Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Luke Feldbrugge
The Semper Fi & American’s Fund was established in 2003 by military spouses who volunteered to provide bedside support to wounded and injured military service members. They are a nationwide nonprofit who has provided immediate financial assistance and lifelong support to over 32,000 critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and their families. The Homes for Heroes Foundation grant will be used to help fund these Semper Fi & America’s Fund programs and services.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund Grant Check Presentation with Jay Flynn
The Homes for Heroes Foundation awarded Semper Fi & America’s Fund a $5,000 hero grant to provide financial support for veterans and military families with children through your Service Member & Family Support programming. The grant focuses on housing assistance grants to support those experiencing unsafe or unstable housing situations and financial stress.
Jay Flynn, Foundation Director with Homes for Heroes, meets with Christine Jones, Case Manager for Semper Fi & America’s Fund, Homes for Heroes Mortgage Specialist, Breton MacDonald, and military service member, Daniel “Doc” Jones to briefly discuss the Semper Fi & America’s Fund and how the grant received from the Homes for Heroes Foundation will assist their initiatives.
You can watch the full interview here or read the transcript of the interview below.
Jay: Hello and thanks for joining us today. I’m Jay Flynn, Director of the Homes for Heroes Foundation. And I’m joined today by Christine Jones, Semper Fi & America’s Fund case manager, Homes for Heroes mortgage specialist, Breton McDonald. And a very special guest service hero member, Daniel “Doc” Jones.
Hey, it’s my honor to be here with all of you today.
Christine and Doc, as part of the Homes for Heroes Circle Giving the Homes for Heroes Foundation provides grants to nonprofits whose mission is to support our heroes in dire need. Bret and I are honored to present this $5,000 Homes for Heroes Foundation grant to Semper Fi & America’s Fund.
Let’s just take a few minutes and talk about Semper Fi & America’s Fund and the wonderful work that you are doing. So Christine, I see you started in 2003 as a grassroots movement of Marine Corps spouses. Tell us how Semper Fi & America’s Fund has grown over the last 21 years?
Christine: Well, we started in 2004 for Marine Corps spouses and grew from there. Karen Guenther, our CEO and Founder, saw an immediate need in the hospitals. She was a nurse at Camp Pendleton and saw the Marines coming back, the sailors coming back, and having needs that were not being met.
It just grew from there with our initial donation. At this point, we have assisted over 32,000 service members and their families. We take a holistic approach; supporting the families, the service members, their transitions, integrative health and all kinds of different areas. And, building lifetime relationships with our service members and their families.
Jay: That’s awesome. 32,000? Is that what you said, service members and family members? That’s impressive.
So, Breton, you’re a big supporter of our heroes like those helped by Semper Fi & America’s Fund, as a Home for Heroes mortgage specialist. Tell us a little bit why this is important to you, why this group means so much to you, and why you ultimately nominated them to receive this grant.
Breton: I’ve been following Semper Fi Fund for, I’d say maybe 3 or 4 years now and just love everything they’re about.
I actually met them by doing an Operation Appreciation event down in Camp Pendleton in Oceanside. I even got a magnet, right here! They were just such cool people.
It was such a good fit, and I feel like I should have done this a long time ago. Then something came up on social media for Semper Fi Fund, so I nominated the organization for a Homes for Heroes Foundation grant because it was such a good fit. I couldn’t think of anybody more deserving, and I’m proud to nominate the organization, and grateful to be a conduit to help.
Jay: That’s awesome. Doc, you’ve been on the receiving end of all the great work Semper Fi & America’s Fund is doing. Take just a minute and tell us your story and how this wonderful organization has helped make a difference in your life.
Doc: Okay, well, first of all, thank you for having me. And, thank you, for nominating and presenting this check to Semper Fi & America’s Fund.
I was a Navy Corpsman. I joined in June 2004, went to boot camp August 2004, and then did my whole year of training. Then I was deployed, late August of 2005 to Ramadi, Iraq, which was one of the most dangerous cities in the world at the time.
When I got hit, I was finishing a seven month deployment. I was 6.5 months in and I had about 225 combat patrols under my belt at that time, which averaged to roughly three patrols a day.
Then I got severely wounded. I was hit by triple stack IED 3155 artillery shells, and I knew I was pretty messed up from the get go. I knew that I was going home. There was no doubt about it.
