Thanks: We Really Mean It

Thank you. Seriously. Thank you.

It would be impossible to overstate the importance of each person’s role in our effort to Make It Count for our veterans. Volunteers, sponsors, donors, supporters, cheerleaders, families, and friends: Everyone counts. And “thanks” just doesn’t seem enough—for good reason. Beneficiaries of our 2013 Make It Count 5K received $35,000 in donations!

Here is what your generosity accomplished in 2013:

· $12,000 to the Johnson County Community College Foundation to provide 24 book scholarships to student veterans. This is a partnership we began last year and are pleased to be partnering again with this great institution as they continue to help student veterans succeed. Visit www.jccc.edu/veterans/veterans-club.html
· $10,000 to Oklahoma State University Entrepreneurship Program to support 2 student veterans through the program designed to help train veterans in entrepreneurship and small business management. Visit www.entrepreneurship.okstate.edu/riata/veterans/
· $7500 to the University of Missouri-Kansas City Foundation to provide 15 book scholarships to student veterans. Inspired by our successful partnership with JCCC, we are pleased to be able to partner with another quality institution committed to helping our veterans. Visit www.umkc.edu/veterans/
· $2500 to the Fisher House Foundation, specifically to the Fisher House in Landstuhl, Germany which houses military families visiting critically or mortally wounded heroes before they come home. At a cost to families of $10 per night, your contribution will help provide 250 nights’ stays. Visit www.fisherhouse.org
· $1500 to the Institute for Health and Security of Military Families @ Kansas State University. This program serves the research, academic, outreach, and clinical service needs of today’s military family. Visit www.militaryfamilies.k-state.edu
· $1500 St. Michael’s Center for Veterans in Kansas City, committed to turning homeless veterans back into productive members of society. Visit www.kcveterans.org/ABOUT.php

As we look forward to the 3rd Annual Spencer C Duncan Make It Count 5K on August 2, we are again asking for donations to help make a difference for our veterans. Please visit the Sponsor page to learn how to become a sponsor for this year’s 5K. Also, you may donate any time by clicking the Donate Now button at the bottom of this page.

We are excited to again be partnering with Wheels ‘n’ Squeels , a local BBQ challenge and car show. Last year, Wheels ‘n’ Squeels donated over $7500 to the Spencer C Duncan Make It Count Foundation. In addition, they fed us some amazing food after the run! This year, Wheels ‘n’ Squeels is offering special incentives to some of our sponsor levels, and they will again be holding their event the day before and the day of our 5K. Make it a great day by running/walking with us in the morning and then stopping by Wheels ‘n’ Squeels for great bbq and awesome show cars.

For the run this year, we are working on a special partnership that will make race day an even more exciting adventure than before! Keep watching for updates—we will give details as soon as they are available.

We are getting very excited about this year’s run and hope to see familiar faces and lots of new ones, too. As we pull plans together, as we watch people get very excited about what they are doing to help, as we continue to research organizations we can support as they continue working with our veterans, we are always mindful that we would not be doing this at this level if our son had not died. It’s bittersweet, as most things are since Spencer was killed. We would certainly give anything to have Spencer back, but that is not our reality. Our reality is that Spencer is gone, we are not, and veterans need our help. YOUR help.

So, here we go again! Pictures, plans, t-shirts, tears, helicopters, smiles, hugs, flags, and water everywhere—it’s what we do. Please join us August 2nd and REGISTER NOW!

Hoping you will make it count with us,

Dale and Megan Duncan
Proud parents of SPC Spencer C Duncan, KIA Afghanistan, 08.06.11
And two other amazing young men