The Independence Fund

On April 24, The Independence Fund and the state of North Carolina will celebrate the 5th Annual Wounded Heroes Day - a day for honoring all wounded heroes in the state and was specifically born from honoring SGT Michael Verardo’s Alive Day. A heroes' Alive Day is when they overcame impossible odds and survived life-threatening injuries during combat. It is an annual reminder of their strength and resilience – attributes important to maintain after service. Dr. Kevin P. Wallace's Alive Day story is a remarkable testament to his resilience and will to survive amidst the chaos of combat. Dr. Wallace is a retired Senior Master Sergeant who served bravely in the U.S. Air Force more than 20 years. He recognizes his Alive Day in April, like Michael. On April 4, 2011, Dr. Wallace and his unit were outnumbered and cornered by more than 100 Taliban fighters. Bravely, Dr. Walace repeatedly exposed himself to machine-gun fire to defend his brothers in arms. During the fight, an RPG was fired directly at him and sailed just over his shoulder before exploding right. behind him. This near-fatal encounter resulted in injuries to himself, a K-9, and two other servicemembers. He continued his fight for hours and later helped lead an extrication under heavy fire. Wallace's survival was not limited to physical endurance; he also carries the weight of psychological resilience, having witnessed and experienced the horrors of war firsthand. Since then, Dr. Wallace and his wife have worked to engage with other Veterans to share stories of survival and healing. Starting this spring, Dr. Wallace and his wife will travel the country in their Van of Valor to visit with and share the stories of other combat Veterans. You can follow their journey on social media! Interested in sharing your Alive Day story? Visit The Independence Fund’s website:https://lnkd.in/epmBBUB7

The Independence Fund invites those who are ready to Be a Hero for a Hero to join the Everyday Heroes Alliance! By joining, you commit a monthly donation and become part of a group of donors who make a tangible difference for our nation’s bravest every day. Setting up monthly donations also allows donors to make a greater impact over time in a budget-friendly way. Monthly donations are a critical part of the support needed to operate life-changing programs for Veterans, their Caregivers, and their families. By committing a monthly gift, you can help grow The Independence Fund’s reach within the Veteran community. Join online today: https://lnkd.in/gs-TeT4f #TheIndependenceFund #BeAHeroForAHero #EverydayHeroes #Veteran #Veterans #VeteranAdvocates

Sinner Mass kindly launched a charity raffle to benefit our nation’s heroes! All proceeds from the raffle will go toward The Independence Fund’s life-changing programs to support the needs of Veterans, Caregivers, and families. Interested in winning? There are only 500 tickets available. Purchase yours at sinnermass.com by March 21! The Independence Fund is so grateful for the support of @sinner.mass. Thank you for your dedication to serving the warfighter community! ????

Today is K-9 Veterans Day, and it is a great reminder to appreciate the dogs that work alongside our nation’s heroes. These dogs undergo rigorous training, endure challenging and dangerous missions, and show unrelenting loyalty to our nation and its heroes. However, dogs support our nation in other ways as well. Veterans across the country benefit from having service dogs. Many of them say their service dog saved their life. The Independence Fund is proud to partner with @blue_falcon_k9_llc, a group that regularly attends resource fairs during Operation Resilience retreats and supports Veterans by providing service dogs at no cost to those eligible! Support Blue Falcon K9 today and visit their site to learn more about service dog opportunities. #TheIndependenceFund #K9VeteransDay #K9Veterans #BlueFalconK9 #BeAHeroForAHero

This month, The Independence Fund’s Veterans Justice Initiative (VJI) team attended the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court Graduation, celebrating the resilience and dedication of Veterans who have successfully completed the program. One of the three pillars of the VJI program is supporting Veterans Treatment Courts, which provide an alternative to incarceration by focusing on rehabilitation, accountability, and access to critical resources. These courts are vital in helping veterans rebuild their lives and reintegrate successfully into their communities. VJI remains committed to ensuring that Veterans receive the support they need when they need it most. Congratulations to the graduates— may your hard work and perseverance inspire others to participate in this life-changing process #VeteransJusticeInitiative #VJI #TheIndependenceFund #VeteransTreatmentCourt #JusticeForVeterans #SecondChances #VeteranSupport

