Captain Andrew R Houghton Foundation

The foundation was formally established on November 1, 2004, as a means to honor the memory of Captain Andrew R. Houghton. Captain Andrew R. Houghton was a true American Patriot who died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on August 9, 2004, at 25 years of age as a result of injuries sustained during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Andy was severely wounded in an attack on his Bradley Fighting Vehicle near Samarra, Iraq. Andy was a 2001 graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, and a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston, Texas. Captain Houghton was a hero not only because of the way he died, heroically serving a country that he loved, but more importantly because of the way he lived. Selfless service to others defined Andrew R. Houghton's life as did the West Point motto -Duty, Honor, Country. The foundation was formed in order to provide a lasting, perpetual memorial to Captain Houghton, by providing support and benefits to those organizations recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which were supported by Captain Andrew R. Houghton, specifically including organizations providing recordings for the blind, such as Taping for the Blind, Inc., and the Special Olympics, and to such other exempt organizations that exemplify the ideals to which he was dedicated, such as Laity Lodge Youth Camp, Kerrville, Texas. The organization will provide scholarships and grants to students of good character and similar ideals, specifically including the students of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston, Texas. The organization will also provide emergency financial assistance for travel expenses to the cadets from Texas attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.