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Heart to Heart

Gary Sinise Foundation

Serving America’s Heros

THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION KEEPS VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS MOVING FORWARD

The Gary Sinise Foundation’s mission is clear: to support service members, veterans, first responders and defenders in need, as well as their families. “For over 40 years, Gary has made it his life’s mission to serve those who protect and keep us safe at home and around the world,” said Jim Ravella, Vice President of Programs. “He established the foundation to give the American people a reliable and trusted way to help the men and women who serve our country.” The foundation fulfills its mission through four pillars:

1. R.I.S.E.
2. Relief & Resiliency
3. Community Outreach & Education
4. First Responder Outreach

This spring in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, retired U.S. Army SGT Bryan Anderson was surrounded by friends, relatives and neighbors who added personal messages to the foundation of Bryan’s soon-to-be- completed, specially adapted, smart home as part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s “Walls of Honor” ceremony. The Foundation, along with key partners, is in the process of constructing his mortgage free home specifically built for Bryan, a triple amputee, that uniquely suits his needs.

The acronym stands for Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment—focuses on helping injured veterans keep moving forward. “Our R.I.S.E. program provides specially adapted, mortgage- free smart homes for our most severely wounded heroes,” Ravella said, “as well as home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to our injured, wounded, ill, and aging heroes.”

To qualify for a specially adapted mortgage- free home, the veteran’s injury must be post-9/11 and have occurred during combat, training or in theater. First responders injured while in service or in the line of duty can also apply. Veterans and first responders who suffered severe injuries prior to 9/11 and/or while off duty can be considered
for the Foundation’s home modification program. Since 2011, the Gary Sinise Foundation has built 79 smart homes for wounded veterans and first responders, modified or retrofitted 74 homes for those in need, adapted nearly 50 vehicles and provided almost 60 mobility devices.


LEARN MORE

Visit garysinisefoundation.org to learn more. To request assistance, fill out the form under “How Can We Help You?” at garysinisefoundation.org/contact.

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