Eagle OPS Foundation Receives $5,000 Grant from Homes for Heroes Foundation

The Homes for Heroes Foundation awarded Eagle OPS Foundation with a $5,000 grant to help empower Veterans and their families to live a fulfilling post-service life. Homes for Heroes, Inc. and the Homes for Heroes Foundation are honored to support Eagle OPS Foundation in their mission to assist Veterans and their families with a healthy transition home.

The Eagle OPS Foundation Mission

Why was the Eagle OPS Foundation Established?

Stated plainly by Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Eagle OPS Foundation, Jonathan Sheperd, “We created this foundation because of the trials and tribulations that I put us through.”

Jonathan and his wife Jessica created Eagle OPS because they wanted to help veterans who were experiencing similar struggles that Jonathan went through when he returned home following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I did not make a very successful early transition back from the Marine Corps,” said Jonathan, “I found myself struggling tremendously for the first few years, and I was blessed enough to have Jessica (spouse) beside me through the whole experience. It came to the point where I had the ‘coming to Jessica’ meeting. Following that meeting is when I started my transition home.”

After going through this experience together with Jessica, and meeting so many veterans who were experiencing similar trials and tribulations, Jonathan and Jessica decided to create the Eagle OPS Foundation to help provide any and all resources they could to assist fellow veterans in experiencing a successful transition home.

Jonathan explained it like this:

“We vowed when we decided to create the foundation, every veteran from that point forward we came in contact with, that we would use every resource we had available to us to assist them in bettering their opportunity of making a successful transition.

And just like in the military, being a battle buddy, being a mentor, being a peer support, being a guide to them and their family saying, hey, we’ve been there and done that. Even though you’re going through it now, we will work to help you and guide you through the process so you come out the other side in a more successful situation.”

Eagle OPS Foundation was created out of personal struggle and a deep desire to serve others. After facing a difficult transition home from the U.S. Marine Corps, Executive Director Jonathan Sheperd and his wife, Marketing Director, Jessica Sheperd, recognized that many veterans shared similar challenges. Motivated by their own experience and a commitment to making a difference, they founded Eagle OPS to ensure no veteran is left to navigate that journey alone.

What Does the Eagle OPS Foundation Do to Help Heroes?

As stated on their website, the Eagle OPS Foundation’s mission is rooted in compassion, camaraderie and community. The organization aims to create meaningful relationships that not only enrich lives but also provide essential support for a healthy transition home for veterans and their families. Through these connections, Eagle OPS links veterans to valuable resources, encouraging a smoother journey towards a fulfilling post-service life.

Through a range of impactful programs, they address the emotional, social, and practical challenges veterans face after service.

• Operation Outreach strengthens the veteran support network by partnering with other veteran organizations, government agencies, and businesses to educate, collaborate, and serve more effectively.
• Operation Reach One More hosts “Rally Points”. These social gatherings and events are designed to combat loneliness and isolation, helping veterans reconnect with others who understand their journey.
• Operation Difference Makers empowers veterans, their families, and patriotic citizens to give back to their communities through acts of service and volunteerism, turning purpose into action.
• Operation Grants & Scholarships (also known as Operation Hand-Up) offers financial assistance to veterans and veteran-focused partners, ensuring that no one is left behind during times of need.

Beyond these structured programs, Eagle OPS creates meaningful experiences. Some examples include golf nights, veteran freedom shoots, guided fishing trips, and firepit gatherings. All are intended to restore the camaraderie veterans often lose after service.

A powerful quote from Jeremiah Cheatwood, former Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and Eagle Ops Participant and Supporter, captures the life-changing impact Eagle OPS had on his life when he said:

“It genuinely was the biggest thing in the last ten years of my life that these guys reached out to me and got me connected to a group of people that I feel like I’m not standing on my own and alone anymore.”

Jeremiah continues to attend Eagle OPS Foundation activities and even mentors when he can. His statement speaks directly to the heart of Eagle OPS’s mission to reach out, and reconnect veterans to a community, and pull them out of isolation with purpose and belonging. It shows the impact of the organization’s support within the veteran community.

The Eagle OPS Foundation helps to support the lives of over 3,000 veterans each year, primarily in Oklahoma. The organization plays an important role in preventing veteran suicide and guiding our nation’s heroes toward a healthier, more fulfilling post-service life.

How will this Grant be Used to Support Heroes?

The Homes for Heroes Foundation is honored to support Eagle OPS Foundation with its mission to help veterans and their families who are struggling with the transition home by awarding the organization with a $5,000 grant.

Eagle OPS Foundation Co-Founder and Marketing Director, Jessica Sheperd, explained how the grant would be used:

“This grant is going to make a huge difference for Eagle OPS Foundation as we are in the process of expanding into 21 counties in the state of Oklahoma. There is a huge need for veterans’ social connection. This expansion is considered upstream suicide prevention, and there is a massive need. And, it’s a massive undertaking for a smaller organization like ours.

This grant will help us make sure the veterans that are in these communities will have fewer barriers that prevent them from getting to our rally points. And, it will make sure that our coordinators have what they need to make sure our initiatives and activities happen.”

Watch the grant presentation video:

Homes for Heroes local mortgage specialist, Emily Machetta, nominated Eagle OPS Foundation to receive the $5,000 Homes for Heroes Foundation grant.

Emily was asked why nominating this organization was important for her, and she responded by saying:

“My brother came back from his deployments in the Navy, and I watched what he and his spouse went through and the kids went through. And it’s a small, rural town. But I thought, I need to learn more about this. So I really started learning what they were doing and how I could help get their mission out to more veterans.”

How You can Support the Eagle OPS Foundation’s Mission

You can help support the Eagle OPS Foundation’s mission by visiting their website and from the dropdown menu, select the “Rally Point Briefing”. This outlines all of our activities for the month, and you’ll find ways to get involved. Be sure to sign up for our text messaging group and our newsletter for Rally Point reminders. The price of admission is you simply show up. And, be sure to contact them if you’re interested in volunteer opportunities available.

To further support their efforts, please consider making a donation to help fund the support they provide to veterans and their families as they struggle with their transition home.

Foundation Grants: Part of Homes for Heroes Circle of Giving

Grants from the Homes for Heroes Foundation are made possible by the Homes for Heroes Circle of Giving and its network of real estate and mortgage professionals. Homes for Heroes, Inc. is committed to providing savings to community heroes; including firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military (active duty, reserves and veterans), healthcare professionals and teachers.

To expand its Circle of Giving, Homes for Heroes, Inc., donates a portion of its earnings to the Homes for Heroes Foundation. So, every time a hero buys or sells a home using the Homes for Heroes program, they are helping other heroes across the country who are facing a housing crisis or are in need of urgent financial assistance.

If you are interested in learning more about how Homes for Heroes can guide you through the home buying, selling or refinancing process AND save you an average of $3,000 after closing on a home, simply sign up to be connected with our local specialists. They will follow up with you to answer all of your questions.

If you’re interested in learning about our wider impact, simply visit the Homes for Heroes Foundation for more information about recent grants to hero organizations, how much it has awarded, and how it all works.

If you’re interested in supporting and donating to the Homes for Heroes Foundation to assist heroes in need, please visit the donation page to submit your contribution via PayPal. We thank you for your interest and support.