How you can bring hope to the children of fallen and disabled service members

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm

It’s a moment never forgotten by the family of the fallen. The crisp snap of the flag cuts through the air, piercing the solemn moment when a family says goodbye to a loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice so others may live in freedom. Just prior to presenting that flag to the family, with precision and reverence, it is folded 13 times. It is, without question, the heaviest 2.3 pounds anyone will ever hold.

It is these folds from which the 501(3)(c) Folds of Honor (FOH) derives its name. With a mission to ensure their sacrifices are honored and never forgotten, Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled service members and first responders.

Don Fricke, a dedicated board member with the Eastern North Carolina chapter of Folds of Honor, said, “This one mission reflects the organization’s commitment to honoring the sacrifice by these heroes by helping to educate their families and provide them with hope for the future.”

Fricke noted that the motivation for his involvement is rooted firmly in gratitude. “Roughly 1% of this country suits up every day and is willing to defend us and pay the ultimate sacrifice for the other 99%, reminding us all that freedom isn’t free. We show our sincere appreciation with our motto: Honor Their Sacrifice, Educate Their Legacy.”

A national organization founded in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 62,000 scholarships to families of fallen and disabled military and first responders. The Eastern North Carolina chapter, founded in 2019, has awarded more than 3,300 scholarships worth over $15 million to local recipients.

But, as Fricke noted, there is still work to be done. He said, “The need is great. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Folds of Honor received nearly 18,000 qualified applicants and was able to provide almost 10,000 scholarships to recipients, almost 900 of which were right here in North Carolina. While a significant accomplishment, this highlights the ongoing critical need to increase funding to cover all qualified applicants.”

In fact North Carolina residents received the second most amount of scholarships of any state. Likewise though, North Carolina had the second highest number of unfunded applicants.

With more than 1,000,000 active-duty and reserve military members in the state, supporting Folds of Honor is one way to show both that pride and appreciation. Additionally, Folds of Honor recently expanded its mission to ensure that the families of first responders, including police, fire-fighters, EMTs and paramedics are included as well.

In recent times especially, with natural disasters causing first responders to put their lives on the line for others, this effort makes an incredible impact locally. It is that North Carolina connection, in particular, that compels businesses like Whitley Law Firm to contribute and to share the story of the amazing work FOH is doing in our community.

“The Whitley Law Firm believes in giving each of our clients 100% of our dedication and time to ensure they receive the best results for themselves and their family,” says Ben Whitley. “In North Carolina in particular, veterans are a large part of our community, and we believe in honoring those who’ve served by providing opportunities, support, and appreciation—because they have given their best for us, and it's our duty to give our best in return."

Fricke noted that continuing to share the story is vital to the Folds of Honor mission. He encourages people to get engaged with the local chapter on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. He also encourages anyone reading to pause for a moment and make a direct donation to the cause at Folds of Honor Eastern NC. He assures that supporters can be confident in where their money is going.

“Folds of Honor is proud that 91 percent of annual expenses support our scholarship program,” Fricke said. The organization has been consistently a highest-rated, highest-performing non-profit as evidenced by a Candid Platinum Transparent Seal and a 4/4 Charity Navigator ranking.

In addition to direct donations and following Folds of Honor on social media, people can support the mission by purchasing official Folds of Honor merchandise at the easternnc.foldsofhonor.org/ site.

When trying to fill the need of every qualified applicant, Fricke said that no sign of support is too small and he encourages everyone to get involved at the level they can. Most of all, he noted if people could remember just one thing after reading this article, he said he hopes people remember one simple, yet fundamental truth: “Freedom isn’t free.”

This article was written for our sponsor, Whitley Law Firm