General Dynamics Raises More than $122,000 at Run to Home Base

Forty General Dynamics Mission Systems colleagues from Taunton, Dedham and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as well as virtual participants across the country, attended the 15th annual Run to Home Base (RTHB) on Saturday, July 27. The General Dynamics Mission Systems participants were part of the contingent of 86 General Dynamics employees, family and friends who joined at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, and virtually.

This year, the General Dynamics team raised $122,205 - making General Dynamics the top fundraiser for the event!

This year, GD Mission Systems again collaborated with multiple General Dynamics divisions, with General Dynamics Mission Systems and General Dynamics Electric Boat leading the charge. Through volunteer employee efforts, General Dynamics has had a team presence for the past decade. This year's event included 384 teams and over 2,600 participants.

During the event – the Home Base Program organization's biggest and most critical fundraiser each year – participants attend the pre-event ceremony at Fenway Park (home of the Red Sox) and do a 5k walk or 9k run that goes through Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Participants then head back into Fenway Park, where they get to cross home plate. This year's fundraising goal of $2 million was surpassed, raising close to $3 million.

General Dynamics Mission Systems team lead Jamie Grant , Supply Chain program manager, says of the event, “This year, the focus was on our women veterans and service members, who make up nearly 20% of the RTHB patient population, yet they have the highest increase in suicide rates, according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These women were honored at the ceremony, had their own All-Star Forum and many were part of the pre-game ceremony that night. My son's girlfriend, a Navy veteran and Reservist, participated in the walk and pre-game ceremony and was thrilled to be a part of such a meaningful event.

Jamie says this year was even more meaningful because our General Dynamics Mission Systems team of 40 plus included seven members of the Supply Chain and many first-time participants. “We hope they will return next year and bring their friends to support this critical care to those who serve our country. It costs nothing to participate, and our General Dynamics New England team, which consists of employees, family and friends, helps support the fundraising goals!"

About Home Base

Home Base is a national nonprofit program free to all veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, concussive brain trauma and other injuries leading to veteran suicides. In 2009, the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital joined together to treat an epidemic of veteran suicides, which then was about 24 per day. Since its inception, RTHB has helped more than 35,000 veterans and their families nationwide, all at no cost to them. They have trained 85,000+ clinicians and first responders across the nation and have a 95% graduation rate.

On organizations like Home Base, Jamie says, “The VA can only do so much to support our veterans. Programs like Home Base, which is a first of its kind, provide successful intensive programs for veterans, active service members and their families. They continually research new ways to treat and are now working to find ways to prevent PTSD and other invisible injuries."

She adds, “Combining a fun and often moving event with significant fundraising makes this a unique way to shed light on the needs of those who protect us. The Home Base slogan is, 'Their Mission is Complete. Ours Has Just Begun.' No one likes asking for money, but I have found that in the three years I have participated, no one says no to causes that support our troops."

Looking forward to the next event, Jamie says, “I hope that next year General Dynamics Mission Systems can double its participation and funds raised for this critically important organization. Our veterans deserve our respect and support."

Thank you to all who represented General Dynamics Mission Systems at Run to Home Base this year!