By design and intent, McCormick Grants are requested, approved and awarded through streamlined procedures to deliver the emergency funds in a timely manner. The Foundation Board of Trustees reviews all awards annually and revises procedures as necessary.

Through the generosity of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the 1st Infantry Division Foundation has been able to make the following McCormick Grants in 2007.

McCormick Grants in 2008

March 12, 2008
A grant of $1,500 was given to SFC & Mrs. Meveran Banks, 1st Signal Co., 1st Sustainment Brigade, Fort Riley. This grant helped with funeral expenses for their 22-year-old daughter who died unexpectedly while SFC Banks was deployed to Iraq.

September 9, 2008
This grant of $513.49 was awarded to the family of SGT James Young, B Co., 2-2 Infantry. While SGT Young was deployed to Iraq, his wife became critically ill and was hospitalized. The Youngs have several under-age children who were then under a neighbor’s care. The grant paid for the airfare of Mrs. Young’s sister to travel from Missouri to Fort Hood to care for the children.

December 3, 2008
A grant of $300 was authorized for a benefit to help Chris Morris, a former Big Red One soldier who had served with the Division in Iraq and who is now suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

McCormick Grants in 2007

April 12, 2007
The vehicle of SFC Stone, a medic with the 1 st Engineer Battalion, was hit by an IED in March 2007. SFC Stone was launched into the air – on landing his pelvis was broken and he had no feeling below the waist. He was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center because it is better equipped to deal with spinal cord injuries. SFC Stone's wife and two children were flown to BAMC and were his “medical attendees.” A grant of $2,000 was provided to the Stone family to help pay for the cost of a rental car and school supplies for the home-schooled children.

April 27, 2007
A grant of $4,169 was given to the father and sister of SPC Ross McDonald (9th Engineer Battalion) who was killed in Iraq on March 25. The grant paid the airfare from Minnesota to Schweinfurt, Germany so that the family members could attend the Memorial Service held for SPC McDonald.

May 24, 2007
Captain McCallum, an MTT member, suffered a badly fractured leg from an injury in Iraq. A grant of $1,265 was given to his wife so that she would be able to be with her husband to help him get over his initial shock. Mrs. McCallum's place of residence was considered to be too close to Walter Reed Medical Center for the Army to put her on orders. This grant paid for hotel room costs for seven days at a hotel in the area of Walter Reed so that Mrs. McCallum could avoid the hour and a half commute each way.

June 19, 2007
SGT Juan F. Campos, a member of 1-26 Infantry, passed away on June 1, 2007 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio due to injuries suffered in Iraq. A grant of $1,850 was made to help pay for hotel rooms and rental car for family members so that they could attend SGT Castro's funeral.

August 21, 2007
A grant of $825 was provided on behalf of PFC Angel Gomez, 1-28 Infantry an amputee due to wounds suffered in Iraq. PFC Gomez was the sole support of his mother, grandmother and two minor sisters. This grant paid for the shipment of his vehicle from New York to San Antonio so that the family would be able to relocate to Texas.

November 7, 2007
SGT James Ford, 70th Engineers, was hit by an IED in Afghanistan and suffered a broken leg and damage to his heels and ankles. His wife and four-year-old son flew from Fort Riley, Kansas to San Antonio, Texas to be with him during his stay at Brooke Army Medical Center. The Army would not pay the cost of airfare for the little boy, so a McCormick Grant of $184 was given to help with the expense.

November 26, 2007
A McCormick Grant of $2,000 was provided for the family of SFC David M. Beshears, an MTT member, who suffered severe head injuries in Afghanistan on October 12. He was a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but in late November was transferred to the VA Brain Center in Palo Alto, California since he was still not conscious. Mrs. Beshears and her two children flew to California to be with him. The Fisher House at the Palo Alto VA would not have space for the family until December 23. This grant helped pay for lodging expenses at a Holiday Inn Express until space became available at the Fisher House.

November 27, 2007
The mother of CPL Joshua Phillippus, 1-4 Cav, who is his “medical attendee” at Walter Reed Medical Center, lost her job of twenty years because of the time she was spending with her son to help with his care. This loss of income made her financial situation extremely difficult and she was unable to pay her monthly bills. A grant of $1,700 was given to her to help with her expenses.

December 11 , 2007
SGT Omar Avila, 1-26 Infantry, was seriously wounded in combat, having been severely burned and with both legs broken. He had been a patient at Brooke Army Medical Center for several months. The Foundation received a request for $4,700 to help pay for materials needed to build an addition to his home. Other organizations in Brownsville, Texas also contributed and the addition was ready when SGT Avila was discharged from BAMC in late December.

The 1st Infantry Division Foundation is deeply grateful to the McCormick Tribune Foundation. In 2008, we were able to provide a total of $2,313 in emergency grants to our Big Red One soldiers and their families.