Non-profit Helps Military Widows Become Nurses

After one's spouse dies during active military duty, moving on with life can seem like an insurmountable task. Luckily, a new non-profit aims to help military widows find support and a new direction in life.

According to a WUSA9.com story, Parthenia Warford Richardson, a single mom and veteran, founded a new non-profit this spring that aims to improve the lives of military wives. The Warford Foundation, based in Maryland, helps single moms and military widows become Registered Nurses through a two-year community college program. Through the program, women receive a free education and the chance to work in an exciting and rewarding career.

Samantha Balsley, who lost her husband in Iraq almost three years ago and has a three-year old son, Logan, is the Warford Foundation's first student. Balsley told WUSA9that she really enjoys nursing and she hopes that by pursuing this career, she is making her deceased husband, Michael Balsley, proud.

"Time goes by and that part of your life gets pushed further away," Balsley told WUSA9.com. "So with this opportunity, I would like to make him proud and show him that I did do something."

As of right now, Richardson is paying for Balsley's education our of her own pocket, but she hopes to soon secure additional funding to get more military widows and single moms enrolled in the program. To find out how you can help military widows and single moms become RNs, visit the Warford Foundation's Web site.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.