Programs
Our programs do just that. Over the past 10 years, we have provided services to veterans and their families through a variety of programs. Some of these are the following:
Veteran Health and Support
Our Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) program started with a program in Chicago, partnered with Dr. Eugene Lipov, a renowned Chicago area pain management specialist. His treatment, termed Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) has been used since 2008, and has successfully relieved PTS symptoms in 70 percent of combat veterans who received it once or more. Through our partnership with the Global PTSI Foundation and Atrium, this important treatment has been expanded to the East Coast.
Patriot Military Family Foundation has also provided support to veterans undergoing cancer treatments and other life-changing illnesses. Our support of other non-medical treatments for PTS and TBI have included funding the excellent work of such organizations as Eagle Rock Camp, the USO of NC, Warrior Wellness Solutions and Trellis Supportive Care.
Fisher House provides housing for families of veterans undergoing prolonged hospitalization for combat injuries. This housing is available at several hospitals around the country. PMFF is honored to be a supporter of Fisher House, which was also the recipient of the Selfless Service award in 2015, given by PMFF and the USO of NC.
Veteran Support
Working closely with the USO of North Carolina, PMFF has assisted with a variety of veteran support programs, and helped to raise money specifically for their mission of supporting veterans throughout the North Carolina. We support veterans at such organizations as Lords Harvest, Operation North State, and the Community Culinary School.
Service dogs can mean a lot to a service-disabled veteran, especially those suffering from PTS or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In partnership with our trainers at Saving Grace K9s and All Aspects we have provided 69 veterans with service animals to-date.
Military Family Support
When we lose a veteran it is a traumatic experience for the family. But the difficulty doesn’t end there. Frequently, the family is left in financial difficulty, and sometimes without the ability for the remaining spouse to work, either due to lack of training or the need to take care of the children. Part of our mission is to support these families. As an example, this past Christmas we provided Christmas gifts for entire families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. This effort provided gifts for 59 families, representing over 150 family members.
Reconnect weekends allow families of returning combat veterans to spend time as a family in an environment of fun and relaxation. This helps to improve the health and well-being of the veteran and family, and helping to reduce a divorce rate that has exceeded 70% for our returning veterans.
Our support of the North Carolina National Guard Survivor Weekend for Gold Star families (those who have lost a loved one in the National Guard) has been ongoing for multiple years, and continues now. These weekends allow these families to get together with others who have the same type of loss and provide them with access to services that they might not otherwise have. It is quite therapeutic, and rewarding to see what this means to these families.
Scholarships
Another program supported is scholarships for the children of our veterans. Through Organizations such as the Joint Special Operations Command, Night Stalkers, and the 82nd Airborne Family Readiness Group (FRG), deserving and needy scholars are identified and vetted. This program continues to support several scholarships each year for the military members and their family members through such organizations as the Navy Seal Foundation, the Ranger Scholarship Fund, the All Ranks Association, the Special Forces Scholarship Fund and several others.
Homes for Veterans
PMFF, in partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Charlotte Bridge Home, and Hearts and Hammers, is building homes in North Carolina for service-disabled veterans and their families. The first home was completed in 2014. This is a continuing program that will house service-disabled veterans in affordable homes for as long as we have lots available to build them on.