The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence promotes state-of-the-science traumatic brain injury (TBI) care from point-of-injury to reintegration for active duty service members, veterans, and their families to prevent and mitigate consequences of mild to severe TBI.
The Adaptive Sports Center enhances the quality of life of people with disabilities through exceptional outdoor adventure activities. The successful programs the ASC provides are inclusive to families and friends empower our participants in their daily lives and have a positive enduring effect on self-efficacy health independence and overall well being.
Adaptive Training Foundation empowers those with physical disabilities to transform their lives through exercise and community.
America’s VetDogs® began in 2003 as a project of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind to consolidate and increase our outreach to veterans of all eras. In 2006, it became a separate 501(c)(3) corporation.
VetDogs provides guide dogs for veterans who are blind; service dogs for those with other physical disabilities; physical and occupational therapy dogs to work with amputees in military and VA hospitals; and combat stress control dogs to be deployed in theater.
All of our services are provided at no cost to veterans, and our funding comes from the generous contributions of individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses, and service and fraternal clubs.
For a veteran with a serious limb injury, amputation, or traumatic brain injury, a service dog can provide stability support climbing up and down stairs or getting in and out of a chair, and can be trained to fetch and retrieve specific items, e.g., medication, a wallet, or a phone. For veterans with seizure disorder, dogs can be trained to alert for seizure response.
Our Mission:
To help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence.
The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs® were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities, it provides the motivation to tackle every day challenges.
VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals.
It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of VetDogs’ services are provided at no charge to the individual. Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.
Once they make the decision to get a service dog, applicants become part of VetDogs’ open and welcoming community. Students will come to our 10-acre campus in Smithtown, New York, for our two-week in-residence training program. Classes are kept small to ensure personalized attention for each student and their new dog. Over the course of the time spent with us, the student and dog bond and learn how to work together as a team. They are supported with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, from highly empathetic and certified trainers to a meticulously constructed curriculum.
The American Red Cross chapters in the state of Arizona and the state of New Mexico merged to form one large region—Arizona and New Mexico Region. The American Red Cross in both Arizona and New Mexico will be celebrating their 100th Anniversary of the American Red Cross in their respective states.
Mission
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Vision
The vision of the American Red Cross in Arizona and New Mexico is to partner with our community to develop and foster safer families, neighborhoods and worksites. Serving as a leading public benefit corporation, we will promote a system of community self-sufficiency and compassionate response when emergencies arise.
To help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence. The service dog programs of Americas VetDogs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans active duty service members and first responders with disabilities allowing them to once again live with pride and self reliance. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities it provides the motivation to tackle every day challenges.
Mission is to ensure that no veteran in need is denied clinical care because of a lack of transportation.
BVA continually strives to better the lives of all who served in the Armed Forces living with sight loss through expert advocacy engaged membership clear communication and peer inspired self reliance. Our BVA family epitomizes respect honor dedication and commitment to sustain a thriving informed patriotic and connected community.
Todays service members return with injuries that would have been fatal in earlier times. We are funding programs that heal both the physical and hidden wounds of war with a focus on long term effects of living with injury. With a quarter million service members transitioning from service annually we work tirelessly to make sure education and employment enables and enriches the next chapter of their lives. Ensuring impacted veterans and their families have access to meaningful opportunities and experiences that enhance their quality of life is at the heart of our mission. Programs we shape provide service members with senses of purpose places to live healthy family relationships and outlets for socialization.
Bronze Star Homes builds modular homes, ramps and sub-assemblies with universal access to improve the quality of life for our heroes: Veterans. Through our partnership with Purple Heart Homes, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing housing solutions for Service Connected Disabled Veterans, we are able to identify and assist disabled warriors in our local and surrounding communities.
Bronze Star Homes is a disabled veteran owned company that hires and trains veterans to manufacture products to help deserving veterans and the broader community. We build modular homes, additions and modular tiny homes for disabled vets and homeowners with special requirements at the lowest practical cost to the customer while delivering maximum return on investment to our stakeholders and partners. We return a portion of our proceeds to our nonprofit partners to further our impact on the veteran community while investing in our veteran employees to improve their skills and employment opportunities.
Our modular ramps are manufactured to exacting standards, meet ADA standards and can be assembled by 2 – 4 people in four hours. They are attractive treated wood products with integral handrails and include all hardware and components. Each piece can be carried by two people and assembly requires no special tools or extensive construction experience.
