Wounded Warrior

Scholarship Recipient

Mrs. Kimberly Dixon
U.S. NAVY VETERAN (Gulf War/Desert Shield)
Years served – 1991-1998

Dixon is a native Alabamian who served 8 years in the United States Navy. She currently resides with her husband and daughter Brittany in Sugar Hill, Georgia. During her tenure in the military Ms. Dixon was deployed to the Persian Gulf on the USS Comfort Medical ship to support Operation Desert Storm/Shield. She served as Corpsman and visually witnessed the aftermath of war by processing deceased serviceman.

Ms. Dixon departed the service in 1998 and worked as Dental Technician in Birmingham Alabama. During that time she earned her Associate’s in Business Management from Bessemer State University.

Several year later she gave birth to her daughter Brittany Dixon. Brittany was born with a heart defect and had to have heart surgery when she was 3 weeks old. Also, at the age of 4 Brittany was diagnosed with autism.

Upon this diagnosis, Ms. Dixon, immediately redirected her career to focus on her daughter’s need. She has spent 18 year advocating for Brittany and when services were limited for autism, Mrs. Dixon became her advocate and home school teacher.
As Brittany makes her transition into adulthood, it is imperative that she develops occupational and behavioral skills to become more self-sufficient. The Scholarship Grant will be used to assist in paying for an ABA Therapist/Occupational Therapist to come onsite and provide these skills to Brittany.

 

Scholarship Recipient

Mr. Miguel Lopez
U.S. ARMY VETERAN (Afghanistan)
Honorably Discharged – 2014

Mr. Lopez served in the U.S. Army where he was a Combat Veteran. Mr. Lopez joined the Horizon Eagle Fatherhood Program offered by Horizon Outreach. This program provided parenting, relationship and job readiness training. The Horizon Eagle Program changed my life. After serving in the military my family and I found ourselves homeless. I heard about Horizon Outreach from someone on the Metro Bus. I joined the program in March 2018. Now, I am employed, my wife and daughter are safe in our home and I have my certification’s. Since graduating the program, the case managers have checked on me to make sure I stay on track and I love it. Thanks Horizon Outreach for the positive energy.”
Mr. Lopez is very grateful for the scholarship. He says he will use the money towards obtaining further certifications @ the School for Aviation (Aeronautics).

Horizon Outreach
Houston, Texas

Ms. Katrina R. Johnson, EMBA is the President/CEO of Horizon Outreach a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that she founded in February 2010. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force and an Executive MBA graduate of Auburn University. Prior to receiving her calling to enter the social services field, she spent 17 years in the oil and gas industry as a Senior Finance Analyst managing $320 plus million dollars in oil and gas and government projects. Horizon Outreach’s mission is “Giving Everyone A New Start”. This mission is accomplished through various programs that provide employment/workforce development and re-entry services, housing assistance and fatherhood/parenting education. Since 2010, the organization has connected over 5,200 individuals and families (2,000 were military families) to resources and supportive services in the community. Under Ms. Johnson’s leadership, Horizon Outreach has secured over $8 Million dollars in funding and will soon build a campus to provide housing, administrative offices as well as direct services for families in need.

Ms. Johnson is actively involved in the community and serves as an Advisory Board Member for Fortis Institute as well as on several non-profit boards. She spends numerous hours supporting homeless and veterans initiatives.

    Cart