Helping Out Our American Heroes (HOOAH), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, operates under the general direction of an all volunteer National Board of Directors. HOOAH has supporting all-volunteer chapters operating in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, and Tennessee with committees and volunteers in many other states.
HOOAH provides for the health, wellness, and social welfare of troops and veterans across the United States and abroad, assisting service members, veterans and their families with financial resources where a bona fide need exists and ready benefits have failed to meet their needs. In addition, they assist military families in times of mortal crisis where distance is a barrier.
HOOAH’s mission is to lend support to forward deployed special operations troops, servicemen and servicewomen, their stateside families, and returning veterans with a high level of understanding, compassion, empathy, and appreciation. HOOAH’s vision is to give their volunteers and the public an opportunity to honor our dedicated servicemen, servicewomen and veterans with customized support and services when they need it most, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
One of their ongoing missions is to send veterans struggling with post traumatic stress to Veterans Alternative in Tampa, FL. Veterans Alternative uses non drug modalities to help with PTS.
In collaboration with Veterans Alternative, HOOAH covers all costs for the veteran and their significant other. The program consists of a week of programming including yoga, working out, martial arts, iRest, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). ART is proving to be an excellent and effective way to treat those with PTS. Over the last 5.5 years, HOOAH has sent over 200 active duty military, veterans, and family members, and has spent over $100,000 to get veterans to Veterans Alternative and to expand the network of ART professionals. All services are provided at no cost to the military and veteran communities.
Suicide Awareness & Mental Health Support
In the last 15 years we have lost approximately 6,000 soldiers to combat related injuries; we have lost over 120,000 to suicide.
One of the most important missions HOOAH focuses on is work with veterans struggling with post traumatic stress (PTS) through their Victory for 22 Campaign. Through this campaign they have spent over $100,000 providing over 200 veterans proven help for PTS through Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and have helped to get more mental health professionals trained in ART throughout the US.
ART is a science based modality working miracles for veterans struggling with PTS by helping the brain process memories causing PTS. Through their program, veterans are able to see a clinician trained in ART and in 1-4 sessions (each lasting 30-90 minutes), significant improvement is made.
Special Projects
Since 2011, HOOAH has sent thousands of care packages to forward deployed troops to help drive morale and keep spirits high. In light of COVID 19, they initiated a Covid-19 Care Package Drive for active duty deployed military. The drive yielded donations of money, food, handwritten cards, and many of the items requested by troops from donors across the country.
Here are a few of the other special projects HOOAH has completed that have helped active military and veterans with morale and practical needs to lead healthier, safer and more comfortable lives:
- Rebuilt a WW2 veteran’s flag pole and surrounding area in WI after his was vandalized
- Paid for a home filtration system for a veteran’s child who would not be released from the hospital without it
- Covered airfare for several family members to attend the funeral of KIAs when the government was shut down
- Completed a ranger canine memorial at Ft. Benning, GA
- Rebuilt a shower area for an active duty soldier to allow for wheel chair access
- Covered hotel costs for a veteran’s family to attend his memorial in GA
- Helped cover funeral costs for veterans whose families couldn’t afford it
- Paid for airfare for a soldier of the year’s family so they could attend his ceremony
- Coordinated replacement of several veterans home heating furnaces at no cost to the veteran
- After a very difficult mission where 4 soldiers were killed and 29 wounded, we purchased and shipped a full BBQ including steaks, potatoes, charcoals, and grills to Afghanistan within days of the mission
- HOOAH hosted a welcome home party for that same unit when they returned to Ft. Benning
National Events
HOOAH hosts several national events throughout the year, the largest being its Annual National Suicide Awareness Ruckmarch in November. Participants can ruck virtually or in person, for 2.0 or 20 miles to represent the number of Veterans reported by the VA who complete suicide every day.
In addition, HOOAH hosts several other national annual events. In April, they partner with local restaurants and breweries to support the needs of our servicemen and servicewomen in local communities across the country. Each local business offers its own program and a portion of the proceeds raised during the month of April benefit HOOAH’s Victory for 22 campaign. All of the funds raised are used to benefit those in the local community in which they were raised and serve the veteran and active duty military communities and their families.
They also host a Freedom Freefall and Bands for the Brave event, days dedicated to providing a day of fun activities for veterans while also raising awareness and funds.
November, 2021 – 9th Annual National Suicide Awareness Ruckmarch
If you have lost a loved one and are participating in the Ruck March, HOOAH invites you to join the Boot Campaign and submit your honoree here.
Hear active duty military and veterans’ stories, learn more about HOOAH’s impact, get updates and join their email community here.
Check out several other ways to support our veterans through HOOAH’s other annual events: Pours for a Purpose, Freedom Freefall and Bands for the Brave.
To see a complete list of ways to donate, click here.
Leadership
“We have seen a significant spike in mental health issues since the onset of COVID-19. Our Veteran population is at increased risk given pre-existing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Unfortunately, Veterans experience too many barriers when seeking mental health care and often benefit more from non-traditional forms of therapy. HOOAH’s National Skydiving event is a perfect example of this. Events like this help Veterans by giving them an opportunity to experience a greater sense of camaraderie and peer connection. It also gives Veterans a great way to get out there, challenge themselves, and regain a sense of purpose.” -Dr. Carlos Garcia, HOOAH Volunteer, Licensed psychologist, Marine Corps Veteran, former first responder
