Angels of America’s Fallen assists children who’ve lost parents

Student-veteran draws on UCCS education, instructors, fellowship as he builds nonprofit

By Cathy Beuten | CU system

The average age of a child whose parent has died in the military or as a first responder is 7; since 9/11, more than 16,000 U.S. children have lost a parent.

Veteran and UCCS student Joe Lewis did the math and found if one person spent one day with one child, it would take 42 years to reach them all. And that number is growing.

Lewis, a 25-year military veteran, has known the families of fallen friends. He has seen the difficulties the surviving spouses endured as single parents and the impact the loss of a parent has on the children. He and other military personnel offered what support they could, but often the families would move away or he would get stationed elsewhere. And although scholarships were established for these children, Lewis realized that wasn’t enough.

“I was concerned how those kids were growing up during these crucial, formative years,” Lewis said. “Knowing their parents, and knowing how great they were, I was sad they were missing that input.”

Lewis knows about missions. He served in the military – from private to lieutenant colonel – as an enlisted Army cannon crewman in a field artillery unit, a Marine Corps fighter pilot, a flight instructor, a transport pilot and an Air Force reconnaissance pilot.

Now, in his “retirement,” Lewis has found a new mission, founding the nonprofit Angels of America’s Fallen. 

“I felt an obligation to do this because I ‘made it,’ I got to do amazing things in three different branches of the military and I’m still here for my sons,” he said. His sons are now 14 and 16. “Yet, with the very first family we served, I realized it was such an honor. The honor exceeds the obligation.”

Since 2012, Angels of America’s Fallen has helped children who have lost a parent in the military or as a first responder to develop into strong and successful adults by providing them positive mentoring and developmental activities. The program pays the local provider for the activities, so there is no barrier to entry with the family having to pay and wait for reimbursement.

“As long as it’s a healthy developmental activity, and it has a coach or instructor, we find a way to say yes,” Lewis said.

Activities have included scuba, swimming, soccer, karate, piano, violin, baking, horseback riding, surfing and more.

“We want them to find a passion they can commit to and pursue,” he said. When the lessons are over, he hopes the children have made friends and connections that keep them active and interested, and perhaps a coach or mentor to look up to. And as the seasons change, so do their opportunities to stay active. “If a child plays soccer and the soccer season is over, and if they want to do basketball, we’ll support that, too.”

The program has extended across 30 states. It currently includes 220 children – 41 in Colorado – and has served about 250 youngsters overall.

“Whenever we sign one on, we are committed all the way through until the time they’re 18,” Lewis said. “A few have moved on because they’ve aged out.”

Angels of America’s Fallen got underway with the support of Lewis, his family and supporters. Problem was, although Lewis minored in business – having earned his bachelor’s degree in physical science from Troy University – he didn’t know much about running a nonprofit.

“Once I formed it, then I began looking for an education source because I didn’t have that background. I needed to know, ‘What are the industry norms? What are the best practices?’” And then Lewis found UCCS and its Master of Public Administration, with a graduate certificate in nonprofit management fund development and program evaluation. It was precisely what he was looking for.

“I’ve been very impressed with (the instructors’) solid knowledge and work experience in the nonprofit industry,” he said. “It has been very applicable; as I’ve been going through the course, I’m using things right away.”

The connections Lewis has made through students and staff who are working in business and the nonprofit industry have been paramount, he said.

“They’ve introduced me to organizations like the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and I’ve become members of other organizations as a result of meeting people who are part of those – some of those being staff members, some of those being students,” he said.

At this point, there is one paid staff member at Angels of America’s Fallen. Lewis is working on the program full-time, but does not draw a paycheck.

“But then when we have events, that’s when our numbers jump,” he said. “Our volunteer base is in the hundreds, but our core of who’s really working with us is just a handful – five, six people.”

UCCS students, faculty and staff have gotten engaged in the mission. Lewis has had students volunteer at fundraisers, help him write grants and the program’s volunteer policy, and host and attend several events. “I had a group of students who were not in my program – with the sports management program – who did a fundraising event for us at the mall,” he said.

“UCCS is much more than just reading the books and getting the grade and getting the degree, it’s been getting the practical education I can apply right now, and networking and resources through the people I’ve met.”

Lewis stressed his mission is to build the organization to thrive and to help more and more children of fallen heroes. The need to support and the commitment to the children, “That is going to outlast me,” he said.

“You can’t replace the parent, but you can provide opportunities to build their own story of success and have the guidance of a coach or instructor. That’s what we formed to do,” Lewis said.

“We value each child equally regardless of the cause of the parent’s death or the parent’s rank or other situations.” 

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Images: Top right, Angels of America’s Fallen was awarded a truck from Toyota through a Facebook vote. Center left, Joe Lewis and his wife at the Wings over the Rockies Museum at the Denver Metro Chamber Business Awards. Center righ, Lewis receiving a grant from ENT Federal Credit Union, a grant request written by my classmate Lisa Cleveringa between Lewis and his wife on the front row of the stairs. Bottom left, Lewis received a Newman’s Own Grant presented by the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon Hall of Heroes.