Gratitude Initiative is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Whataburger — a combo that’s dedicated to the future success of our military children.

This Month of the Military Child, celebrate with Whataburger and GI! At any Whataburger, you can donate $1 or more at checkout to help reach GI’s $1 million goal and fuel the college dreams of military teens.

Every dollar matters — which is why we need your help!

Together, let’s feed their future. Donate at Whataburger!

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Go:

April 1st-14th, 2024 and visit any Whataburger location nationwide.

Give:

Simply donate $1 or more and receive a Thank You coupon for a free Whataburger with the purchase of a medium fry and 32-ounce drink to use at your next visit.

Share:

Spread the word! We want our military students to feel our full support.

 

100% of donations will go to providing GI’s academic programs and scholarships to military teens worldwide!

Established 2013

Entering A New Decade of Life Changing Impact

Honoring the sacrifices of our Military and Law Enforcement families by helping their children succeed in college, their career, and life.

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Financial Transparency

Integrity and Trust

93% of donated funds goes directly to program and scholarships


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Results & Testimonials

UNMATCHED PROGRAM


Gratitude Initiative provides scholarships and the most comprehensive college and career preparatory program available to the children we serve.


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LIFE CHANGING IMPACT


To date, 99% of high school graduates in our program have been accepted into one or both of their top 2 college choices receiving an average financial aid award of $24,179 per year.


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Partners

Partners Impacting Our Military and Law Enforcement Families


Corporations and foundations are investing in our heroes’ families.


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GI teams with multiple organizations to quickly reach the families that need our help the most.


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Apply for Programs

Apply for Program and Scholarships

GI provides the most comprehensive college and career counseling, test prep, and financial aid, counseling program available today FREE OF CHARGE to the families we serve.

  • Designed by leading experts with over two decades of success in helping thousands of students achieve their college and career dreams.
  • Delivered online to serve a family anywhere around the globe.
  • GI’s degreed and trained experts work with each student and their parents via email, phone, and chat.
  • Open to students in grades 8-12 with support for the student and parents through college graduation (up to nine years of support).
  • Enrolled children are also eligible to apply for scholarships from GI during the spring semester of their senior year.

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ENSURING OUR PROTECTORS’ CHILDREN SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE

Each day, both in our own communities and around the globe, brave moms and dads risk their lives to keep us safe and free.  Our military service members and law enforcement officers deserve our deepest gratitude.  We believe there is no greater way to honor their sacrifice than to help prepare their children for college, career, and a successful future.

SHOWING OUR GRATITUDE SINCE 2013

GI works with thousands of students and parents in every state and around the world providing our one-of-a-kind college and career preparatory program, educational workshops, scholarships, and more.

Our programs are free to the families we serve thanks to our donors.

In 2013, leading experts in college and career counseling, distance learning, and test prep came together with the goal of developing a unique program specifically designed for military families and their children. They saw the unprecedented burdens that the past twelve years of continuous deployments had on our military families and believed there was no greater way to show their gratitude than to help the children of our military and veteran families reach their college and career dreams. With the help of like-minded friends and business professionals, GI was born.

“Our goal was to develop the absolute best college and career preparatory program available today, designed specifically to support military families worldwide, and give it away for free. That’s exactly what we did.”
-Lee Sechrist, Co-Founder and Army veteran

Who we serve

CHILDREN IN GRADES 8 -12 WHO HAVE A PARENT THAT MEETS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA…

A military member or law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.

A veteran or law enforcement officer wounded, injured, or disabled in the line of duty.

An active-duty member of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

A Reserve or National Guard member activated for active duty and deployed overseas.

A veteran who was honorably discharged from active duty on or after 9/11/2001.

Life-Changing Results

Providing a Legacy of Gratitude:

Our program delivers extraordinary results positively impacting the lives of our students and their entire families for generations.

“I’m the first child in my family to go to college. The GI program kept me on track step by step to be successful in school, get accepted by the right colleges, and achieve my goals.”

Angel (Student), VA
Learn more about GI’s incredible impact and what our families have to say about our program.

JOIN GI

in showing your gratitude for our front-line defenders who keep us safe at home and abroad by helping their children achieve their college and career dreams.