October 1, 2021
REDMOND, Wash. – This month two U.S. veterans will receive modified Ford trucks that allow them to drive despite their combat-related injuries, and ten high school students participating in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) across the country will receive scholarships as part of the Wounded Warriors Family Support and Microsoft Employee Giving #DrivetheJourney Campaign.
For the fourth year, Wounded Warriors Family Support has teamed up with Microsoft employees to provide vehicles to combat-wounded veterans, enhancing the quality of life for wounded veterans, providing freedom and independence in their everyday lives.
“Our collaboration with Microsoft Employee Giving is focused on giving back to our wounded veterans who have sacrificed so much,” Wounded Warriors Family Support CEO and President Kate McCauley said.
Across the U.S., there are currently 350 U.S. veterans in need of modified vehicles as a result of their combat-related injuries. This month, two Ford trucks will be presented to U.S. Army Veterans Maggie Bilyeu and Scott Adams in Las Colinas, Texas. Maggie joined the Army in 2015 and was deployed to Afghanistan shortly after she completed training. Maggie and several soldiers were injured by a suicide bomber on Nov. 12, 2016 – 2½ months into her deployment. She was treated for life threatening injuries that included the loss of her left leg, left breast and spleen, a shattered femur, a split abdomen and diaphragm, seven broken ribs and partial loss of her colon, large intestine and small intestine. She medically retired in February 2020.
“My heart and thanks go out to Wounded Warriors Family Support, Microsoft Employee Giving and everyone who had a hand in this opportunity,” Maggie said. “You are the greatest.”
Scott joined the Army in 1986 right out of High School and served in six deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Adams was injured Jan. 26, 2007, by an improvised explosive device that blew up underneath his seat. He recovered for 18 months at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Adams and his wife recently moved to San Antonio from Minnesota. During the trip, Adams’ truck blew its engine. His wife became paralyzed shortly after the move.
“You don’t know how much this really changes the lives of not only myself, but my wife,” Adams said. “You learn not to take life for granted. You can’t thank people and organizations enough who put others before them and give back. We’re so thankful and blessed to be a part of this.”
In addition to the two vehicles, this year, Microsoft employees are supporting 27 nominated Jr ROTC high school students from across the country and will be presenting each of the 9 schools with $5000 worth of scholarships over a Microsoft Teams virtual event to support them in advancing their education and trade pursuits.
You can follow #DrivetheJourney on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DriveTheJourney/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/drivethejourney21/
KFOR’s Veteran Voices in Oklahoma City put together a very good story on the Drive the Journey campaign.
Microsoft’s Giving Campaign matches employee donations of time and money to eligible nonprofit organizations, up to $15,000 a year per employee. In 2020, U.S. employees raised a record-breaking $225 million (inclusive of company match) for nonprofits and schools around the world.
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. This organization is run by combat veterans for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot.
