2023 Bob Woodruff Foundation Annual Report

About the Bob Woodru Foundation

The Bob Woodru Foundation was founded in 2006 a er reporter Bob Woodru was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodru Foundation has raised awareness about the tough challenges veterans and military families are facing, and invested in solutions to help support them in the next chapter of their lives. To date, the Bob Woodru Foundation has invested over $159 million to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures. Visit the Bob Woodru Foundation for more information.

When the Foundation was created, we imagined a network of organizations across the country, sharing resources and knowledge, helping address the issues veterans face—from hunger and housing to mental and physical health.

That’s what our Got Your 6 Network is today.

With generous support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, our Got Your 6 Network spans all 50 states, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico. As a result, our footprint of services is accessible to almost 99% of the 20.6 million veterans and uniformed service members nationwide.

In 2023 we conducted our biennial survey of our Got Your 6 Network partners in order to understand their experiences working to meet veterans’ and military families’ needs. We released the results in our publication, also made possible with support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Got Your 6 Network:  Quantifying and Addressing Veterans’ Needs in 2023.

Addressing Veterans’ Needs With Our Got Your 6 Network

The results are sobering. Our 2023 results reveal that needs have increased since 2021, and the capacity of service providers is generally not keeping pace with those needs.

For many communities, the urgent needs of the military and veteran community exceed the services available. This is especially true for services providing mental healthcare, physical healthcare, housing, emergency financial assistance, food, and transportation. The findings, collected from 130 Got Your 6 Network partners nationwide, identify key needs among the local service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, and the extent to which the community-based organizations are able to meet these needs.

We use this information to prioritize our focus, investing where the needs are greatest and where we can make the most significant impact in our veterans’ lives.

Overview of Clients’ Unmet Needs

The Got Your 6 Network: Quantifying and Addressing Veterans’ Needs in 2023

Programmatic Impact

In 2023, we invested over $9 million in programs and services that address the needs of service members, veterans, families, and caregivers in their communities.

With generous support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, over 350 public, private, and nonprofit leaders gathered for our Summit in San Antonio, TX. There, they discussed the challenges San Antonio military families and veterans face and how to solve these challenges. The Foundation partnered with the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County to host the Summit.

$9 million was invested in programs and services during 2023.

120 programs supported nationwide.

31 programs were first-time funding recipients.

$4.6 million was directed towards over 80 partners focusing on housing stability and other basic needs

$1.7 million was allocated to 15 partners that address mental health issues, more than half of which included a focus on military children.

$1.6 million was directed towards initiatives fostering social connection, acknowledging the vital role of community in promoting wellbeing

$1 million was provided to support legal and employment services.

Demonstrating our ability to identify and respond to emerging needs, we also launched a multimillion-dollar e ort to support long-term recovery for veterans living in areas impacted by Hurricane Ian. We were also quick to respond with an investment to help veteran families who were victims of the Maui fires. Through a national convening, we brought together military, educa tion, industry, policy, and nonprofit leaders to facilitate discussions and identify solutions to critical issues such as military children's mental health and successful school-based programs.

To build further awareness of the challenges our nation’s veterans, service members and their families face, we published findings on service-connected infertility, suicide protection, military children’s mental health, the PACT ACT, and homelessness.

We also provided opportunities for partners to build functional expertise through webinars addressing areas such as board governance and non profit status, and we also led substantive webinars to build understanding of the PACT Act, employment resources, and veteran food insecuri ty. Throughout the eight webinars BWF hosted in 2023, over 700 attendees engaged in our live programming.

We ended the year with The Got Your 6 Network:  Quantifying and Addressing Veterans’ Needs in 2023. The biennial Report confirmed that, for many communities, the urgent needs of the military and veteran community exceeded the services available. This is especially true for services addressing mental healthcare, physical healthcare, housing, emergency financial assis tance, food, and transportation. Our Report highlighted that needs have increased since 2021, and the capacity of service providers is generally not keeping pace with those needs.

Expanding Our Reach, Collaboratively

In our six seasons partnering with the NFL, we’ve helped over 600,000 veterans, service members, their families, and caregivers in 100 communities. We’ve accomplished this through 190 awards: 89 grants and 101 stimulus payments.

As veterans’ needs continued to outpace services available to them, our organizations have adapted and refined our giving to reach a growing number of veterans.

Over the last three years, the USA Wheelchair Football League has expanded to include 14 teams nationally, working with over 850 athletes and coaches, over 30% of whom are veterans. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 we expedited grants to ensure that veteran-serving organizations could meet their clients’ needs. In 2022, following Hurricane Ian, we expedited grants to organizations in Florida that were impacted by the storm.

