Newsletter June 2019
Honor Dignity Respect
Summertime is here, and as the Fourth of July comes and goes it is important to take this time to feel grateful for the freedoms we have in our country. Our independence and national spirit make the United States a wonderful place to call home. “Our veterans believe in what our country stands for, and it’s important to show our gratitude,” says HonorBound’s Executive Director Phil Kraft.
In addition to celebrating our independence, we also want to express our deepest gratitude for one of our legacy donors, George A. Swisshelm.
Swisshelm, a U.S Army veteran, fought to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation and then helped combat the spread of communism during the Korean War.
Following his service in Korea, Swisshelm moved to Darien, CT in 1958 and lived there until his death in 2018. George was always committed to helping his fellow veterans and has left a gracious gift that will help U.S. military personnel long after his death.
“He was very concerned that veterans returning from combat lacked the support they needed when they came home,” says Phil Kraft. Swisshelm left his estate to HonorBound— a gift that will continue his legacy of supporting charitable causes and assisting veterans in dire need.
Swisshelm’s gift to HonorBound will be put to good use- his generosity fuels our mission to provide aid for a broad range of emergency expenses- from security deposits that keep our heroes off the streets to crippling medical bills, food, and education.
If you’re interested in helping veterans for years to come, please consider adding HonorBound Foundation to your will. You can also view our Legacy Circle on our website.
With Honor, Dignity and Respect,
The HonorBound Team
A PUPPY WITH A PURPOSE
Here is an update on Boots, our service dog in training. She’s 6 months old now. Soon, she’ll have a very important job. Boots is being trained by an expert to assist a veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
So far, she’s mastering the fundamentals of service dog training. She’s learned how to listen and look intently for cues from her human and follow commands when given. Fully trained, she will be able
to identify the veteran’s triggers and anxiety, shield them in crowded areas, calm them during an episode, alert for help when needed, and even bring medication.
A staggering 22 veterans commit suicide every day because of PTSD. Each one of them put their life on the line for our country, only to come home as “walking-wounded”- carrying trauma from the battlefield home with them.
But there is hope, thanks to you. Your generosity funds the training and placement of Boots for a veteran in desperate need. And here’s the best part: there have been no suicides reported among veterans who have a trained service dog by their side. What does that mean?
It means our puppy, Boots, will be a life-changing and life-saving partner for a hurting veteran.
MY CAR NEEDED REPAIRS – YOU HELPED. THANK YOU.
Antoinette deserves our help. She served for ten years in the Army and the Reserves. After the military, she got her degree and became a nurse, a job she held for ten years.
Suddenly, her company lost a huge contract. “My employment abruptly ended,” Antoinette says. It took a few months to find another job, and by that time she had no savings left. Unable to cover her rent, she lost her apartment.
Antoinette finally found a new job, but she couldn’t get there. “My car broke down,” she exclaims. “I need that car to get to work and doctor’s appointments, and I’m apartment hunting.”
Getting to work- that’s critical. Antoinette works as a nurse.
Getting to doctor’s appointments- that’s critical. Antoinette is a cancer survivor. Apartment hunting? Also critical.
Antoinette is in temporary transitional housing and needs to find a new place.
Thanks to your generous support, Antoinette got her car fixed. Now she can get to work and find a new home. That car repair was the last piece of the puzzle.