The Code of Support Foundation is pleased to endorse the organizations listed here and recommend that all who follow the Code of Support take the next step by donating to or volunteering for one or more of these organizations that provide direct material support to our troops, our wounded warriors, our veterans, and their families.
Our endorsement is based on the missions of these organizations being consistent with the spirit of the Code of Support, and on vetting the quality of their operations and the results they achieve. Our intent is to provide a manageable list of quality organizations for those who want to help but don’t know where to begin since there are thousands of organizations of varying quality which purport to support the troops and seek your financial support. The absence of any particular organization on this list should not be considered a reflection of that organization’s quality or integrity. If you have already been supporting any particular organization, we urge you to continue to do so.
For your convenience, we have divided the listed organizations into four categories pertaining to their major focus. Keep in mind that many organizations perform service in many of the indicated categories, but they are listed only once here.
Support For Our Troops
USO
The USO’s mission is to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families through an extensive range of programs in 27 countries, and at hundreds of entertainment events each year. Thousands of USO volunteers provide a home away from home for our troops and keep them connected to the families they left behind.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families. We provide needed comfort and care in military and veterans hospitals; support for military families with vital social services; and emergency communications to keep families connected when they need it most. The Red Cross assists where ever it is needed – alongside the troops throughout the world, on stateside military installations or in local communities far from a base. We continually adapt our traditional services and create new programs to meet the needs of today’s military member, veterans and their families.
Operation Support Our Troops, Inc.
Operation Support Our Troops was founded to help improve the morale and welfare of members of the armed forces of the United States of America deployed in harm’s way. We accomplish our mission by sending care packages — a touch, a taste and a smell of home — as well as personal messages of support, and items that are not readily available to our troops in their deployed locations. During our nine years of existence, we have sent approximately two million pounds of goods to our troops.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need.
G. I. Film Festival
The GI Film Festival, a 501 c(3) non-profit educational organization, is the first film festival in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the service member through the medium of film.
Not Alone
Not Alone provides programs and services to warriors and families impacted by combat stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These include Warrior Stories (concrete examples of how others have applied their strengths to coming home); Online seminars, training and workshops (useful information on how to overcome combat stress and pour energies into employment and education); Personal Clinical Care (warriors and families are referred to local providers for confidential, professional counseling); Forums, Chats and Social Networking; Assessments (understand strengths and how to build on them); and eClinic (24/7 crisis line: 1-866-781-8010).
Give an Hour
Give and Hour’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Currently, GAH is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give an Hour has providers across the nation—in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—and continues to recruit volunteer mental health professionals to its network. Mental health professionals interested in joining Give an Hour can complete an easy on-line form at www.giveanhour.org.
Support For Wounded Warriors
Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House Foundation serves more than 11,000 families annually by donating “comfort homes” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers that enable family members to be close to a loved one during hospitalization.
CAUSE
Cause organizes recreational and entertainment programs for members of the U.S. Armed Services recuperating from injuries received in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sentinels of Freedom
Our mission is to provide life-changing opportunities for men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have suffered severe injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams.
Homes for Our Troops
Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is our duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently. The homes provided by Homes for Our Troops are given at NO COST to the Veterans we serve.
The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues works to build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service. Post-9/11 wounded and disabled veterans are awarded fellowships with nonprofit organizations, providing tangible goods and services to the community. Mission Continues Service Projects bring together veterans, civilians and active-duty volunteers in service to our country, through service to their communities. And research projects are funded on the impact of volunteering and continued service for returning veterans,
Army Homefront Fund
The Army Homefront Fund provides emergency financial and other support to the families of soldiers, with a focus on wounded warrior care and transition assistance. The Army Homefront Fund is a 501(c)(3) military support non-profit, administered by Operation Homefront under an agreement with the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command.
Support For Military Families
Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families was created by real military families. We are committed to supporting one another through the unique challenge of military service and asking the larger civilian population to help as well, connecting military families regardless of rank, branch of service or physical location, and empowering military families to create the best personal and family life possible for themselves. We do this by providing both online and physical chapter-based communities and by serving as a bridge between families and support service organizations that are striving to make military life more sustainable.
National Military Family Association
The NMFA mission is to fight for benefits and programs that strengthen and protect uniformed services families and reflect the Nation’s respect for their Service. Spouses, parents, and family members make up our staff and board positions. We speak up on behalf of military families and empower husbands, wives, and children to understand and access their benefits. We meet the needs of service members and their families with insightful recommendations, innovative programs, and grassroots efforts to better the quality of life for military families.
Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront (OH) provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.
Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids provides tangible support to the children of deployed and severely injured National Guard and Military Reserve personnel through grants for sports, fine arts and tutoring that nurture and sustain the children during the time a parent is away in service to our country.
American Legion Family Support Network
The American Legion’s Family Support Network is ready to provide immediate assistance to service personnel and families whose lives have been directly affected by Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s war on terror. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the nation’s active-duty military has been on high alert, and National Guard and reserve units are being mobilized in record numbers. As a result, the families of these men and women often find themselves unable to meet normal monthly expenses, and assistance is needed for a variety of everyday chores. These tasks include grocery shopping, child care, mowing the grass, fixing the family car and other routine household jobs. Since the creation of the Family Support Network during the first Persian Gulf War, thousands of posts have responded to meet these families’ needs.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.)
TAPS is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 30,000 surviving family members of our fallen military since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars, case work assistance, and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free crisis line at 800.959.TAPS.
Support For Veterans
DAV
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is dedicated to building better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families. The DAV also provides volunteers at VA medical centers to transport veterans to medical appointments.
Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America
Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health injuries and GI Bill educational benefits. It also encourages veterans to connect with one another and form lasting communities.
Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. A participant may be a veteran, an interviewer, or person donating a veteran’s collection. Students in the 10th grade and above may also participate and there are special resources for educators and students.
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA’s (HHUSA) mission is to offer transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the US military – and to their spouses – in order to reduce veteran unemployment. HHUSA prioritizes veterans statistically most likely to be unemployed: veterans of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and veterans that are wounded or disabled.
I Support Vets
The mission of I Support Vets is to raise patriotic support for our veterans at the local and national level; and help ready our communities to receive and care for our military families.
Disabled Veterans Assistance Fund
Disabled Veterans Assistance Foundation, USA (DVAF) is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved charitable organization dedicated to providing financial support to America’s wounded service men and women to aid in their successful transition to civilian life. The greater goal of a financial assistance loan or grant is to enable the budding entrepreneur to thrive and ultimately grow and hire additional veteran employees, thus expanding the scope of success of the program.
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), offered by a network of seven world-class universities, provides cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country. The EBV is designed to open the door to business ownership for our veterans by 1) developing your skills in the many steps and activities associated with launching and growing a small business, and by 2) helping you leverage programs and services for veterans and people with disabilities in a way that furthers your entrepreneurial dreams.
Note: This list is certainly not exhaustive. There are many other organizations which are equally deserving of your support. Other organizations interested in being featured here should e-mail info@codeofsupport.org.