When I woke up in Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, which recently merged with Walter Reed and the joint forces that they do there. I woke up and my dad was standing over me, and I knew then that everything was going to be okay. I didn’t have to stress. I didn’t have to worry.
Then in March of 2006, I became a part of Semper Fi & America’s Fund. And, you know, having the family bedside, my dad and grandmother every day. Then when they needed a break, they could go back home, and Semper Fi & America’s Fund helped with for my mom, my brother, my sister and other family members to be there.
It was such an incredible thing because I was going in and out of surgery every other day. I had 32 surgeries in three months, you know, traveling to San Diego and I still have my legs at the time. Battling those battles and having the family bedside, talking to the doctors and advocating for me. It took so much stress off of me and allowed me to heal a little bit, in the mind. That was the beautiful beginning of my relationship with Semper Fi & America’s Fund.
In October 2006, I had my left leg amputated as a result of a limb salvage. And again, family bedside me while I was recovering, and I was able to go home to be with my family.
Then 60 something surgeries later, in November of 2022, I had my right leg amputated as a result of the injuries. Failed limb salvage.
It wasn’t just the surgeries. It was everything that went into it. Getting to and from appointments, the X-rays, the MRI, physical therapy, lab work. Just knowing that Semper Fi & America’s Fund had my back, and helped me get to and from and even going into my amputation on my right leg at my house.
I didn’t even think of this. I think I called Christine one day, and I was like, “Hey, I’m having the surgery coming up. It’s my amputation.” I talked to Christine all the time. She’s a huge champion and advocate.
I didn’t have a fence around the backyard. And, I have two English golden retriever dogs, and they’re huge. I was so stressed and worried about them going to the bathroom outside, you know, and not running off, chasing coyotes, or coyotes chasing them, or rattlesnakes!
Having the fence installed has offered peace of mind knowing that I don’t have to physically go stand out there on crutches and try and chase the dog while recovering and trip and fall. It’s just such a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Like Christine said, they’ve helped 32,000 families and service members. I’m just one of them. There’s 32,000 other stories out there. I’m so grateful, and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Jay: Wow. man, thank you, Doc. I mean, if anybody deserves a thanks, it’s you. We appreciate your service and sacrifices to take care of us. Thank you, Doc.
And, Christine, wow…32,000 Docs.
Christine: 32,000 infantrymen, logistics, I mean, you name it, pilots. I mean, I know every MOS, all services.
Now, we’re blessed to be able to assist, not just Navy and Marine Corps, but all the services to include our Coast Guard men and women and their family members.
As Doc said, it was really helpful to have his dad and his grandma there. I personally met his family. Many times when Doc and I chat, we just talk about the family, because you know, it’s family.
It’s that connection, that lifetime connection. We’ve known each other for a very long time. Just being able to talk, and maybe work some things out, where I may see a different perspective than he does.
It may not seem like a lot to people, but being able to provide a $50 gas card to someone so they can get to their appointments, so you can have that mental health check in, or get to that physical therapy appointment, that’s a huge impact on the budget when you have limited funds if you’re not be able to work as a result of your injuries.
We’re really happy and blessed to be able to provide that to our service members.
Jay: Absolutely. I was telling Breton earlier, before you guys joined us, I was honored to do a similar presentation in Tennessee earlier today. And the conversation that came up was these funds will help bridge the gap. And man, what a great place for us to help plug the gap. And it sounds like it’s very similar here.
So Christine, you know it’s the Month of the Military Child. And, Breton and I are honored to present this $5,000 grant to Semper Fi & America’s Fund.
How do you plan to use these funds to support our military heroes?
Christine: We’ll use the funds to support them all different ways across the board; whether it be service members or family support, if you transition, moving into the civilian world. And also in our integrative wellness programs, whether that be through our neuro fitness program, or apprenticeship program.
I always say, you name it, I’ve probably assisted with it. From getting to your appointments, to the other extreme of helping with modifying homes so that you can get that wheelchair into the bathroom and you’re not down on your bum trying to get into the bathroom because the wheelchair doesn’t fit.
Everybody has a different need because injury presents differently to them and their family members. As case managers we try to be as helpful, creative, and resourceful as we can to assist our service members with navigating the space they may not be familiar with. Then we bring our whole team in, along with our visiting nurses and our veteran leads, to provide encompassing support and a family atmosphere.
