Dear Sponsor,
I believe I have earned the sponsorship for the Europe trip because I have been committed wholeheartedly to the program for nine years. I have also volunteered for the program many times; my mom and I have volunteered our time and money-making charity balloon builds for the past five years. I have been to countless volunteer events for young marines and have over six hundred volunteer hours.
Here is a bit of history about my time with Young Marines:
- I graduated from being a recruit on May 2015, I attended many donation days to fundraise for our unit, and I also was training for Color Guard. I attended our Challenge Adventure trip on August 2015 and did much training as a new Young Marine, spreading awareness and red ribbons during Red Ribbon Week and completing DDR classes.
- In 2016 besides attending our regular drills learning DDR, Map & Compass, Public Speaking, DEA Device & manhunt, I Earned the Fire Prevention Ribbon as well as my Advanced First Aid Class and my first Marksmanship class. I participated in our 2 yearly encampments and our USS Yorktown trip in Charleston South Carolina.
- In 2017, we hosted our first Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast fundraiser and it was a lot of fun to cook and serve food. On June 2017 I attended our North Carolina Adventure Trip and in June my 1st Florida Regimental Encampment in Camp La No Che. We also visited the Coast Guard Base in August. I learned about Teambuilding, Knot tying, public speaking, and leadership.
- In 2018, I went to Charlie Battalion Pensacola Trip and our Team building event in Adventure landing. We had our first Marine Corps League picnic in May and earned a Fire prevention Ribbon on our Firehouse visit in June. Also earned my Marksmanship Ribbon in July. In September I completed the 12 obstacle course and Rappel Tower. In December we went on our Amazing Hawaii Trip which was the best trip ever.
- In 2019, I worked on my Leadership school preparation class, did public speaking, and trained for the honor guard. We had our Fall Encampment in Camp Chewenwa. We had our usual drills where we learned more, 1 recruit graduation, and our Yearly Birthday Ball which was our 60th Anniversary for Young Marines.
- In 2020 I gave a Morale lesson and I was a Corporal at that time. Several of our drills were through Zoom due to covid. In July we went to Banning Mills where we did Team Building activities like ziplining, Swimming, Hiking, Canoeing, Volleyball, Billiards, and Horseback riding. In November we had our Unit Encampment in Camp Blanding. Our activities were Fire Watch, Rappelling, Obstacle Course, Team Building, Drill, MOTO Runs, PT, Field Day, and Fellowship.
- In 2021 we had our Recruit and Young Marine Encampment in Camp Blanding. We had our Spring Recruit Graduation where I earned my Class 3 swimming ribbon. In November we had our Fall Encampment in Camp Blanding. I also went to my SPACE CAMP which was initially to Costa Rica and then due to COVID was changed to a 3 week off the grid hiking trip in Washington state where we did Sea Kayaking and hiking and learned many survival skills.
- In 2022 we had our Spring Encampment in April and in June we had our first-ever Regimental Sailing Encampment. I also went for one week to SPACE CAMP.
Throughout every year I have learned much by attending our Unit Drills and our fundraising and volunteer events. We have had many Encampments and trips that have enriched me and helped me grow into a leader. I am now a Sergeant and I am very proud of being a Young Marine. This program has given me so many skills that will serve me in every aspect of my life, I am more confident and grateful for the opportunities that I have been offered and the lasting friendships that I have made.
Besides being a Young Marine for many years I have also done other volunteer work. I was part of Airforce ROTC at my school and I volunteer with my team. I had previously also volunteered in the Adopt-A-Road program by cleaning some roads in Jacksonville Florida close to our Zoo. I have volunteered for many years in our Chuch by decorating and helping with children’s care.
One of my most significant volunteer times has been donating my talent and time to charities by being part of Big Balloon Builds around the world.
- In December 2021, I joined 54 balloon artists from around the globe to volunteer for one week in Birmingham, United Kingdom, to create five stage sets made entirely from over 110,000 biodegradable natural latex balloons in just three and a half days. We were tasked with setting the scene to dazzle audiences as a part of Birmingham’s BMOS musical theater’s production of the nutcracker charity event. The incredible nutcracker-themed balloon wonderland included and thirty-foot fairy tale castle, an enchanted forest ballroom, an eight-foot jack in the box, and a fifteen-foot toy box. All of this was to aid in raising financial support for the incredible charity named free at last which helps children and their families.
- In April 2022, I volunteered for one week as part of the first-ever US big balloon build in Vincennes, Indiana where 65 balloon artists from across the world came together to recreate the board game candy land to benefit so many in need. We showcased our brilliant ability to carefully construct a giant replica of the board game candy land, using an incredible 125,000 balloons. The big balloon build was gifted to the charity named united way of Knox county in Indiana where it raised more than $180,000 for more than 30 charities in the community and 14,300 pounds of food was donated to fill up nine local food banks! Once completed the display was open to the public. On the first day, the door had to stay open three hours longer than scheduled to try and accommodate the long line. The giant ice-cream cones and colossal cotton candy clouds were made possible when HASBRO Inc granted Stuart Davis our director permission to use its trademark game, with Hershey’s chocolate also following suit. It was marketed the first time anyone had tried to make an oversized board game out of balloons.
- In November 2022, I volunteered for 1 week in Kansas City Missouri for my 3rd Big Balloon Build. I joined more than 60 other balloon artists. The international event gathers balloonists from around the country to make an immersive sculpture that benefits a charity, and this is only the second time a build like this has been held in the United States. In just four days, a whole forest, Christmas village shops, and a dynamic waterfall appeared out of thin air. The long hours and the 125,000 or so twists and ties transformed a community center gymnasium into a latex winter wonderland. The money was fundraised for the charity Operation Breakthrough which provides a safe, loving, and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid, and education.
We are a family of five with one income and at the moment it looks like my mother may not be able to join me on this trip because of financial issues.
I am graduating this year and aging out of the program, this will be my last opportunity to participate in a trip as a Young Marine.
I hope you can consider me for this sponsorship and thank you for your time.
– Young Marine Sgt Jacelyn Smith
