Snowball Express
Program Highlights
Honoring Those We Lost & Those Left Behind
No matter where these families are in the grieving process, we hope to inspire them to believe anything is possible. By providing guilt-free fun and beneficial resources in a stress-free environment, we’re creating a community to learn, grow, and make lasting memories with new friends.
Healing & Celebration
The holidays can be especially challenging for grieving families. Each December, we host a five-day experience for 1,750+ children of the fallen and their surviving parent or guardian. As a therapeutic retreat with a blend of fun and inspiring programs, these families can lean on their peers for support. And this year we’re bringing Snowball Express to Walt Disney World® Resort!
Year-Round Support
We’re also hosting community-driven events for these families all year long. From baseball games, to arts & educational opportunities, to camping trips, these families can deepen friendships right in their hometowns. These events are essential for children and surviving spouses to build bonds with the only people who can truly understand their loss: each other.
Photo Journal
2,000,000
American children have experienced the deployment of at least one parent since 2001.
Event Resources
By The Numbers
The Stories
It isn’t easy to put into words what Snowball Express meant to my 8-year-old daughter and me but I will try. I guess the easiest way to explain it is to simply state that it was the first time since losing my husband that I went 5 days in a row without crying. Sure, there were a few moments of filling up with tears. However, those were tears of gratitude and pride.
- Jennifer HansonWidow of LCDR Keith Hanson, USN
We HonorArmy Chief Warrant OfficerPhilip Windorskias one of our fallen heroes