Along with our spotlight series on our 2016 Military Child of the Year Award recipients, we also want to shine a light on our first ever recipient of the Operation Homefront-Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Award for Military Children. Via our partner Booz Allen Hamilton:
On March 21, Operation Homefront and Booz Allen announced that Elizabeth O’Brien of Aberdeen, North Carolina is the first-ever winner of the Innovation Award for Military Children.
The award recognizes the creative spirit of military children who make outstanding contributions every day that may go unnoticed because of their transient lifestyle. Booz Allen and Operation Homefront’s goal with this award is to acknowledge military children who demonstrate the power of innovative thinking by catalyzing a local, regional, or global change that will positively influence the lives of other military children through new technologies, non-profits, or community service.
In partnership with Military Missions in Action (MMIA) O’Brien, 17, designed the Military Child Access Assistance Program (MCAAP) to help provide accessibility ramps and other home modifications to military children’s homes that are not covered by Tricare. She also developed the Hike2Help 5K that raised over $7,000 and funded three accessibility ramps. Elizabeth’s family has experienced five Permanent Changes of Station and a total of 34 months of deployment. Through all of this, she has logged 1,500 volunteer hours with MMIA since age 12.
In addition to a $5,000 cash award, O’Brien will visit Booz Allen’s Innovation Center where she will collaborate with our consultants to develop a project plan and receive strategic advice to help her advance MCAAP.
The Booz Allen Innovation Award for Military Children will be presented at the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Awards Gala on April 14th in Washington, DC.
Congratulations Elizabeth!
For the next week, we will be shining a spotlight on each of our Military Child of the Year Award recipients, as well as the first ever recipient of the Operation Homefront-Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Award. Be sure to check back daily or follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates. In addition, throughout the months of April and May, we invite you to show your appreciation by sending a message of thanks and sharing #Mission2Honor with your friends and family.
