For years, actor Gary Sinise has been known publicly for his performances on screen, but away from cameras, his most meaningful work has happened quietly. Through the Gary Sinise Foundation, he has committed himself to supporting U.S. military families, especially those who have endured the deepest loss imaginable. One of the foundation’s most touching efforts is a program called Snowball Express, created specifically for children who have lost a parent while that parent was serving in the U.S. military.
Snowball Express was designed with a simple but powerful goal: to give grieving families a moment of joy, connection, and relief. Through the program, children and surviving family members are invited on fully covered trips to Disney theme parks. Travel, accommodations, park entry, meals, and group activities are all included. The intention is not luxury, but freedom — freedom from financial stress, from isolation, and from the feeling that their loss has set them apart from the world around them.
What makes these trips different from a typical vacation is the shared experience. Every family attending Snowball Express understands grief, military sacrifice, and the weight of absence. Children who may feel alone at school or in their communities suddenly find themselves surrounded by others who know exactly what they’re going through. Bonds form naturally, without explanation or awkward questions. For many families, it’s the first time since their loss that they feel fully seen and understood.
Since the Gary Sinise Foundation took over Snowball Express, more than 1,000 children and family members have participated in these trips, with some years welcoming even more. The numbers vary depending on logistics and funding, but the commitment has remained steady. Year after year, the foundation continues to show up for these families, not with speeches or publicity, but with consistency. For children whose lives were abruptly changed by loss, that consistency matters.
Gary Sinise has often said the goal of Snowball Express is not simply entertainment. It’s about building community and reminding children that they are not forgotten. The trips include opportunities for families to connect with one another, honor the memory of fallen service members, and create new, joyful memories without guilt. For many children, laughter at a theme park doesn’t erase grief — but it gives them permission to feel happiness again.
Families who attend Snowball Express frequently describe the experience as healing. Parents speak about seeing their children smile in ways they hadn’t since their loss. Kids talk about friendships that continue long after the trip ends. The shared environment allows grief to exist without overshadowing everything else. It becomes part of the story, not the entire story. That balance is rare and deeply meaningful.
What makes Gary Sinise’s involvement so remarkable is how quietly it happens. Snowball Express doesn’t rely on constant headlines or viral moments. It operates year after year, focused on impact rather than attention. In a world where charitable acts are often tied to visibility, this program serves as a reminder that some of the most powerful kindness happens without applause. For the children who attend, the trip is not about who funded it — it’s about knowing they are supported, remembered, and never alone.
Through Snowball Express, Gary Sinise and his foundation have created something lasting. Not just vacations, but moments of connection that many families carry with them for a lifetime. It’s proof that compassion doesn’t have to be loud to be transformative — sometimes it simply shows up, again and again, exactly when it’s needed most.