We hope you can join us March 27th for next DSF Luncheon. Come meet up with DS friends and hear the latest updates from DS, DSF, DSSAA and more. Open to current, former and retired DS employees, or anyone with an interest in DS.
Locations: Arlington Knights of Columbus
Time: 11:30-2pm
Early Bird registration is $35. After March 20 the price goes up to $40. So register now!
We are pleased to announce the result from the 2024 DSF Board elections. Welcome to Eddie Salazar and Josh Ellwein. Josh is the Officer-in-Charge, Engineering Security Center, U.S. Consulate, Dubai, UAE. Eddie is a retired DS Diplomatic Courier and currently works as a PSC for OBO’s Office of Special Projects Coordination (SPC).
We are grateful to everyone who threw their hat into the ring to be considered for the DSF Board. Every candidate was outstanding. We’re fortunate to have so many interested in serving on the board.
Current Board Members Tim O’Brien and Jess Moore were re-elected to a second term. Tim will serve as the Treasurer. Current Board Member John Hampson has taken on the role of Secretary.
We say farewell to two outstanding board members who have retired. Special thanks to Doug Allison and Jeff Bozworth for sharing your wisdom and expertise with us these past 8 years, you will be missed.
Visit the DSF Board page for a list of all DSF Board Members.
The DSF scholarships go to graduating high school seniors who are children / grandchildren / stepchildren (or a dependent of a guardian) of a DS employee / contractor (not just Special Agents), who are planning to attend any institution of higher learning at the university, community or vocational level. Visit our Scholarship page for specifics and a list of past winners.
Last year we gave out 13 awards totaling $27,500 in scholarships! Deadline to apply is May 15 and Awards will be announced in July!
Click here for more information and to apply.
When you donate to DSF, we use those funds to support our grants program. It is an honor to be able to help those in our world-wide DS “family” during times of hardship or crisis.
A full list of our grants can be found on our GRANTS page.
Help us continue our mission of providing for those in our DS “family” by making a gift today: DONATE
Flooding in Laos from Typhoon Yagi
$2,000 for four guards at US Embassy Vientiane (Laos) who suffered major damage to their homes from the effects of Typhoon Yagi.
$5,000 for a local guard at U.S. Embassy Caracas (Venezuela) to assist with medical costs. He suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident while off duty. He has worked at the embassy for 14 years, but because of the severity of his injuries will most likely not be able to return to work.
$4,000 to the family of a local guard at US Embassy Harare (Zimbabwe) who passed away after health complications. He had worked at the embassy for 23 years, and leaves behind a wife and a 14 year old daughter.
We hope you can join us October 31st for next DSF Luncheon. Come meet up with DS friends and hear the latest updates from DS, DSF, DSSAA and more. Open to current, former and retired DS employees, or anyone with an interest in DS.
Locations: Arlington Knights of Columbus
Time: 11:30-2pm
Early Bird registration is $35. After October 21, the price goes up to $40. So register now!
Another great DSF Golf Outing is in the books! This year’s event was a huge success. We had so many people on the waitlist that we had to open a third course at Lansdowne! It was a great day with beautiful weather, happy golfers, and good cheer all around. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support of this event, our 33rd golf outing! Check out our Golf Page for more info about the event, check out all the pictures and peruse the digital golf program. And mark your calendar now for next year’s event - Monday, June 2, 2025. See you then!
Donations to DSF are used to fund our grants program. Here are some of our more recent grants. A full list of our grants can be found on our GRANTS page. Help us continue our mission of providing for those in our DS “family” by making a gift today: DONATE
$5,000 to a local guard at US Embassy Guayaquil (Ecuador) to assist with medical costs surpassing insurance coverage associated with his treatments for brain cancer.
$4,000 to the wife of a local guard at US Embassy Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) who survived a house fire that took the life of her husband, 16 year old daughter and nephew.
$5,000 to a local guard at US Embassy Beirut (Lebanon) to assist with medical costs for injuries sustained while he was attacked while standing guard at the embassy front gate. He was shot in the face, chest and arm by a lone gunman.
