Spectracare Foundation in 2023
“Using primarily Patriot Fund money, we have served hundreds of Veterans! We provided a mix of PTSD programs ranging from Equine Therapy to Healing Arts, Culinary Arts, Photography, Gardening and even Model Rocketry. We had dozens of Coffee and Conversation group interaction sessions. We committed to five service dogs ourselves with Paws Healing Heroes, and have already raised and awarded some initial matching money toward that total goal. We saved and placed maybe a dozen or so feral companion cats as well (not every Veteran can receive or needs or wants a dog.)
We had numerous recognition functions – this year awarding our annual Medal of Honor to Dr. Sandra Williams Ortega, the first African American Woman to receive a commission in the US Air Force – while also giving proclamations to both the statewide VFW and American Legion, and they awarded on our behalf special recognition honors to two individual posts who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist vulnerable Veterans coordinated with our services. We obtained and restored a small bus on a shoestring budget and used it to provide direct transportation services for area Veterans, and we also manage a growing auto-procurement assistance program, so far getting a car for one Veteran’s private ownership. We have a major role working with families affected by Veteran suicide statewide via the KOVA network and have been recognized officially as having prevented at least two Veteran suicides during the year, with more probably prevented but just not certified.
Overall, we have received substantial indirect feedback about the quality impact of our programs from both individual Veterans and various local and statewide Veteran organizations. I personally am also under non-consideration contract to the National Veterans Consortium, providing free paralegal services to assist Veterans with their military board upgrade appeals. And we do all of our collective work without any of us receiving any personal compensation; we only pay fees to licensed professionals as they are needed in some of our therapy programs. Thank you Patriot Fund for your support to Spectracare Foundation and further, our Veteran community!”
– Michael D. Van Stine (Spectracare Foundation Executive Director)
