Stonington, Conn — The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today retired Coast Guardsman Lt. Scott White is taking on the challenge of a lifetime to raise funds and awareness for the Coast Guard Foundation’s Fallen Heroes Fund and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.
Lt. White’s cross-country journey will take him through nine states and began in Everett, Wash., on June 19. The journey is currently on schedule to see him cross the finish line in Gloucester, Mass., on August 20. White’s goal is to raise $10 for every mile he rides through the 4,000-mile tour in support of the Coast Guard Foundation’s Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides emergency assistance to the families of those who have died in the line of duty. For children of the fallen, the Fund covers 100 percent of their higher education costs.
“I’ve spent more than half my life in the Coast Guard and I felt it appropriate to use this opportunity to give back to the family that has helped me grow personally and professionally,” said White. “It’s in our ethos – helping others.”
Lt. White enjoyed a storied career in the Coast Guard enlisting in 1987 and attending Marine Science Technician A School two years later. He was then assigned to the Port of New York on Governors Island focusing on environmental response and that same year was deployed to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Following multiple deployments to the Arctic aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star came Officer Cadet School, which lead to officer assignments in Sector New York, Boston, and the Office of Port and Facility Activities at Coast Guard Headquarters.
While serving in the Coast Guard, White also biked at an amateur level from 1996 to 2005, and has prior long-distance touring experience – however, this is the furthest tour he has undertaken.
“The riding has been manageable with daily mileages ranging from 75 to 105 – we’ve been rewarded with great weather so far,” he said. “I often say that my time at sea, as well as Cape May and Officer Cadet School, have served me well to deal with the mental challenge of daily routine, hard work and group dynamics.”
Follow Lt. White’s journey as he makes his way across the country by liking his Facebook page where he is posting daily updates at facebook.com/NineStates
For information on contributing to Lt. White’s journey, click: www.crowdrise.com/coast-to-coast-2016-for-the-coast-guard-fallen-heros-fund/fundraiser/scottwhite1
For more on the Coast Guard Foundation’s scholarship program, the Fallen Heroes Fund and the support given to Coast Guard members and their families, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org or call (860) 535-0786
About The Coast Guard Foundation
For 45 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has been committed to inspiring leadership, education and a proud legacy of service to our nation by supporting the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. The Foundation provides college scholarships to enlisted members, their spouses and their children, scholarships and support for families of Coast Guard members lost in the line of duty, and support for morale programs, including funding recreation, exercise and family-oriented facilities. The Coast Guard Foundation is headquartered in Stonington, Connecticut, where it maintains a staff of 13, with regional offices in the New York City area and St. Petersburg, Florida. To learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation or to help support its work, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org
