Children’s Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Wins Top Honor for Serving Military Families

The 2024 Fisher Service Award has been conferred upon the Children's Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington.

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This is a significant recognition of its commitment to military families. At an award ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, on October 23, the museum was praised as "a bright spot of color in a sea of khaki," as said by Tanya Durand, the executive director of Greentrike, the Tacoma-based company responsible for the museum.

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The JBLM site serves as a sanctuary for familial bonding and education, distinguishing itself from a conventional children's museum. It facilitates the reunion of military children with their parents following deployments. This year, the Fisher Service Award recognized the museum's outstanding efforts, highlighting its role in supporting families with the challenges of military life.

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Established in 1999 as the Newman's Own Awards, the Fisher Service Awards have allocated over $3.4 million to 210 charitable groups supporting military communities. Dave Coker, the administrator of the Fisher House Foundation, emphasized the importance of charity initiatives like this museum. Coker asserted that the military excels in executing its designated duties; yet, familial commitments often surpass those confines. He also observed that the awards incentivize inventive nonprofit organizations to support areas that the military may not directly handle.

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The grant corresponds with Fisher Houses' objective to offer 98 comfort homes for military and veteran families near major treatment facilities. The Fisher Service Award allocates cash to charitable groups like the JBLM Children's Museum, facilitating support for military families in overcoming resource disparities, thus fostering a sense of connection and help.

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