Our modular additions are designed to be attached to existing structures. They are ADA compliant and allow a homeowner to remain in their house while construction is taking place in our plant. On site construction time is reduced from several months to approximately two weeks resulting in less disruption to the occupants.
Our Compact Hero Homes are designed to accommodate full ADA access when required. They are built to North Carolina Modular Building Program standards and are rigorously inspected. We offer many models and we can build to suit if the customer has special requirements.
Challenge Aspen is dedicated to impacting lives through year-round adaptive experiences for individuals faced with cognitive and/or physical disabilities.
It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical challenges so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self esteem encourages independence and enhances quality of life.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Founder’s Story
November 2001 I was serving in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, where I endured several traumatic incidents that, at the time, did not seem to affect my relationships with my family, friends, and colleagues. However, a short time after my first deployment, things began to change; a life-threatening situation occurred during the same period where I lost two friends in my unit due to suicide. All of a sudden, I found myself acting violently towards my family, friends, and myself.
During this period, our family ended up getting a rescued pit bull named Cheyenne, who saw so many of my outbursts. Ultimately things got worse before they got better, and I began contemplating suicide because I just wanted the pain to end. In the end, it was Cheyenne and her presence that took my focus off the pain and made me reconsider living.
Immediately I felt so relieved, like someone had taken a 10,000-pound weight off my chest. My family and friends noticed a significant change in my behavior – a reduced number of outbursts, a better attitude, and my decision not to commit suicide – all because of this little pit bull puppy. Cheyenne gave me a purpose and someone else to live and care for.
Following these incidents, I was diagnosed by the Department of Veterans Affairs with having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression.
In 2009, I set out on a mission to share my personal struggles and how this new companion had helped me overcome them, with fellow military Veterans, active duty military, law enforcement, first responders, Gold Star families, those who have PTSD, TBI (traumatic Brain Injury) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST.) My hope and prayer is that Companions for Heroes (C4H) will aid them in their recovery and, at the same time, save our nation’s shelter and rescue animals. This is two lives served.
Today I live with my son, Dax, and daughter, Mabel, along with our rescued Service Dog Darby.
Our Mission
-
Healing Paws for Warriors is a local veteran found / veteran led 501(c)(3) that provides rescue to trained service dogs to combat veterans faced with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) at “no cost” to the veteran with continued support; reducing the statistic of veteran suicide, increasing self and family health and wellness. A resilient program that represents veterans helping veterans from personal experience and trained service dogs.
-
Our staff is comprised of a combat medical war veteran, practicing PTSD therapist, professional service dog trainer, a veterinarian, and many other supportive volunteers.
-
Our dogs come only from local rescues. Our service dog trainer teaches the dogs and the veterans as a team. The dogs are not pets, they are service dogs with the complete protection and rights granted by the American with Disabilities Act.
-
We are devoted to pairing and training service dogs with veterans at NO COST to the veteran to enroll!
Our Goal
-
Bringing awareness to veteran suicide; reducing the numbers one dog at a time.
-
Give hope and healing to Veterans and rescue dogs through empowering military heroes to return to civilian life with dignity and independence
-
Express gratitude to those who have served, or are serving our great country.
-
Reduce number of canines in shelters; ending pet homelessness.
OUR MISSION
Healing4Heroes™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to assisting our military service members and veterans lead healthy, productive lives. Our objective is to connect wounded service members, as well as those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, with A.D.A. compliant service dogs.
OUR PURPOSE
Healing4Heroes™ has dual purposes in that it serves the community by helping military personnel and veterans as well as local animal shelters by rescuing suitable dogs.
Our military personnel and veterans, after being wounded both physically and mentally, are able to move forward and live more productive lives with the assistance of service animals.
Mission is to give veterans and active military a second chance at life by honoring and empowering those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma through the experience of training and caring for their own service dog.
The mission of Patriot PAWS is to train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence.
