Since the Foundation's launch in 2014, we have served hearty meals to thousands of service members and veterans. We have supported the training of post-traumatic stress service dogs for severely injured heroes and first responders. In addition, the Foundation provided life-changing IBOTs, mobility, and adaptive sports devices for wounded, aging, ill, and injured veterans and first responders. We supported Gold Star Families with relief grants and distributed scholarships to military children. We have also created resiliency programs for those we serve, such as our annual golf tournament for wounded veterans to enjoy and connect. We offer Gold Star Families a yearly bonding experience with other survivors by taking them out for a weekend of fun. We create a peer support network utilizing activities such as cooking classes and military memorials honoring their loved ones to promote joy and resiliency.
Over the past three years, we have focused on strengthening our four core programs to ensure we continue meeting the needs and improving the lives of our heroes and their families.
Food Program
We understand the challenge of food insecurity among our military families and provide nutritional education, grocery handouts, and gift cards to tackle this critical issue. Robert and his team of chefs also offer cooking demonstrations, showing our military families facing food insecurity and how to prepare simple meals on a limited budget using fresh ingredients.
Our Breaking Bread With Heroes program focuses on improving the physical and mental health of our military, veteran, and first responder communities. Every event allows them to recognize their service and show them they are loved and appreciated.
We host these events at veteran senior living facilities, veteran homeless shelters, firehouses, police stations, and military bases worldwide. Beyond preparing and serving meals to our warriors, when on a military base, we educate and motivate the cooks, food managers, and leadership to elevate the flavor and nutritional quality of the food served to our troops. By appealingly providing proper nutrition, we can improve our service members' health and wellness and strengthen our military force's readiness.
Wellness Program
The Robert Irvine Foundation's Wellness Program supports the mental and physical well-being of America's injured, wounded, ill, and aging heroes and their families. We help heal the visible and invisible wounds they incurred while serving our nation and empower them to break through boundaries and fulfill their potential.
The Wellness Program includes Reuniting the Brave (new in 2023), which reunites combat veterans, their families, Gold Star Families, and Families of the Fallen to help make peace with the past, build support for the present, and gain hope for the future.
We also provide IBOTs, mobility & adaptive sports devices, and service dogs to empower veterans and first responders to overcome physical or mental traumas so they can lead more fulfilled lives.
In addition, our Medevac Podcast creates a forum for open dialogue of service, injury, recovery, resiliency, failure, and success, which are uniquely experienced by the military and first responders. This is critical for the mental health of our heroes.
In 2024, we joined the USAA Face the Fight Coalition. We're thrilled to announce that we're incorporating the Robert Irvine Foundation's Face the Fight initiative into our programs. This initiative brings a range of evidence-based strategies, including safer firearms storage, targeted suicide prevention interventions, and expanded access to critical support services. Integrating this initiative into our programs will enhance the safety and well-being of those who serve and their families.
It's an unfortunate reality that our veterans and first responders are experiencing a crisis, with suicide rates among these groups reaching alarming levels. The veteran suicide rate is 71% higher than the national average, and first responders experience PTSD at triple the rate of the general population. Since 2001, we've lost over 125,000 veterans to suicide, with firearms involved in 72% of veteran suicides and 69% of first responder suicides. Given these statistics, our commitment to making a difference has never been more urgent.
Our team at the Robert Irvine Foundation interacts with over 250,000 service members, veterans, first responders, and their families annually through our various programs. By incorporating these evidence-based interventions into our programs, we can extend our reach and maximize our impact in reducing suicides among those who have given so much.
Our goal is to provide information on Crisis Response/Safety Planning and reducing access to lethal means to veterans, first responders, and their families. Through these efforts, we aim to significantly reduce the risk of suicide by promoting safe practices and improving access to vital mental health resources. We look forward to working with the USAA Face the Fight Coalition and other partners to make these life-saving changes a reality.
Community Program
The Robert Irvine Foundation's Community Program builds peer support networks for
heroes and their families. Through Resiliency Experiences, the Organization hosts and
supports veterans and Gold Star Families. We bring these heroes together for
opportunities to connect and form deep bonds. They arrive alone but leave with a
renewed sense of family.
Additionally, Robert visits service members on Military Bases to bring a sense of home. Beyond having fun, he always makes time for meaningful dialogue about what it means to serve and shares insights on food, nutrition, and fitness. At Community Education events, the organization hosts people to raise awareness about the ever-changing needs of our nation's heroes by bringing local communities together to inform and inspire.
Robert's Ambassadors include an outstanding team of veterans, military families, and caregivers. These friends volunteer their time to spread the organization's mission
using their own stories at speaking engagements and events.
The Enlisted Aide of the Year Award recognizes Enlisted Aides who have shown exemplary work. Enlisted Aides act as the right hand to the United States Military Leadership. Military officers can accomplish so much more because of their Enlisted Aides.
Financial Support Program
Our Financial Support Program provides Scholarships to children of military families to alleviate the financial stress of the growing cost of tuition. The organization also provides grants and gift cards to Gold Star Families during the holidays to keep spirits high. Through the Emergency Relief Fund, the Robert Irvine Foundation gives grants to help relieve the financial burden when the unexpected happens - emergencies, natural disasters, and health crises.
2023 Robert Irvine Foundation Impact:
FOOD PROGRAMS
40,320+ heroes and their families served meals at Breaking Bread With Heroes
200+ military families received support for their Thanksgiving Meal to help combat food insecurity during the holiday season
1 grant was distributed to help combat the food insecurity crisis
WELLNESS PROGRAMS
2,200 veterans, Gold Star Families, and military family members participated in Reuniting the Brave
3 Service Dogs matched with their forever hero
7 IBOTS provided to injured veterans
2 IBOTS were provided to injured first responders
4 Mobility Devices provided to injured veterans
44 episodes recorded through the Medevac Podcast
40 veterans & active duty personnel were interviewed on the Medevac Podcast
4 civilians interviewed on the Medevac Podcast
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
32,730+ service members and military families visited on Military Bases
17 Military Bases visited by Robert Irvine
17,860 heroes impacted by Resiliency Experiences
334,156+ heroes and civilians attended Community Education events
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
200 Gold Star Families impact grants
19 Community Grants distributed
4 Relief Grants distributed
1 Scholarship Grant distributed
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