Here are some of our most recent grants:
$3,000 to a local guard at US Embassy Belgrade (Serbia) to help cover uninsured medical costs for her 10 year old son who has is seeking treatment for a debilitating autoimmune disease.
$1,200 for the family local guard at US Embassy Banjul (The Gambia). The guard was killed while riding his bike to his post. He had worked for the embassy for a total of 22 years. He leaves behind a wife and 8 children, all of whom he supported.
$2,000 to the family of a local guard at US Embassy Islamabad (Pakistan) who died of a heart attack. He worked at the embassy for over 24 years, and leaves behind a wife and 4 children, ranging in age from 4 to 17.
Visit our Grants page for a full listing of all our grant activity.
Join us for a return of the beloved DS Luncheon. Now being hosted by DSF. We’ll be meeting at the Arlington Knights of Columbus on March 21 for a buffet lunch. Assistant Secretary of State Gentry Smith will be our guest speaker. This event is open to any and all with an interest in DS. Register now!
The Arlington Knights of Columbus is a beautiful, convenient location. The Reception Hall is to the left of the original manor, close to the parking lot and easily accessible to all.
The DSF scholarships go to graduating high school seniors who are children / grandchildren / stepchildren (or a dependent of a guardian) of a DS employee / contractor (not just Special Agents), who are planning to attend any institution of higher learning at the university, community or vocational level. Visit our Scholarship page for specifics and a list of past winners.
Last year we gave out 13 awards totaling $25,000 in scholarships! Deadline to apply is May 15 and Awards will be announced in July!
Click here for more information and to apply.
It has been quite a year for DSF Grants. We have already given out over $210K in grants, far above our normal budget (which averages around $100K). But thanks to our generous donors, we have been able to help so many of the people who keep American diplomacy safe. From local guards, to MSGs, to DS employees, we’re here to help everyone in our DS worldwide “family” during times of hardship or crisis. Here are just a few of the 25+ grants we’ve made this year. You can view a complete list on our Grants Page.
$5,000 to the family of a local guard at US Consulate Jeddah who died of gunshot wounds when an assailant opened fire at the consulate perimeter drop bar. The guard had been with the consulate for 16 years and leaves behind a wife and three sons.
$5,000 to a DS employee at FASTC to help with uninsured medical and funeral costs for his wife who passed away from cancer.
$42,600 to 142 members of US Mission Turkey who were affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquakes.
It has been challenging on our funds giving out so much in grant support, but it’s what we were built for. That being said, we do need your help: If you haven’t yet made a gift to DSF this year, now would be a great time. Your gift will allow us to continue to provide for those in our world-wide DS "family" during times of need. Click on the Donate button on our Donate Page, or visit Other Ways To Donate Page for more options.
We are excited to announce that there were 13 winners of this year’s DSF Scholarship award; eight students received $2,500 awards, and five received $1,000. These funds are awarded to high school seniors planning on attending any institute of "higher" learning (at the university, community or vocational level). The scholarship program is open to students related to a Diplomatic Security employee or contractor. All the students who applied this year were incredibly impressive – it’s an almost impossible task to narrow the list! For a complete list of this year’s winners, and more info about next year’s program, please visit our Scholarship Page.
Are you on our mailing list? We only send out a few emails a year, make sure you're getting them!
We’re happy to announce that the 32nd Annual DSF Mike Considine Golf Outing, held on Monday June 5, 2023, was a smashing success! One of our best fundraising events ever. We had beautiful weather and a tremendous turnout (288 golfers). We are so fortunate to have so much support for this event - we had a record number of sponsors this year: 61 sponsors of $500+up; and 49 sponsors at the Hole level ($150). This event sold out a few weeks after we opened registration, so if you plan on joining us in 2024 (June 3rd), be sure to sign up early next spring! For a recap, list of sponsors, and lots of photos, check out our Golf Page on our website.
A/S Gentry Smith with the SOC Team: Ben Lilly President of Mason & Hanger, Doug Magee President of SOC, Dan Cronin VP SOC and also a DSF Board member
And if you're interested in our golf event, get your name on that list so you're the first to know!