Our mission is to give the gifts of fidelity, joy, and love to veterans and pets through companion animal adoption
Our mission is like no other because we are serving the men and women of the most extraordinary military of the most exceptional nation in the world. The ways we think, act and deliver are all in support of fulfilling our mission:
Collaborate with the animal welfare community
Build a nationwide network of shelter/rescue and veterinary partners who share our values and vision
Give hope to the hopeless
Find loving homes for the most overlooked sheltered animals: adult, special needs, and long-term homeless pets, and large breed dogs
Be a leading voice for sheltered animals
Educate the military community and the public about the plight of animals surrendered to shelters, promoting companion pet adoption as the only humane and responsible alternative to buying or breeding animals
Help veterans afford a new pet friend
Reduce the overall costs of pet guardianship to prevent veterans from returning their adopted pets to the shelter due to short-term financial hardship
Share our love
Provide ongoing support – moral, educational, and financial – to nurture the healing bonds between veterans and their adopted companion pets
No more veterans in need, no more homeless pets
Our vision is to end animal homelessness in the United States while giving our military veterans and their families the greatest “thank you” of all: the extraordinary love of a companion pet.
We can make this happen through our nationwide shelter and veterinary networks, military and veteran organizations, and a public that values the lives of both the most vulnerable and heroic among us.
The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who can benefit from a companion animal.
Around 920,000 Shelter Animals are Euthanized each year including 390,000 Dogs and 530,000 Cats. These dogs can make excellent companion animals but never have that chance. It is our belief that companion animals can be the life saving therapy or friend that many returning service men and women need.
Medical studies have shown that companion animals significantly improve mental and physical health, including reducing stress, depression and anxiety, symptoms experienced by many serving in the military.
The Pets for Vets team interviews each veteran to ascertain exactly what he or she is looking for in a companion animal; we pair this with his or her personality and lifestyle to make the perfect pet/veteran match. Once the perfect pet is selected for the veteran, he then spends time in the home of our trainer who teaches him basic manners and other valuable behaviors needed to live with his new owner.
Your support helps us match a rescued companion dog (or pet) with an American veteran who would benefit from having a companion. In accomplishing this mission, we do not want to create an additional burden on the veteran; with each dog/veteran match we provide all of the necessary equipment for them to start their new life together. In addition, the pet will be healthy and up to date on all vaccinations. Your donation helps to ensure they have everything they need.
Locations across America (26 Chapters):
Our Mission
We empower combat veterans, service members, first responders and their families to resolve trauma through awareness, resilience and support.
How We Are Different
We are combat veterans who have expertise in treating post-traumatic stress (disorder), often referred to as PTS(D). We utilize our military and crisis training to find solutions to resiliency challenges in individuals with all types of field-related trauma.
Our Bigger Purpose
Giving back, honoring losses and providing for the greater good is integrated in every step of our ongoing care plan.
What We Do
We provide housing solutions for service connected disabled and aging Veterans
We are Veterans… We are also the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, spouses, and those who are proud to have a connection to our nation’s military. Join the family, and help us provide much needed assistance to Veterans of all eras.
Purple Heart Homes is a 501(c)3 public charity that was founded in 2008 by John Gallina and the late Dale Beatty, two combat wounded Veterans. After being injured in Iraq in 2004, they returned to their community and received a warm welcome and grateful appreciation for their service. They began to question why all Veterans didn’t get the same levels of support and assistance from society.
The answer isn’t easy, but Purple Heart Homes fills the gaps in housing through the Veterans’ Aging In Place and Veterans Home Ownership Programs. From building a ramp for a Veteran of World War II, to providing home ownership opportunities to younger Veterans, our programs are designed out of necessity and fit the specific needs of the Veteran population.
Chapters in:
Alaska
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Mississippi
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Texas
Semper K9 rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to be service dogs at no cost for disabled service members. Semper K9 recently purchased 33 acres adjacent to Marine Corps Base where they plan to build a retreat-style facility for out of area veterans and their families to come and train with their service dogs.
OUR WHY
We believe that First Responders and Veterans are the true American heroes, and when they receive a mental injury, they should be provided the top-tier rehabilitation program to get them back on track.
OUR MISSION
Shields and Stripes provides first line defenders the opportunity to heal visible and non-visible wounds, helping those we need the most to live meaningful lives in service to our communities.
OUR VISION
Shields and Stripes are bringing Special Operations resilience experience to care for our first-line defenders. Our innovative solution treats a sub-population suffering in silence to increased levels of mental health issues. Additionally, Shields and Stripes encourages help-seeking culture change among the service members, veterans, and first responder community. Our compassion and determination decreases negative perceptions, minimizes bias and eliminates discrimination against those isolated and in pain so they don’t get left behind.
OUR MISSION
Since 1927, the mission of the Texas Veterans Commission has been to advocate for and provide superior service to veterans that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans, their families, and survivors.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Texas Veterans Commission will aggressively advocate for Texas veterans, their families, and survivors.
