The True North Foundation: Every Day is Veterans’ Day
The True North Foundation: Every Day is Veterans’ Day
INTRODUCTION
Once a year, our country honors veterans—those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. But veterans aren’t just veterans on November 11. The experience of military service stays with most people their entire lives, long after they have hung up their uniforms and taken off their dog tags. This unique journey of dedicated service to country has a profound impact on everything from careers to relationships to physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
For many veterans, the transition back to civilian life is something that requires support and an engaged community to help facilitate a smooth reentry- something our nation’s heroes deserve. Fortunately, there are many local, state, and national organizations dedicated to helping veterans get their post-military lives on track and heading in the right direction.
THE TRUE NORTH FOUNDATION
The True North Foundation was born from a corporate initiative begun at CAVU Securities LLC and Semper Capital Management LP and led by CEO Greg Parsons. Parsons, a former captain and infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, wanted to ensure that other veterans had continuous support across critical areas such as rehabilitation (both physical and mental), civilian workforce entry education and entrepreneurship training. To that end, he instituted a company-wide grant program that allocated donations to non-profit organizations nominated by employees and also organized volunteer days with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and other local non-profits.
As the program grew and developed, Parsons decided to focus his personal giving and volunteer efforts on supporting organizations that serve active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families. He was able to combine his work with his personal passion when he elected to turn his corporate initiative into the True North Foundation.
OUR PARTNERS
Since April, 2022, the True North Foundation has been creating its own veteran programs while being a support and funding vehicle for our partner organizations. We work to raise awareness and funding for our non-profit partners while working shoulder to shoulder with them to improve veteran support services. Our partners are:
Dog Tag, Inc. – Dog Tag, Inc. empowers service-disabled veterans, military spouses, and caregivers to find community and purpose through a powerful and innovative entrepreneurship training/apprenticeship program that incorporates both classroom work and hands-on experience at bakeries located in Chicago and Washington, DC.
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation – For 60 years, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has been honoring the service and sacrifice of both active-duty and veteran members of the Marine Corps by raising funds to provide college scholarships to their children.
Stay In Step – Stay in Step is a veteran-founded and -run non-profit organization that provides long-term rehabilitation and therapy to veterans and civilians suffering from paralysis due to spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or neurological disorder.
The Heroes Journey – The Heroes Journey strives to use the power of storytelling to help veterans struggling with their transition to civilian life. Through storytelling workshops and performances of the play “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret,” veterans are able to connect with their families and communities.
MVP: Merging Vets and Players – MVP brings combat veterans together with former professional athletes in weekly workouts and huddles. This peer-to-peer support system allows participants to share common experiences and help one another through the challenges of transition.
HOW CAN I HELP?
There are many ways you can support The True North Foundation and its partners.
“Giving Tuesday” falls on Tuesday, November 29. This is the perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation to the True North Foundation. You can also donate directly to one of our partner organizations.
If you would like to donate your time, consider volunteering with one of our partner organizations or participating in one of their events. These include the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s golf tournaments, the annual Stay in Step gala, and performances of “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret,” which was written and produced by Scott Mann, founder of The Heroes Journey.
Last, but certainly not least, you can raise awareness for The True North Foundation by sharing this blog post with your friends and family on social media.
Every little bit helps!