Our nurses know the medical part of it. Our veteran leads have connections within the employment world, and are getting connected with the VA. Sometimes that can be difficult as you move. Say maybe you’re at Camp Pendleton, but you’re going to move to Tennessee. Your services are going to be a little bit different from the active duty side to the VA side.
So just having that, I think family really fits best, that whole encompassing long term relationship with our service member, family members.
Jay: Absolutely. And that’s exactly what it sounds like. I know that’s what it sounds like to me. Britton is family, right?
Breton: Right. It’s family.
Doc won’t say he’s a hero, and you two Jay. You’re heroes. And, the nurses are angels. Things like that teach you what’s important in life. It’s a blessing because then you learn the real important things like family.
Patience and pain teaches you. And, who’s showing up? Like Christine, what you’re doing is great. I can’t wait, because Homes for Heroes and all of our affiliates, want to get the word out and make this stuff more possible. I can’t wait to tell more and more people.
Hopefully people can share this about Semper Fi & America’s Fund. The more people that know about it, the more people can help or get involved. The same with Homes for Heroes. Just keep spreading the word. I was telling Jay like, I can’t wait to see how many people we can impact three years from now.
Christine: Right, we would like to get the message out, Doc you know, there’s a lifelong need for support and assistance. The injury has healed, or the war is over, or you’re no longer in a combat zone, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not a continuing need.
Doc himself had indicated he just had a second amputation, like 16 months ago. He went through years, years and years and years of limb salvation. And now there’s another set of things to work through. Those injuries didn’t just go away because he left the combat zone or because he left active duty. That’s the thing with many of our service members and their families continuing the lifelong assistance to them to support their injuries. And supporting their road to a successful, full life.
Jay: To that point and getting the word out, how can those watching this learn more about Semper Fi & America’s Fund?
Christine: They can go to our website or you can Google us. We are an A+ rated charity organization, one of the top military nonprofit organizations. Our website has all our programs listed, and how to donate. It also has our financials.
Jay: So outside of going to the website and making a donation, are there ways that people can get involved and donate time.
Christine: Sure. That’s actually on our website too. Ways to get involved. We have many different organizations and individuals who might host a golf tournament, they might host a poker run, or a plant sale.
Every year we have two children who around the Marine Corps Marathon time frame, will bake apple pies and sell them, and then donate to us. It’s on our website also. There are many ways to get involved.
Jay: That’s awesome. And Breton, that’s how you got engaged with them, through one of those events with people out there doing things, right?
Breton: Exactly. It’s all from going to Operation Appreciation at Camp Pendleton where people were out there volunteering, and they told me about the program.
I’ve told others and now I just want to keep spreading the word. And, how can we help?
Christine: We greatly appreciate your donation and inviting us to this chat.
Jay: Absolutely. So, Christine, Doc, Breton, thank you for taking the time out of your day to join me. Thank you for everything y’all are doing.
You know, Doc, you are a hero. And by doing these kinds of things, you’re supporting other heroes, right? And, at Homes for Heroes, we call it the Circle of Giving. Everybody supports everybody else through the Circle of Giving.
And for those tuning in, thank you for taking some time to join us and hear more about Semper Fi & America’s Fund and its mission of service.
Show us a little bit of love and give us a like on the video. Share it with someone, and leave us a comment.
Be sure to tune in to future episodes to hear more. All about the nonprofits that the Homes for Heroes Foundation partners with nationwide to support our Heroes in need.
I hope everybody has a great rest of your day, but do me a favor if you don’t mind. Just take a second out of your day to find a hero and say thank you.
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; such as 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 facing a housing crisis or who 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, simply sign up to speak with a member of their team. They will follow up with you to answer all of your questions. When you tell them you’re feeling ready to speak with their local specialists in your area about home buying, selling, or refinancing, they will connect you with their local specialists to begin the process.
Simply visit the Homes for Heroes Foundation page if you’re interested in learning more about where it has awarded recent grants to hero organizations throughout the country, how much they’ve awarded to date, 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 their donation page to submit your contribution via PayPal. And, thank you for your interest and support.
Thank you for watching another Homes for Heroes Foundation grant video about the impact it is making nationally and in local hero communities, along with hero supporting nonprofits who use the grant dollars they receive to assist the heroes they serve.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Homes for Heroes YouTube channel to get notified of the new hero grants awarded by the Homes for Heroes foundation.
