CHICAGO, Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pritzker Military Foundation, founded by Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer N. Pritzker (Retired), announces $120,000 in grants to two national military history institutions in honor of Veterans Day. The funding includes a $70,000 grant to the National WWI Museum and Memorial for its Global Education Initiative and a $50,000 grant to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to support its 19th International Conference on World War II, taking place November 19–21, 2026. Both grants reinforce the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to honoring those who served while ensuring their stories and sacrifices are preserved.
The grant to the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, supports its Global Education Initiative, which expands access to educational resources and programming focused on World War I and its enduring impact. Through digital learning opportunities, educational materials and professional development for educators, the initiative helps students, teachers and audiences around the world better understand the history, experiences and global consequences of the Great War.
“Honor, courage and sacrifice are not abstractions at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. They are the stories of real Americans who lived through the Great War,” said Lora Vogt, National WWI Museum and Memorial Vice President of Education and Interpretation. “With Pritzker Military Foundation’s support, we brought those stories to teachers this year, and they told us the connections they are now making for their students, from what freedom meant in 1917 to how sports can hook a kid who swears they don’t like history. That is the heart of our centennial: remembering forward, so the ideals this Memorial was built to honor keep shaping the next generation.”
The National WWII Museum’s International Conference on World War II is recognized as a premier educational event for adults, bringing together renowned scholars, historians, authors and witnesses to history from around the world to examine the battles, individuals, strategies and defining moments of World War II. This year’s conference will explore a wide range of topics, including resistance under occupation, pivotal moments of the war, intelligence operations and the experiences of those who served. Through presentations and discussions led by experts in the field, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the military, political and human dimensions of World War II.
“Over the past 20 years, the International Conference on World War II has grown into the preeminent annual gathering of WWII scholars and enthusiasts in the country, fostering meaningful dialogue, sharing new perspectives, and deepening understanding of this world-changing war,” said Jeremy Collins, Associate Vice President of Programs at The National WWII Museum. “It is a great privilege for the Museum to host this event each year. Its continued growth and success would not be possible without the dedication and support of our attendees and partners like Pritzker Military Foundation.”
“As a veteran, I understand firsthand the significance of military service and the responsibility we share to honor those who have served before us,” said LTC Jennifer Pritzker USA (RET). “Veterans Day reminds us that honoring their sacrifices goes beyond a single day of recognition. It means preserving their stories, appreciating the lessons of history and ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made in service to our country. Supporting this conference is an extension of a commitment that has remained central to my life.”
For LTC Jennifer Pritzker, honoring veterans is deeply personal, rooted in decades of distinguished military service. Her own military career has been marked by numerous awards, decorations and international honors that reflect her dedication to serving her country.
Her military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Star, Antarctica Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 20-Year Device. Additional honors include the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with Numeral 6 and Louisiana Legion of Merit.
She has also earned numerous military qualifications and international distinctions, including the U.S. Army Air Assault Badge (1979), U.S. Army Parachutist Badge (1974), Polish Army Parachute Badge (1996), Netherlands Parachute Badge (1995), United Kingdom Royal Air Force Parachute Badge (1995), Canadian Defense Forces Parachute Badge (1994), Russian Preliminary Parachute Badge (1993), Russian Army Parachute Badge (1992) and Israeli Defense Forces Parachute Badge (1988). In 1994, she received citations from two members of the Canadian Parliament for participating in a parachute jump commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. In 2022, she was inducted into the Loyola ROTC Rambler Battalion Hall of Fame, further recognizing her military service and contributions.
Pritzker Military Foundation is a private foundation that accepts applications by invitation only. There is no open application period.
About Pritzker Military Foundation
Pritzker Military Foundation seeks to support the work of nonprofit organizations—to preserve American military history, restore historic military artifacts and make them accessible to the public, and provide services and essential resources to active-duty military, veterans and families of service members in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. To learn more, visit www.pritzkermilitaryfoundation.org.
Attachments
Erika Davis Pritzker Military Foundation 3123749354 erika.davis@tawani.net
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