Category: News

Our Founders, Tom & Deborah Burkett, were honored to visit and tour Ramstein Air Base in Germany 22 November 2017, the day before Thanksgiving, to present RnR Recovery trips to 10 selected families stationed there and received a base tour.

The tour included a mission brief and award presentation at the 521st Air Maintenance Wing with Col. Cooper and Command Chief Satchell, an “All Call”, reward presentation, and mission brief at the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing by Col. Michael Rawls and Command Chief Heath Temple, and a mission brief at the 86th Air Wing by Brig. Gen. Moore and Command Chief Anthony Bennett. The tour also included a tour of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Troop Rewards’ Founder, Tom Burkett, was honored as a Community Hero from the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation along with a check for $50,000 at the Lightning’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Lightning Community Hero program recognizes individuals who are making a difference in the Tampa Bay community. Burkett was honored for founding Troop Rewards, which provides RnR Recovery vacations to military members and their families.

Our Founders, Tom & Deborah Burkett, tour Lakenheath RAF Base with the Founders of Troop Aid UK, Al & Pam Sutton. The group was given a mission brief about the 48th “Liberty” Fighter Wing, a tour of a static display of a F15 & HH60 Blackhawk Helicopter and a visit to the Control Tower to watch a F15 take off and land. Troop Rewards awarded 10 airmen, and their families, RnR Recovery Vacations during their visit.

Troop Rewards’ Founder, Tom Burkett, sits down with the Higson family before the Le Meridien’s “Welcome Home Our Heroes” reception, as local media channels WTSP 10 News and Fox 13 Tampa Bay captured their first ever meeting.

Ret. Army Sgt Joe Higson was the soldier that called Burkett in March 2009 from a satellite phone while serving a deployment in Iraq. As a Pvc. 1st Class Infantry soldier in 2009, he was calling to inquire about booking Burkett’s suite at the Sandpearl Resort & Spa in Clearwater Beach for a belated honeymoon with his wife, Brittany.

When Higson was given a price that was outside of his budget, Burkett slashed the price to $0, stating “How can I charge you anything, when you’ve risked your life defending my freedoms.” After the Higson’s trip in 2009, they went their separate ways until this week. This Pay-It-Forward moment inspired Burkett to start Troop Rewards in 2013 and now provides almost 100 families per year with RnR Recovery Vacations at resorts in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

In late June of 2016, a volunteer for Troop Rewards, Tamara Abney, found the Higsons and they had no idea their call and thank you letter to Burkett inspired him to start the charity. They met for the 1st time at Le Meridien’s reception on July 14, 2016.

Our Founder, Tom Burkett, thanks Le Meridien Tampa’s Sales & Events Manager, Michael Facloner, at the “Welcome Home Our Heroes” reception held at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Bizou, as WTSP 10 News and Fox 13 Tampa Bay tell the story behind how Troop Rewards was inspired.

Troop Rewards hosts 10 Armed Forces members, and their families, who recently returned home from deployments in connection with the “War Against Terror” campaign.

The Sandpearl Resort & Spa was the presenting sponsor and hosted the families to a no-cost 5 day / 4 night RnR Recovery vacation at the resort that started on Memorial Day.

Other sponsors included local businesses, such as the Palm Pavilion, that hosted a farewell dinner for the families and the Kai Lani Catamaran & the Calypso Queen that offered the families a sunset cruise during their stay.

Troop Rewards hosts 10 Armed Forces members, and their families, who recently returned home from deployments in connection with the “War Against Terror” campaign. The Hyatt Regency Hotel was the presenting sponsor and hosted the families to a no-cost 5 day / 4 night RnR Recovery vacation at the resort that started on Memorial Day. Other sponsors included local businesses, such as the Clearwater Yacht Club, that hosted a farewell dinner for the families and the Tropics Boat Tours & the Calypso Queen that offered the families a sunset cruise during their stay.

Troop Rewards selected as the DeBartolo Family Foundation’s “Spirit of Humanity” award for 2016. Candy and Lisa DeBartolo presented the $25,000 check and the beautiful “Spirit of Humanity” Award to our founder, Tom Burkett, at Candy DeBartolo’s new premier restaurant called the Sacred Pepper at the family and friends night. Mrs. Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and her daughter, Jessica Schwarzkopf were there to share the moment along with some Troop Rewards Board Members, Vance Vogel and CMSgt Scott Blake.

Troop Rewards is recognized for their work with military families in the US House of Representatives.

The Congressional Commendation honors Troop Rewards’ mission of providing RnR Recovery vacations to military members and their families.