In Real Life with Becky Sterner—dedicated volunteer helping those wounded in action

When it comes to building and leaving a legacy, some think of impact they have on those closest to them—friends, family, co-workers. Others think beyond the realm of known circles.

Becky Sterner thinks beyond.

She’s active with Wounded Warriors Family Support and in 2021 was the project coordinator for an event called Drive the Journey, which presents specially-equipped vehicles to veterans wounded in service to their country. She also helps organize and distribute scholarships to high school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) students, helping recipients advance their education and trade pursuits along with other volunteers from Microsoft.

At Microsoft, we believe strongly in the social responsibility we have to our communities across the globe. And while we encourage and support giving back year-round, I happened to talk to Becky just after our Giving Campaign, which is our annual celebration of giving—full of events, fundraising opportunities, and a spirit of community around philanthropy.

Becky was used to participating in a multi-city, in person tour with the vehicles to be given to veterans and to hand out scholarships to students aligned to the Giving Campaign in October. However, complications related to COVID-19 have required a more creative approach the past couple of years.

“Instead of stopping at all the places across the country, and the schools where we had scholarships to distribute, we had the scholarship events through Teams Meetings, and it worked out really well. And we added the ability to write cards to the scholarship recipients as well as the Wounded Warriors veterans. No one had to mail in anything. They could just go out to the Wounded Warriors site—and you can still do that today and just spread the love.”

When I asked her what sparked her interest in the Wounded Warriors Family Support organization, Becky tipped her hat to her parents, who instilled a sense of contribution to others from a young age. They led by example, donating time and skills to their communities, from making quilts for those in need to teaching youth outdoor safety skills to helping someone with their groceries in a parking lot. She told me she works to instill these values in her children and finds value in being of service to others. 

After we talked, tragedy hit Becky’s family. Her adult son fell from a 30-foot roof and severed his spinal cord, leaving him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Becky and her family have been on quite a journey, and when she told me about the accident and months following, Becky didn’t dwell on the hardships her son and family have faced. She simply said they’re navigating a new outlook on life and giving back to people in similar situations is even more important to her now.  

“You have to think of the people that come behind you. Be someone who contributes and not someone who takes away,” she said.

What a powerful sentiment, Becky. Thank you for being someone who contributes. I know the students, veterans, and their families appreciate the work that you and the foundation do. You’re changing lives for the better—both with the organization and within your own family—and that’s a legacy to be proud of.  

In 2021, #DrivetheJourney awarded two modified F-150 vehicles to wounded veterans in Las Colinas, Texas, as well as 27 scholarships to Junior ROTC members. You can follow #DrivetheJourney on Facebook and on Instagram.