Nonprofit helps Arizona service members pay for flights home for the holidays
Dec 18, 2024, 5:00 AM | Updated: 7:30 am
(Miles for Military Photos)
(Miles for Military Photos)
PHOENIX — A national nonprofit that helps active-duty service members pay for flights recently paved the way for a U.S. Marine from Phoenix to fly home for the holidays.
Lance Corporal Bryson Fussell, who is stationed in North Carolina, flew home to Phoenix last Saturday thanks to Miles for Military, a nonprofit founded by Maureen Byrne.
“It’s really wonderful to see these kids get home and see their family,” Byrne told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “Who doesn’t love a military reunion? Who doesn’t tear up?”
Byrne hopes Miles for Military will bring home 100 enlisted service members this year. She expects more service members from Arizona to arrive in Phoenix on Friday.
“Our goal next year is pretty lofty. We’re hoping for 2,000 next year,” Byrne said.
How did Miles for Military start helping active service members?
The nonprofit began after Byrne’s son, Ronan, told her about the realities of being a Marine during the holidays.
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“I remember, one particular Thanksgiving, the flight was astronomically expensive,” Byrne said.
She then asked her son how his fellow Marines paid for their flights home.
“He’s like, ‘Mom, nobody goes home,’ and it really upset me, so ‘Why?’ and he’s like, ‘They can’t afford it,’ and so that made me sad,” Byrne said. “I wanted to think of some way we could get some kids home.”
She had an epiphany when Ronan spent a weekend in Raleigh volunteering for the Special Olympics.
“I came up with the idea: ‘What if we put the two together? What if we have them volunteer in exchange for earning their ticket home?'” Byrne said. “I brought the idea to a friend of mine, and he’s helped me to kickstart this nonprofit.”
Nonprofit that helps service members needs more donors
Active-duty service members are eligible for a paid ticket home as long as they spend a minimum of 25 hours volunteering at a 501(c)(3) organization.
Money comes from donors, which Miles for Military is trying to get more of, Byrne said.
“We are desperately seeking to grow our donor base through corporate partnerships and then private donations,” she said.
Donors can contribute to the nonprofit at MilesForMilitary.org.
“Everyone wants to be home for the holidays,” Byrne said. “No one deserves it more than our service members.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Heidi Hommel contributed to this report.
