At STS Federal, supporting veterans in our community, is of the utmost importance. It’s why we dedicate a space on our website to help share resources. There are many wonderful organizations available to access support and to locate volunteer opportunities. STS Federal wants to highlight each in a way that encourages participation and demonstrates their services, so we’ve compiled a brief look at each veteran cause and charity STS supports and provided direct links to facilitate more people getting involved, donating, or getting help. If you’re inspired by any of these causes, take the next step and bring your passion to the cause you love.
Ali’s Hope
https://alishopefoundation.org/
The mission of Ali’s Hope Foundation is to promote recovery and improve the quality of life for adolescents and young adults living with mental health concerns through education, support, and advocacy.
Ali’s Hope promotes awareness of mental health concerns through events and communication to those concerned with mental health, to provide hope for a brighter future and reduce the stigma related to mental illness. They also assist in funding mental health resources to promote access to treatment, sustainability of programs and stabilization for those in need. Finally, Ali’s Hope works with other organizations to promote discussion and programs related to mental health treatment to save more lives.
GET INVOLVED: https://alishopefoundation.org/contact-us
DONATE: https://alishopefoundation.org/donate-now
GET HELP: https://alishopefoundation.org/get-help/
Camaraderie Foundation
https://camaraderiefoundation.org/
Camaraderie Foundation provides healing for the “invisible wounds of war” through counseling, emotional, and spiritual support for all Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
Camaraderie Foundation provides access to mental health counseling services, at no expense, to Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families. In addition, Camaraderie Foundation provides transition assistance and supportive services. These warriors and their families experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, divorce, substance abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse and other issues. With the public’s support, Camaraderie Foundation helps with support, encouragement, and counseling to alleviate the stress associated with their transition from the military back into society by building a strong community of support around them. Through the healing of their invisible wounds, Camaraderie Foundation is truly Saving Lives – Saving Families.
GET INVOLVED: https://camaraderiefoundation.org/how-can-you-help/volunteer/
DONATE: https://camaraderiefoundation.org/donate-now/
GET HELP: https://camaraderiefoundation.org/programs/
Conductive Education Center of Orlando (CECO)
https://ceco.org/
CECO’s mission is to transform the lives of children and adults with neurological motor disabilities so that they may achieve their greatest level of independence through conductive education; integrating physical, cognitive, and social skills.
CECO is proud to serve students from all around the United States and abroad, 40% of CECO families relocate to the Orlando area to attend CECO programming. Many families choose to relocate after just four short weeks in CECO programming.
The Conductive Education Center of Orlando (CECO) serves individuals with neurological motor disabilities including Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida.
CECO’s programs transform the lives of families by making it possible for individuals with motor disabilities to develop skills for increased health and independence; skills such as sitting, gripping, toileting, speaking, self-feeding and walking. In each program, participants work one-on-one with a Conductor, Special Education Teacher, and assistant to reach individually tailored developmental goals.
DONATE: https://ceco.org/give/
GET HELP: https://ceco.org/
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust
https://cst.dav.org/
For more than 30 years, the DAV Charitable Service Trust has played a critical role in the support of ill and injured veterans, their families, and caregivers as they navigate the challenges of life after combat. Each year, the organization assists thousands of America’s heroes through targeted grant support of charitable initiatives across the nation.
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust is dedicated to one, single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.
To carry out this responsibility, the DAV Charitable Service Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs; enhances research and mobility for veterans with amputations and spinal cord injuries; benefits aging veterans; aids and shelters homeless veterans; and evaluates and addresses the needs of veterans wounded in recent wars and conflicts. For those of every era, the Trust also supports programs that benefit the caregivers and families of ill and injured veterans.
DONATE: https://cst.dav.org/contributions/
GET HELP: https://cst.dav.org/grants/
Fisher House Foundation
https://fisherhouse.org/
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital.
These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world.
Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room, and an inviting living room.
GET INVOLVED: https://fisherhouse.org/get-involved/volunteer/
DONATE: https://fisherhouse.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/
GET HELP: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/
Freedom Ride
https://www.armedforcesfreedomride.org/
The goal of the Freedom Ride is to pay respect to all of those who have served. It is held to show appreciation and bring awareness to the sacrifices of military servicemembers, veterans and their families.