As Caregivers, the spouses, parents, and siblings of our nation’s severely wounded Veterans carry the weight of war long after the servicemember has returned home. To ease the weight shouldered by these Caregivers, The Independence Fund provides tangible services to this group through peer retreats, personalized family aftercare, casework, and benefit navigation. By providing respite retreats, The Independence Fund stands in the gap with these families as they navigate life with medical challenges and limited community support. This is all made possible by the generosity of donors who know how important it is to give back to those who sacrificed for freedom. Do your part in supporting Caregivers by donating or ordering your tickets to The Independence Fund’s second annual Beyond the Call Event. This special event will include programming centered around the stories of Caregivers and the Veterans they care for each day. Your participation directly contributes to the well-being of these individuals, ensuring they receive the recognition and support they deserve. Beyond the Call will be hosted at Duke Mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, May 9. Donate or order your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gmMgJ5vt #Caregivers #BeyondTheCall #BeyondTheCall2025 #VeteranCaregivers #BeAHeroForAHero #UnseenHeroes

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and serves as a reminder that at least 60% of Veterans suffer from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) according to the Brain Injury Association of America. The Department of Veterans Affairs classifies TBI as a “signature injury” among post-9/11 servicemembers. It is a common result of force trauma and a frequent injury felt by servicemembers and Veterans since 2000 given the brutal nature of the war in Afghanistan. Living with a TBI can alter a Veteran’s day-to-day life, significantly changing their lives forever. While some see improvements, many Veterans require lifelong care for their TBI. It can impact mood, memory, thinking, and more. It’s an invisible scar left by the sacrifices these heroes made for our nation. This month, remember and acknowledge the hard truths of war that do not end when battle does. These heroes continue to need and deserve unrelenting support. The Independence Fund’s programs like Casework and Advocacy work tirelessly to help wounded Veterans access the care and resources they need to treat their scars. You can do your part by supporting these programs today: https://lnkd.in/ejX4sJRN

The US Army’s Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (A Co 2-508) of the renowned 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2009 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. During their deployment, A Co 2-508 heartbreakingly lost five of their Paratroopers in action. Several others were wounded, many with injuries so severe they were medically evacuated and returned home as casualties. For those who remained, deployment continued amidst the mounting physical and emotional toll of near-daily combat. The final months of the deployment were particularly intense. With limited resources and constant attacks, the company relied on their training, grit, and the unshakable bonds of brotherhood they shared. Upon their return home, Alpha Company, like many combat units, faced a new enemy: Veteran Suicide. The emotional weight of loss, war, and reintegration left this group struggling to move forward. Now, with the support of The Independence Fund, A Co 2-508 is ready to work together to rebuild their bond and heal through the Operation Resilience program this month. You can support A Co 2-508 and units like them by donating to support the OpRes program. Each participant is invited to attend at no cost thanks to donors – making OpRes and suicide prevention accessible. Donate online: https://lnkd.in/ejX4sJRN #TheIndependenceFund #BeAHeroForAHero #OpRes #OperationResilience #Veteran #Veterans #VeteranAdvocates

Monthly donations are a critical part of the support needed to operate lifechanging programs for Veterans, their Caregivers, and their families. By committing a monthly gift, you can help grow The Independence Fund’s reach within the Veteran community. Every day, there are Veterans working through physical and mental challenges caused by PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and more on their own. Every day, there are family members providing unconditional love and support to a hero no matter the personal cost; there are Caregivers selflessly working to meet their Veteran’s needs for support. The Independence Fund invites those ready to Be a Hero for a Hero to join the Everyday Heroes Alliance. By joining, you commit to a monthly donation and unite with a group of donors who make a tangible difference for our nation’s bravest each and every day. No matter the budget, it is possible to be an everyday hero and know your donations make a positive, life-changing difference for the heroes who sacrificed on your behalf. Join online today: https://lnkd.in/gs-TeT4f #TheIndependenceFund #BeAHeroForAHero #EverydayHeroes #Veteran #Veterans #VeteranAdvocates

Happy women’s history month!! Hidden among these photos shared in the below post you will find, my wife, a disabled veteran, and 3 of our 4 kids (hint: blue track chair). Being a recipient of this track chair has been a game changer for her brining independence to life through mobility. As her caregiver, I love this!!!! thank you, The Independence Fund