The Texas Veterans Commission will provide quality service through eight program areas: Claims Representation and Counseling, Veterans Employment Services, Veterans Education, Veteran Entrepreneur Program, Health Care Advocacy, Veterans Mental Health Program, Women Veterans Program, and the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.
The Texas Veterans Commission will provide quality service through a dedicated, professional, and well trained workforce.
The Texas Veterans Commission will connect with all veterans across the state, and tailor its service to meet their needs and the needs of their families and survivors.
The Texas Veterans Commission will take the lead in coordinating efforts between our eight programs and with federal, state, and local governmental offices and private organizations that provide services and assistance to veterans.
The Texas Veterans Commission will ensure that Texas veterans maintain the highest quality of life and well-being through its advocacy and dedication to veterans’ services.
We hold ourselves personally and professionally accountable to provide exemplary customer service to veterans, their families, and survivors through our core values.
PROFESSIONALISM
Perform your duties to the highest standard and providing excellent customer service in every program area.
INTEGRITY
Provide fair, honest and objective advocacy in an ethical manner while displaying the highest standard of conduct both on and off duty.
COMPASSION
Consistently demonstrate care, concern and understanding in every encounter with Veterans, family members and stakeholders.
COMMITMENT
Fully dedicated to develop yourself to become the best you can be in carrying out the mission of the TVC.
TEAMWORK
Working together in a positive and productive manner to accomplish the mission and goals of the agency.
The Texas Veterans Commission was created in 1927 as the State Service Office to assist veterans of the Indian wars, Spanish-American War and World War I. Our purpose has always been to act as the state appointed advocate of Texas veterans as they attempt to secure the benefits rightfully earned in exchange for their service in our nation’s armed forces.
We are able to do this through our eight program areas:
- Claims Representation and Counseling serves veterans, their dependents and survivors, in all matters pertaining to veterans’ disability benefits and rights. It is the designated agency of the state of Texas to represent the State and its veterans before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Veterans Education Program approves all programs for Chapter 30, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607 federal educational benefits. Through an approval process, the Texas Veterans Commission ensures that institutions and employers are in compliance with federal guidelines and are qualified to provide the type of training offered.
- Veterans Employment Services offers employment services to Texas veterans and helps employers find qualified veteran job applicants. The goal of these services is to match veteran job seekers with the best employment opportunities available.
- The purpose of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program (VEP) is to foster and promote veteran entrepreneurship throughout the state of Texas. The Texas Veterans Commission, with the help of the Governor’s office and several prominent Legislators, passed Senate Bill 1476 in 2013. This allowed for the funding of a team of experienced business consultants to be available for any veteran in the state of Texas to consult with, free of charge to the veteran.
- Fund for Veterans’ Assistance is a program that makes grants to eligible charitable organizations, local government agencies, and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) that provide direct services to Texas veterans and their families.
- The Health Care Advocacy Department is a team of highly-trained Texas Veteran Commission staff, strategically positioned across the state to act as liaisons for Texas veterans in addressing issues involving Veterans Administration health care related services.
- In collaboration with the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Veterans Commission’s Veterans Mental Health Program consists of multiple initiatives focusing on peer support, clinical mental health care access, and community collaboration.
- The Women Veterans Program serves women veterans by helping them to obtain their benefits and services. We strive to raise awareness of women veteran contributions and services to our country and state, as well as inform and educate women veterans and their resource providers about the benefits and services to women veterans.
Through these program areas, the Texas Veterans Commission provides excellent service so that each veteran receives every benefit that they deserve. As a veteran works with our counselors, the quality of life for that veteran and their family significantly increases.
Today, Texas is leading the country by making sure each veteran is represented and cared for. The people of Texas have sent a clear message that the sacrifices made by veterans and their families are deeply appreciated, and that there is an agency that will stand by them and take care of them: the Texas Veterans Commission.
To reach out to and empower people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential through education support and advocacy and to promote limb loss prevention.
SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS
As a family caregiver you play an important role in caring for the Veteran at home and in the community.
We are Veterans of the Military and First Responder Communities whose service continues as peer leaders creating gathering spaces each month meant to encourage grassroots meaningful human connection.
The No Veteran Left Behind Program allows disabled heroes who are able to help train their own service dog. They are matched with a dog from a local shelter or if they own a dog, after an evaluation, they might be able to train their own dog.