History

In 1998, two HH-60G rescue helicopters experienced a tragic mid-air collision during a night training mission on the Nellis AFB, NV range complex. This catastrophic accident resulted in the deaths of twelve (12) airmen, leaving eight (8) children behind. In the aftermath of this tragedy, a fund was started at a local Las Vegas bank to accept donations for the children of these brave airmen. Not long afterward, in 1999, another Nellis AFB rescue airman died in the line of duty while deployed to Operation Southern Watch, prompting the initiation of another fund to assist his two (2) young sons.
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The founders of these two independent assistance funds soon realized they could be more effective if they combined their efforts. They also recognized a much greater need than those few children in that process. They decided to pool their resources and expand their efforts to provide for the children of any Air Force rescue personnel who were killed executing the Air Force rescue mission from the Khobar Towers terrorist attack in 1996 and onward. In May 2002, the That Others May Live Foundation (TOMLF) was officially founded and has supported the families of USAF rescue heroes since.

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Since its inception, the number of beneficiary children has surged from just eight (8) to over thirty (30) who require post-secondary educational support. In response to the devastating shootdown of an HH-60G in Afghanistan in June 2010, TOMLF broadened its mission to include providing immediate assistance to families of rescue Airmen who suffer injuries or are killed in combat. As of December 2024, TOMLF has extended college assistance to twelve (12) children and offered immediate support funds to thirty-four (34) families of fallen or injured rescue Airmen. TOMLF remains steadfast in its commitment, continuously hosting support events for rescue personnel and their families wherever they are stationed, reinforcing its dedication to the welfare of these families.