SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Planning a fundraising campaign, writing a grant request and assembling more than 100 care packages for the Warrior Transition Battalion at Schofield is no easy feat, but 13 year-old Danny Segura took the task on in his bid to earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
Danny, a student at Wahiawa Middle School, delivered and presented the care packages at the Soldier Family Assistance Center, June 1, to a crowd of thankful and proud people.
"It's an honor and a privilege to serve this battalion, and it touches my heart to have someone like Danny recognize a need and do such a wonderful thing," said Lt. Col. Stanley Garcia, commander of the Warrior Transition Battalion, or WTB. "We appreciate his contribution, which will be a great benefit to our Soldiers."
Joining Danny were his parents, Maj. Daniel and Stephanie Segura, fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 24, and a room filled with the battalion's Soldiers, leaders and supporters.
After identifying the needs of Soldiers arriving on island, Danny worked tirelessly during the past several months to secure donations for the care packages, which included washcloths, razors, hygiene kits, paper goods, event popcorn and instant meals.
He planned and led a daylong fundraising campaign with his fellow Scouts at Walmart, which resulted in hundreds of product donations and more than $1,400 in cash contributions.
Costco gift cards were purchased with the monetary donations that will be used by the WTB.
"The hardest part of the program was planning the fundraiser at Walmart," said Segura, who coordinated the effort with the store manager, and then sought help from and organized other scouts to spend an entire day asking shoppers to support the cause.
Another boost to his project was a $4,000 grant from Island Palm Communities' Army Hawaii Housing Foundation to purchase Webcams for the battalion.
"We have a geographic challenge with many of our Soldiers who are separated from their families, so now having Webcams available can help them keep in touch with loved ones," said Garcia.
Army Hawaii Housing Foundation board members Vicki Olsen, executive director, Hawaii Army Museum, and Dick Hawes, executive general manager, Lend Lease, also attended the presentation, which marked the very first grant awarded by the newly established foundation. "This was such a great project for our foundation to support," said Olsen. "Danny did a lot of research and answered several questions by our board before receiving the grant, so we really commend him for his effort to take on a project that will continue to benefit our Soldiers."
The WTB provides personal support to wounded Soldiers who require at least six months of rehabilitative care and complex medical management. It is unlike any other brigade in the Army; the unit is focused only on healing wounded Soldiers.
The WTB is a unique composition of multiple components, consisting of active duty, Reserve and National Guard members and Department of the Army civilians.
Schofield Barracks has roughly 180 Soldiers assigned to the WTB.
Army Hawaii Housing Foundation
The Army Hawaii Housing Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established by an Island Palm Communities partnership. The foundation seeks to enhance the living, learning and well-being experiences of military families through the funding of projects that will enhance their quality of life.
Social Sharing