Overview
Corvias Foundation supports military families through scholarships, educational resources, and community programmes designed to improve long-term opportunities. Founded by John Picerne, the organisation provides financial assistance for military spouses, students, and vocational learners while helping servicemembers’ families navigate education, relocation, and career challenges.
Introduction
John Picerne founded Corvias in 1998 as a logistics and housing provider focused on clearing backlogs in the Department of Defense’s infrastructure programs and managing residential communities. Over the years, the company expanded. It partnered with both military and higher education institutions to solve their infrastructure challenges.
Corvias has been working closely with the US military for decades. It was one of the first private infrastructure companies to partner with the Department of Defense. Today, Corvias maintains 15 housing partnerships with military and higher education institutions across the country. These partnerships accommodate a total of more than 72,000 military residents and students.
Corvias is also focused on energy projects, helping the Department of Defense pursue its energy efficiency and resilience goals. The company has generated more than 50 MW of energy across its various projects. As a result, there are savings of $34 million per year through Energy Savings Performance Contracts. Gas use in covered homes has been reduced by 60 per cent.
Under John Picerne’s leadership, Corvias operates on a trademarked “Solutions Through Partnerships” model that prioritises constructive collaboration with a variety of stakeholders. This focus on relationships, along with a commitment to residents, has resulted in high average ratings across the company’s portfolio.
The Important Work of Corvias Foundation
The name Corvias comes from the Latin phrase “rooted in the heart,” reflecting the company’s commitment to sustaining successful partnerships and improving local communities and society as a whole. This ethos is reflected in Corvias Foundation, which John Picerne founded in 2006. Over the past 20 years, the foundation has furthered the mission of Corvias to support military servicemembers and their families.
A major focus of Corvias Foundation is supporting education and professional skills development for military families. The foundation accomplishes this in a number of ways. It hosts Corvias Foundation Opportunity Hubs, which connect military families with educational tools. The hub also offers resources and opportunities available via local, regional, and national partners. The foundation understands that military families face a wide range of unique challenges. Many of these challenges are related to frequent duty station changes, and the goal is to keep families connected and supported. This support continues regardless of where they are deployed. To this end, the foundation provides access to literacy support, K-12 school success programmes, and college admissions support.
Recently, Corvias Foundation launched College Connection, a hub of curated resources. Here, military-connected students can receive guidance on choosing a college and applying. They also get advice on financial aid and scholarships. Students receive access to online and in-person events. In addition, they can view other resources designed to address their unique needs.
Both Corvias and Corvias Foundation are also known for their employees’ exceptional commitment to giving back to the communities they serve. In 2024, for example, Corvias employees provided hundreds of hours of volunteer service. A donation-match programme also resulted in more than $162,000 in donations, from nearly $60,000 contributed by employees. This volunteerism and financial support benefited organisations like Operation Homefront, Detroit’s Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.
Scholarships for Military-Connected Families
Corvias Foundation offers scholarships to children of Corvias employees, as well as to spouses and children of active-duty service members at seven different military installations in the United States. These include Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Rucker, Alabama; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Altogether, the foundation has awarded more than $20 million in scholarships since it was created 20 years ago.
Purple Tassel College and Vocational Achievement Scholarships
The Corvias Foundation Purple Tassel College Scholarship is available to military dependents who are currently seniors in high school and who intend to pursue a four-year college degree. The award can be used to help cover tuition, fees, on-campus food and housing, books, transportation costs, and other required materials. Meanwhile, the Purple Tassel Vocational Achievement Scholarship benefits high school seniors who want to pursue vocational or skilled trade training. It can similarly be used to cover tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and other educational expenses.
Military Spouse Scholarship
As its name suggests, the Corvias Foundation Military Spouse Scholarship supports the spouses of service members who are furthering their education. Unemployment and underemployment among this group remain persistently high—around four to five times the national average. There are several reasons for this, but frequent relocations often disrupt military spouses’ careers and educational advancement. State-based licensing and community support networks can be interrupted as well.
Accordingly, funds from this scholarship can pay for tuition, continuing education credits, professional expenses like licences and certifications, background checks, and other expenses military spouses face as they pursue professional development and education.
Corvias Employee Family Scholarships
The Corvias Foundation also provides scholarships to family members of Corvias employees, many of whom are members of military families themselves. Scholarships are available to children of Corvias employees who are high school seniors. These students must also intend to pursue either a four-year college degree or trade and technical education.
