FIGHT THE WAR WITHIN FOUNDATION INC

Fight the War Within Foundation was established in 2020, in loving memory of Army Ranger Veteran, Garrett Briggs. On January 31, 2018, Garrett tragically lost his internal war at his home, where he, his wife, and his 15 day old daughter lived. After struggling significantly with PTSD after serving in combat with the 1/75th Ranger Regiment, Garrett sadly did not find the help that he greatly needed and was asking the VA for, at the time of his suicide. After his loss, his wife, Miranda, began ordering Garrett's medical and military records in an effort to understand his passing. Through the journey, she learned that Garrett had fallen through the cracks time and time again, both during and after his military service. She then heard a call to action to prevent other losses like hers from happening to anyone else. After assembling a team of dedicated board members, the journey officially began in 2020.

The mission of Fight the War Within Foundation is to empower warriors battling internal struggles and their families by fostering a supportive community effort that connects them to vital resources. We offer assistance by providing therapy-cost scholarships, by sending motivational care packages for difficult times, and by providing emergency financial grants to mitigate critical situations that can be detrimental to one's mental health. We achieve all of this through strategic collaborations and the support of an all-volunteer team, who are committed to making a positive impact on those who are struggling the most.

The four pillars of the organization are: Camaraderie, Assistance, Education, and Remembering the Fallen.

Camaraderie:

Fight the War Within hosts events that promote peer support and the strength of community. This includes supporting a monthly initiative called Coffee and Camaraderie which is hosted both in Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. The tab is 100% covered by a team of like minded organizations, and warriors of all walks and their families are encouraged to attend. Other annual events include our annual Race to Fight the War Within 5k/10k, the annual Warrior's Ball, and the annual family-style Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, hosted on the actual holidays. To date, over $50,000 has impacted the local community to support this vital initiative.

Assistance:

Fight the War Within provides assistance in the form of emergency grants to help mitigate costs of anything that affects one's mental wellbeing, care packages to promote healing during difficult times, and case management support to connect those struggling to resources. Since the start in 2020, over $66,000 has been directly used to support those who need a hand up in their situations, regardless of how difficult they may be.

Education:

Through education, Fight the War Within is a certified organization to teach The Intervene Challenge. In this 5 hour course, participants learn how to identify someone who may be having thoughts of suicide. We then dive into skills, like how to ask the most difficult questions surrounding these thoughts, and guide participants into how to actively listen and then connect anyone struggling to safety and a level of hope. This is 100% sponsored by Fight the War Within, and over 200 participants have been through the class since 2020.

Remembering the Fallen:

Often, warriors who lose their internal war are not remembered with the same level of respect as those who die in the line of duty. Through Fight the War Within, we strive to remember warriors of all walks- regardless of the cause of death. Through our H.I.T.S Dedication Board Program (Heroes In The Sky), we honor these heroes in businesses, by creating a dedication board with name tapes that represent the hero, based on their branch of service. Families of the fallen are reminded that their loved ones' service matters, and that they will not go forgotten. Also, at the annual Warrior's Ball, a central table, consisting of 22 service members who have lost their internal wars, are beautifully displayed for all to see. Family members and friends are invited to light the candles in front of each place setting, which kicks off the evening. It is the most powerful moment of every year for our surviving families, volunteers, and supporters.

In all, Fight the War Within strives to ensure that all warriors, regardless of uniform, era of war, or discharge status, know that they matter, and that help is available in many forms. Our peer-approach and team of incredible volunteers has shown that by healing ourselves, we can help heal one another.

In Loving Memory of Garrett Briggs
July 31, 1989- January 31, 2018