JOIN THE RIDE: https://www.armedforcesfreedomride.org/registration/
DONATE: https://www.armedforcesfreedomride.org/sponsorship/
Gary Sinise Foundation
https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/
The Gary Sinise Foundation honors defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. These programs include:
R.I.S.E.
Through our R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program, the foundation builds 100% mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded heroes. R.I.S.E. also provides home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to injured, wounded, ill, and aging heroes.
Relief & Resiliency
The Relief & Resiliency program helps defenders and their families stay strong through hardships by offering complete support in times of need. These programmatic initiatives help our nation’s heroes and their families find the strength to persevere and heal.
Community Outreach & Education
The foundation’s Community Outreach & Education program bridges the gap between defender and civilian communities. These programmatic initiatives honor America’s heroes both past and present and inspire the next generation to do the same.
First Responders Outreach
The First Responders Outreach program provides funding for essential equipment, PPE, emergency relief, and training to ensure first responders are able to perform to the best of their abilities. It also serves those who are severely wounded in the line of duty by building 100% mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes and providing home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles.
DONATE: https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/give/
Homes for Our Troops
https://www.hfotusa.org/
Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives.
Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.
GET INVOLVED: https://www.hfotusa.org/get-involved/support_our_mission/
DONATE: https://www.hfotusa.org/get-involved/support_our_mission/ways_donate/
GET HELP: https://www.hfotusa.org/help/
Hope for the Warriors
https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/
Nationally, Hope for the Warriors provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that focus on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources.
These programs include:
Clinical Health & Wellness
Licensed clinicians provide holistic, person-centered care for a range of services that address both urgent and long-term veteran and family wellness needs.
Transition Services
The transition support program ensures every transition—whether from combat to home, duty station to duty station, military to civilian life, or military career to academic endeavors—is successful.
Sports & Recreation
Hope for the Warriors sports & recreation programs reintroduce a beloved sport or hobby to warrior athletes. The program also provides severely injured service members with the opportunity to gain new skills through the use of adaptive equipment.
GET INVOLVED: https://hopeforthewarriors.volunteerhub.com/
DONATE: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/about/make-a-donation/
GET HELP: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/connect-to-services/
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
https://iava.org/
IAVA is a community of 425,000+ members and growing that uses data and stories from our community to catalyze needed, positive change for America’s veterans. In addition, IAVA offers services to support veterans who need it. One example is IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force – a one-stop-shop solution offering 24/7 free and confidential assistance to any veteran who needs it, no matter the challenge.
GET INVOLVED: https://iava.org/membership/
DONATE: https://iava.org/donating-to-iava/
GET HELP: https://iava.org/quick-reaction-force/
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
https://www.nmcrs.org/
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; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.
As a non-profit, volunteer service organization, both financial and non-financial resources are used to meet emerging needs. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society helps clients improve personal financial skills and encourage individual financial responsibility.
GET INVOLVED: https://www.nmcrs.org/pages/lead-and-support-volunteers
DONATE: https://support.nmcrs.org/a/homepage
GET HELP: https://www.nmcrs.org/pages/call-or-visit-an-nmcrs-office-today
Wounded Warriors Family Support
https://www.wwfs.org/
The Wounded Warriors Family Support mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. The families of wounded and killed servicemembers suffer in many ways: some physical and some psychological.
Wounded Warriors Family Support programs include:
Caregiver Respite
Provides respite and supplemental services nationwide to the caregivers and families of wounded veterans.
Veteran Training
In partnership with UAW-Ford we offer a six-week welding training program to assist veterans with meaningful careers.
Family Retreats
Memorable vacations provided to wounded veterans to strengthen the bonds with their families
Mobility is Freedom
Custom outfitted vehicles and grants to enhance the lives of wounded veterans. Providing freedom and independence in their family’s everyday lives.
GET INVOLVED: https://donate.wwfs.org/register/get-involved
DONATE: https://www.wwfs.org/donate/
GET HELP: https://www.wwfs.org/