Charles Thomas III Memorial Fund

Charles Thomas was an Instructor/Cadre Team Leader at the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy (CGYCA),  a DC Government program designed to re-engage teens in the DC area that did not complete high school by placing them in a structured military enviornment as cadets, with the goal to complete their high school studies and move on to higher education or enter the work force. This position was a natural fit for Charles as he was a proud Marine, a combat veteran and also a native of Washington, DC. Charles was a consistent motivator and the standard bearer when it came to discipline, physical fitness and military drill & ceremony. As a younger member of the staff, the cadets readily identified with him, and regularly sought his advice on the decisions they would have to make after leaving the academy. 

Charles was weeks away from graduating his 4th class of cadets with CGYCA when he was tragically involved in a fatal traffic accident.  He had just returned from an invitational meet where he coached his cadets in athletic and drill & ceremony competitions against other ChalleNGe Academies. He died on June 1, 2015, only eight days before what would have been his 22nd birthday. As the one year anniversary of his passing approaches, the Charles Thomas Memorial Fund has been established with the intent to award a deserving cadet from each graduating class with a scholarship to assist with the expenses they will encounter as they go on to further their education.  The scholarship will be awarded semi-annually, as there are two graduating classes per year. Funds generated from this campaign will also be used to develop a website for the fund and to file with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization, so that all future donations will be tax deductible.

This campaign will end on June 9th, 2016, on what would have been his 23rd birthday. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded two days later on June 11th at the upcoming CGYCA graduation ceremony. Our vision is to give back to our youth in the same spirit that Charles did, while building a legacy for a beloved son, brother and friend that left us much too soon. Your contributions that will turn this vision into a reality are sincerely appreciated.

www.facebook.com/charlesthomas.memorialfund