership has not been public; it has been foundational. In moments when the world applauded milestones, she was sustaining the quiet work that made those milestones possible.
Her devotion to her husband and daughters—often unseen and rarely championed—has been one of the most intricate and powerful forces within this family’s journey. Strength in combat is visible. Strength at home is constant. She has embodied the latter with grace, endurance, and unwavering resolve.
It is deeply meaningful to see the entire King family honored. We are grateful to welcome Amari and Khamya into the NGS program as they pursue their education and futures—guided by a father who models resilience and a mother whose love and leadership anchor their lives.
This support is made possible through the shared commitment of partners who care for the whole family. We are thankful for the Johnny Mac Soldiers (https://johnnymac.org/) Fund and the Gary Sinise Foundation (https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/) for their meaningful support of the Kings and for partnering with No Greater Sacrifice to help Amari and Khamya thrive.
Amari shares of NGS:
"This scholarship is meaningful to me because not only will it be able for me to afford to finish my degree, but it will also enable me to continue to do great things."
Khamya shares of NGS:
"The NGS scholarship would mean a huge amount to me. It has opened doors for me I hadn’t imagined were there, especially given the financial responsibilities my family carries. This scholarship doesn’t just assist with financial support, it aids in opportunity and belief. I am deeply grateful for the doors it had opened for me and for the faith placed in my future."
MSG Cedric King, USA (Ret.) and wife, Kheida King
Thank You, UBS Manhattan Market!
Pictured from left to right: NGS Executive Director Rebekah Lovorn, NGS Scholar Kristian Engeldrum, UBS Managing Director Kellie Brady, UBS Branch Office Administrator Brianne Vita
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the UBS Manhattan Market Campaign! In 2025, you raised an incredible $231,196.00 fueling educational opportunities and making a lasting impact. NGS Scholar Kristian Engeldrum attended the campaign kick-off to share her compelling story and raise support for families like hers.
Since 2010, UBS Financial Services’ 1285 Avenue of the Americas Complex, the UBS Veterans Network, and generous donors have raised $2.58M+, helping 23 NGS Scholars pursue their dreams. We are truly grateful for your continued generosity and commitment to our mission.
Special thanks to Kellie Brady, Brianne Vita, Vaden Scott, and the UBS Manhattan Market team for making this campaign possible.
Scholarship Applications Open
The NGS 2026 Selection Process is open!
If you know a child of a fallen or severely wounded Service member who may be eligible, please encourage them to request an Eligibility Application by emailing
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) . The deadline for submission is April 1st, 2026.
Special thank you to the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, Gary Sinise Foundation, LKQ Community Foundation, Microsoft, Spookstock Foundation, UBS Manhattan Market, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, The Veterans Summit, and all of you who make these scholarship opportunities possible.
Charity Tip of the Month: A Tax-Smart Way to Give
Did you know that recent tax changes make it easier to benefit from charitable giving, whether or not you itemize deductions?
New provisions allow many taxpayers to claim an above-the-line charitable deduction, meaning your gift to a qualified nonprofit like No Greater Sacrifice may reduce your taxable income even if you take the standard deduction. In other words, your generosity can go further, for both you and the families you support.