Each year we select beneficiaries that align with our mission to support the U.S. military, law enforcement, and first responders — and the communities they serve.
Meeting Sacrifice with Hope since 2007
It began with Lt Col Dan Rooney’s flight home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. An F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled.
As his flight landed, the pilot announced they carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt Col Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Among them was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob.
Since that night, Lt Col Rooney has committed his life to rallying patriotic Americans and meeting sacrifice with hope through the Folds of Honor. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. The mission now expands to the families of America’s first responders. On their watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families will know they are not forgotten.
Community-Police Relations Foundation
The CPR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-political, philanthropic organization dedicated to building bridges between the community and law enforcement. The Foundation’s action-based grassroots approach revitalizes the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve by connecting them through a variety of outreach initiatives, including charitable donations, educational and scholarship programs, food drives, mental health and wellness programs, educating communities on human trafficking, and supporting programs that confront criminal animal cruelty.
In collaboration with law enforcement, the CPR Foundation has fed thousands of families, created educational opportunities for under-served youth, donated essential items including school supplies and bicycles, and delivered relief and support for officers and their families in distress. These actions improve interactions between the community and police, promote mutual trust and understanding, and foster stronger, safer neighborhoods by highlighting the humanity in all of us. CPR Foundation has expanded beyond South Florida and New York City and begun footprints in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Camden, New Jersey.
The Freedom 13 was founded by Mark & Jaclyn Schmitz after the tragic loss of their son, Marine LCpl Jared Schmitz, on August 26, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan during the final withdrawal from the 20-year war. Jared was one of 13 killed that day by a suicide bomber.
The F13 mission is massive but simple: remembering the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice by supporting the veterans and police still with us. F13 will be building Recreational Retreat Camps in all 50 states on 100+ acres of land at each camp to help U.S. military veterans, police, and their families re-acclimate, heal, and find renewed purpose. The first Freedom Camp is currently under construction in Bourbon, MO — 171 acres with a stocked fishing lake, two existing homes (with 11 more to build), four miles of riding trails, and excellent hunting.
The purpose of each camp is to give veterans and police a safe place to visit for a week at a time. Healing through hiking, fishing, hunting, bonding, and camaraderie. F13 is partnering with organizations specializing in PTSD, suicide prevention, and service dogs to provide the very best resources available. The final vision: build 650 homes nationwide on over 50,000 acres with the ability to help over 32,000 first responders annually.
Paws of War was founded on a simple but powerful belief, that no hero should ever fight their battles alone, whether they walk on two legs or four. Since 2014, Paws of War has been dedicated to healing the invisible wounds carried by veterans, first responders, and their families by placing loyal service dogs by their side. These dogs are more than companions; they are lifelines, grounding their handlers in moments of darkness, restoring independence, and bringing hope where it was once lost.
At the same time, Paws of War extends that promise of hope to animals in desperate need, even rescuing dogs and cats from war-torn regions where survival is a daily struggle. From the dusty alleys overseas where soldiers find comfort in the smallest abandoned souls, to disaster zones and crowded shelters here at home, they step in to give these animals a second chance at life.
Over the years, more than 300 veterans and first responders have graduated through the service dog program, and over 450 dogs have been rescued and rehabilitated. With the help of nearly a thousand volunteers, Paws of War has poured more than 68,000 hours into building a community of healing and trust. Every service is offered at no cost to the heroes they serve because they’ve already given so much.