We have given out over $160K in grants this year - blowing past our normal budget, and we’re barely halfway through the year. And while normally our grants help an individual or a family, this year we’ve had numerous requests to help groups of people.
Turkey: the earthquake in Turkey which affected 140+ Mission employees, many of whom lost family members, their homes and possession. We sent a grant of $42K which barely made a dent.
Nigeria: the deaths of seven LGF (Local Guard Force) assigned to US Embassy Abuja who we killed in a attack on their convoy. We sent a grant of $12K plus an additional $4K that was donated by many.
Sudan: Civil war broke out in Sudan in April, 2023. The US Embassy Khartoum was evacuated but 11 LGF have remained and have continued to protect the embassy, risking their own lives on a daily basis. A grant of $16K was sent to assist them during this difficult time.
These are just a few of the grants we’ve made in the past few months. There are many more that can be viewed on our Grants page. It has been challenging, but it’s what we were built for. That being said, we do need your help: If you haven’t yet made a gift to DSF this year, now would be a good time. Visit our Donate page so that we can continue to provide for those in our world-wide DS family.
Our friends at our partner organization DSSAA are hosting their annual family picnic out at the Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park (not far from IAD). It’s sure to be a fun time for current, former and retired DS employees and their families. Visit the DSSAA store to purchase your tickets today!
Did you know that the State Department Federal Credit Union gives out an annual scholarship? You must be an account holder at SDFCU and be enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited university or program and have a GPA of 2.5 or better. Check out the SDFCU website for more info.
The DSF scholarships go to graduating high school seniors who are children / grandchildren / stepchildren (or a dependent of a guardian) of a DS employee / contractor (not just Special Agents), who are planning to attend any institution of higher learning at the university, community or vocational level. Visit our Scholarship page for specifics and a list of past winners.
Last year we gave out 12 awards totaling $25,000 in scholarships! Deadline to apply is May 15 and Awards will be announced in July!
Click here for more information and to apply.
Busy couple of weeks at DSF as we’ve been providing multiple grants to those in need in our world-wide DS family. In 2022, we gave out more than $116,000 in grants.
RSO O’Connor and ARSO Lightfine handed out funds provided by DSF
In December, we gave out a number of grants including a grant of $6500 to US Embassy N’Djamena (Chad) to help out a large group of local guards whose homes were damaged or destroyed by recent record flooding.
Just this week, we’ve given out an additional $14,250 in grants:
A guard at US Embassy Kuala Lumpur for medical costs for his wife who suffered a stroke
Three guards from US Embassy Eritrea to help with the cost of relocating
A guard at US Embassy Cairo to help with costs of a new prosthetic
To the family of a guard from US Embassy Mesaru (Lesotho) who was murdered
DSF ELECTION - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The nomination process for the 2022 Election for four open spots on the DSF Board of Directors is now open. Nominations are due by Dec 1. Results to be announced late Dec. For more info, visit the Board/Election page.
DSF was able to give out 6 new grants recently, upping the total for 2022 to almost $62,000.
Here are the latest grants provided, thanks to the generosity of donors & sponsors:
$3,000 to a local guard at US Embassy Georgetown (Guyana) whose three children perished when their home caught on fire.
$5,000 to the families of two guards at US Embassy Lusaka (Zambia) who were killed by a motor vehicle while walking to work together. They had been with the embassy for 6 and 7 years respectively. They each leave behind a wife and child.
$2,500 to the family of a guard at US Embassy – Cotonou (Benin) who died unexpectedly. He had been with the embassy for 17 years. He leaves behind a wife and three children ranging in age from 2 to 10.
$2,000 to the family of a guard at US Embassy Nairobi (Kenya) who died unexpectedly from an illness. He leaves behind a wife and 14 year old son.
$5,500 ($4500+$1000) to the families of two guards at US Embassy Port-au-Prince (Haiti). One guard was killed and one gravely injured in a vehicular accident on their way home from work. The guard who was killed leaves behind a wife and 3 children (10, 7 and 2 mo).
We share these details to underline the importance of your donations & the impact they make. For more information on our program and to make a donation, visit our GRANTS page.
