Help for America's Heroes

We have created a very simple and very affordable solution to US Military and US Veterans’ financial difficulties. It is merely?a free job board for residents and businesses?to hire local US Military, veterans, or military spouses to help with chores, repairs, cleaning, stocking, etc. for a day or two.?

We began?this unique job board in Oceanside, CA in 2006 when a US Marine from Camp Pendleton knocked on our door needing to earn extra money to keep his growing family's utilities?on. -- He painted the awnings above our garage, and he repaired?a favorite but broken chair. We paid him $100, and my wife gave him some warm food for his family.?

We initially called our job board HireMarines.com. But the popularity of our job board quickly spread. Soon, the Admiral of the Navy Bases (Admiral Len Herring) in San Diego, called us and asked if his sailors could use the job board too. We created HireNavy.com for them. And then similar sites for all other military branches. And then one parent site that combines them all, our flagship, HirePatriots.com.

The overnight popularity of our local military job board was created by an urgent need: A majority of our military, E-5 and below, struggle financially. If they are married, and especially if they have kids, they experience extreme financial stress. This stress compounded by the normal stress of military life, deployments, long separations, injuries, war trauma, and the pills given to reduce pain and anxiety, are also elements to the root causes of spousal abuse, and divorce on US bases.

We have hosted multiple Job Fairs on US Bases, and in so doing discovered that Our HirePatriots program is also an excellent Employee Engagement asset for human resource Directors.

In order to address the ‘plague’ of divorces on US infantry bases during war time, (90% E-1 to E-5), we also began hosting 3-day, all expenses paid, military marriage retreats in Oceanside Harbor at the luxurious Marine Inn Suites. These are fun and entertaining, while helpful and supportive. Great speakers come, and long-married US war veterans and their brides share their stories and keys to their successful marriages, some over 60 years and going. Gifts are given. And everyone receives a large framed photo beneath a flowered bower with the ocean as a backdrop to hang in their homes. (On the back of each are the names and contacts for all of our counselors, available 24/7/365).

The name of our charity, begun in 2007, is Patriotic Hearts. All of our programs are directed at reducing US veterans’ suicides, divorce, and to give relief to those suffering from injuries, depression, and unemployment.

In addition, we encourage US Veteran entrepreneurism. Dozens of such businesses are created as veterans take jobs from our Day-by-Day job board. Their work ethic and courtesy gains them a large number of local supporters and that sometimes becomes a full-time business. Some examples are Painting, Cleaning, HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Car Repair, Landscaping, and Handyman…

We also have trained and put into business dozens of US Veterans in a business we created for them, US Military Maintenance. – Transitioning back into the civilian world after being shaped by the US Military at a young age, for some is very difficult. So, starting their own business and employing as many other US veterans as possible is another good solution.

And for US Veterans and their family members, we have?contacts across America where they can receive Equine Therapy (Horse therapy) at no cost. – Ever since ancient times, particularly among Alexander the Great’s troops, battle fatigue (PTSD) was common. Finding a solution for this affliction was critical to Alexander’s amazingly quick conquest of the known world. – His solution healed not just his warriors, but it also healed the horses upon which his army depended from war trauma too. Hence, we also provide our program Horses for Healing Heroes.

And we find that it is important for some gifted US Veterans to write. They may share their war experiences, but they also produce plays, fiction, and self help books too. To assist them in being published and getting their work well distributed and marketed, we provide American Heroes Publishing.

To raise funds for these programs and to support others who create other important programs for US Veterans and their families, we have a Donation/Reward program called CarDonation2Veterans. Instead of asking for fellow patriots hard earn money, we ask for them to donate any unwanted vehicle they our friends may have. In return, they receive a tax-deductible receipt.

To see our awards, our media appearances, and publications as well as more information about our programs, and how to contact us, please visit PatrioticHearts.org.

Sincerely,

Mark and Tori Baird ?