EDMONDS, Washington (STPNS) -- Maria Montalvo of Edmonds is going to the White House in April to receive an award as Executive Director of Our Family for Families First Foundation.

The foundation was recognized recently by the White House’s Joining Forces Community Challenge as a Top 20 Finalist and the People’s Choice Award Winner.

The Challenge was a call to action launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to “recognize citizens and organizations with a demonstrated, genuine, and deep desire to be of service to military families.”



“The Joining Forces Challenge is doing so much to let military families know that Americans are always thinking about them and recognize the great sacrifices their families have made in service to our country,” Montalvo, said.

“We are thrilled that First Lady Obama and Dr. Biden have brought this issue to the forefront of people’s minds and have engaged our nation in this important cause,” John Picerne, Foundation Founder and CEO of Picerne Military Housing, said.

Both Montalvo and Picerne have been invited to attend the recognition ceremony at the White House on April 11.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the White House among such a quality group of organizations that are doing great work to improve the lives of military families,” Montalvo said.

When Picerne established Picerne Military Housing more than 10 years ago, he wanted to give back to the military families that sacrifice every day to serve their country.

He decided that the mission of the foundation would be to provide educational opportunities for the children and spouses of active-duty Service Members who have the desire to pursue their dreams.

Today, his educational foundation, established in 2006, has donated more than $3 million to provide $50,000 college scholarships and $5,000 educational grants for the children and spouses of active-duty service members, and his company serves 24,000 military families across the country.

The foundation also supports volunteer and outreach programs in military communities across the country.

From Jan. 24 to March 16, the foundation received nearly 17,000 votes from across the country and the world to make it the People’s Choice Award Winner in the challenge.

“The scholarship kids took it on themselves to make sure we were the People’s Choice winner,” Picerne said. “I loved seeing their efforts on Facebook and Twitter—they were seriously engaged.”

The scholarship and grant recipients’ work led the effort to get out the vote to help the Our Family for Families First Foundation to win the People’s Choice Award.

For more information:

Our Family for Families First Foundation, www.ourfamilyfoundation.org  

Picerne Military Housing, www.picernemilitaryhousing.com