Veteran Support / Non-Profit Organizations

Rita Cosby is one of the most respected broadcasters in America and an ardent advocate for our military and Veterans.  She has practiced her craft as both a radio and television host and has been recognized with THREE Emmy Awards – the highest recognition for excellence in the broadcast industry. While she has interviewed over twenty world leaders, entertainment icons and even a serial killer, her greatest interview may have been with her own father. As a child she noticed [...]

Helping homeless Veterans find housing is a passion Ken Leslie feels deep in his bones. He is the founder and “Chief Advocate Officer” for the non-profit Veterans Matter. While Ken never served in the military, at one time he himself was homeless and living off the streets. As a traveling standup comedian in the 1980’s Ken began to notice a greater number of homeless around the country.  This led him to start a homeless project in his hometown of Toledo. [...]

The Medal of Honor was presented to Staff Sergeant David Bellavia for his actions November 10, 2004 during the second battle of Fallujah. He would become the first living Iraq War Veteran to earn our nation’s highest military decoration. He also sits on the board of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. While clearing a block of houses in Fallujah, David and his soldiers walked into a fortified ambush. He describes it as a “house ready to blow up”. [...]

Save the Brave Executive Director Scott Huesing was asked to give the eulogy at the memorial service for David White, a high school friend and Navy Veteran. David drank himself to death. Rather than fly cross country, Scott decided to undertake a 4,600 mile roundtrip motorcycle journey in order to honor David, raise awareness about the Post Traumatic Stress issues still bedeviling Veterans and raise funds for Save the Brave programs that help address this issue. Scott has never ridden [...]

Soldier Strong was originally established by Christopher Meek as “Soldiers Socks” in 2009. Chris was in the World Trade Center towers on September 11th and was responsible for getting 29 persons out on that day.  Following those attacks Chris knew he had to do something to give back but didn’t know what form that would take. A few years later Chris learned from a Marine Corps mentor that some deployed troops were lacking essentials like socks and baby wipes. He [...]

Gary Sinise Foundation CEO Robin Rand joins us to discuss their programs in support of military members, first responders and their families.  He updates us on the Foundation’s Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service program. Since March 9, this new element of their programming has funded over 5,000 pieces of PPE and large scale decontamination equipment for 56 first responder units in 25 states. Over $700,000 of the $ 1 million raised for this program has already been allocated and Robin assures [...]