About the Foundation
Thank you for your interest in the Mike Stokely Foundation, Inc., founded on the Stokely Family home in Sharpsburg GA in the first few hours after his family learned of his death. The Foundation was formed to allow those who wished to show their appreciation for Mike's sacrifice and support for his family through donating to help kids in need have books and kids to go to college. Since then the Foundation goals have expanded through the various programs, including the Yusufiyah Project to help the poor kids where Mike served and was killed to have school supplies and partnered with Atlanta based Chick-fil-A to raise money to assist the family of seriously wounded soldier in Afghanistan, SFC Mark Allen who had served in 2005 with Mike in Iraq. Your donation makes these projects possible and you can be assured that your money goes for the purpose you select, not for operational and administrative expenses as the Stokely Family pays those expenses. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any question, [insert email address link] or my personal cell which I pay for - 678-416-1387. Sincerely, Robert Stokely, proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
We have various programs - Scholarships - in 2010 the Foundation will give a book scholarship to a graduating high school senior at least $500 at Northgate High, East Coweta High, Newnan High, and Central Education Center, Coweta County School System, and at least $500 at Mike's High School / Loganville High. These scholarships are chosen by the schools using guidelines to help a student whose ability to attend college will be enhanced by the scholarship. The student has to possess an academic ability to attend a technical or traditional four year program and other resources they have available such as scholarships or parent's ability to assist with their education are factors considered.
The Foundation is also going to award at least a $500 scholarship to a student who will attend Georgia Military College in Milledgeville GA where Mike attended one year before going to Iraq. This student chosen for the Mike Stokely Memorial Scholarship by the school can be a cadet who may have plans for a military career or can be a non-cadet / traditional students in its two year program.
The Foundation also funds book purchases for kids who might not otherwise have the ability to buy a book.
The Foundation also has previously funded purchasing school supplies for the poor children of Yusufiyah Iraq where Mike served and died. In 2008 1000 pounds of school supplies was shipped for distribution by the 101st Airborne. Future projects of this type are planned.
On July 8, 2009, SFC Mark Allen was seriously wounded in a fierce firefight while serving with Bravo 2/121 of Georgia's 48th Brigade Army National Guard in Afghanistan. The Mike Stokely Foundation, Inc. sought the assistance of Atlanta founded and based Chick-fil-A to help raise money for Mark Allen's parents, brothers and his in-laws to enable them to meet the expensive financial challenge of being away from their jobs and homes to be by Mark's bedside to provide the type presence that is so crucial to allow him the best ability to recover from the very serious brain injury he sustained. Through Chick-fil-A fundraisers in the Atlanta area at their Freestanding locations in Fayetteville, Newnan / Thomas Crossroads, Loganville and the Newnan/Bullsboro Dwarf House, Hapeville Dwarf House, as well as the companion restaurants UpScale Pizza in Fayetteville and Truett's Grill in McDonough. We are very proud to have this opportunity to partner with Chick-fil-A, a generous family owned company that since its founding by Truett Cathy in 1946 places high priority to give back to the communities they serve.