The most recent point-in-time count data show a 7% uptick in veteran homelessness from 2022 to 2023, signaling a clear need for additional investment in homeless services for veterans and their families. With NFL-BWF funding, U.S.VETS is providing case management and daily meals to 5,000 veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness at eight residential sites in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada, including the first residential building on the West Los Angeles VA Campus.

With NFL-BWF funding, Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) is providing community arts programming to 800 veterans, service members, family members, and caregivers to foster improved social support and wellbeing. Through the arts, veterans and military families gain new tools for self-understanding and self-expression that they can translate to other areas of their lives. In 2023, ASAP graduate and Comedy Bootcamp instructor Chris Cline received the surprise of a lifetime when NFL legend Tony Richardson gave him tickets to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.

While the share of women serving in the military has grown, many still face challenges in their transition back to civilian life that contribute to isolation and feeling disconnected from their veteran identity. With NFL-BWF funding, WoVeN is providing evidence-based peer support groups to increase social support and improve the wellbeing of 320 female veterans.

We are so grateful for the continued partnership with Craig Newmark Philanthropies in 2023 and beyond!

To increase veterans’ and military families’ access to programs and services, CNP provided support for:

Our Natural Disaster Fund for veterans and military families, through which BWF can respond immediately when families are suddenly without the essentials to live.

Our Got Your 6 Network of partners and service providers, a foundational component of our mission that provides access to services for over 98% of veterans and uniformed service members in communities across the country.

The first $1 million, announced with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, provided direct assistance to veterans and military-connected families in Maui displaced by the 2023 fires.

Living Our Commitment

As our Title Sponsor for Stand Up for Heroes for three years running, Bread Financial supports thousands of veterans. The 2023 contribution follows their 2022 sponsorship that helped more than 11,000 veterans live more stable and successful lives.

As a Symposium panelist, Andretta powerfully highlighted the VOWS commitment to veterans:

“‘Thank you for your service’ is a terrific slogan but it is not enough. So how do we really help veterans? We do that three ways: in our business, in our community, and in our influence.”

In the spirit of partnering to do more, Bread Financial also lent its support to the USA Wheelchair Football League by donating a percentage of credit sales on the NFL Extra Points Credit Card.

At our VOWS Symposium in NYC, Bread Financial CEO Ralph Andretta encouraged Veterans, service members and military spouses to

“be proud of what you’ve done and what you’re going to do.”

We look forward to our ongoing partnership with Bread Financial that improves the financial health and wellness of our veterans.

Helping Veterans Grow Their Families

When you raise your hand to serve your country, you shouldn’t forfeit your ability to have a family. BWF founded the VIVA program to ensure that military service does not preclude anyone from starting a family. Through VIVA, we have provided more than $300,000 in support to 51 Veteran families, who have welcomed a total of 23 babies.

With generous support from the biotechnology company EMD Serono, we connected a growing number of veterans experiencing infertility with the resources they needed to start or expand their families. EMD Serono has been a pioneer in the fertility space for 25 years, helping couples at every step of their fertility journey. The organization was there for the first IVF baby and for over five million babies since.

While service-connected infertility doesn't get a lot of attention, it should. In fact, service members experience infertility at almost double the rate of the US population. To further build awareness of the issue, we also published "Spotlight on How Military Service Can Impact Fertility.” We highlighted challenges related to military service that can impact fertility, and fertility services that the Department of Veterans A airs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) provide related to fertility. We also provided recommendations for those serving our nation’s service members and veterans to help military families struggling with service-connected infertility.

Helping Veterans Find Meaningful Second Careers

In 2023, VOWS raised more than $1 million to facilitate career and business opportunities for veterans and service members returning to civilian life. We invested in programs that address barriers to employ ment, support job placement, provide employment opportunities, and o er industry certifications.

In partnership with BlackRock, we hosted the annual VOWS Symposium at their new Hudson Yards o ices in NYC. We launched our Chicago chapter and hosted a Miami Symposium.

In collaboration with JobPath, we introduced a career portal that’s available to all VOWS partners, employers, and job seekers. Employers can personalize their profiles and hiring needs, training opportunities, and mentorship programs to gain access to a pool of veteran applicants. Job seekers can search for roles and access trainings, a resume builder, a military occupational specialty (MOS) translator, and mentors.

From San Francisco to Miami and in cities in between, the Bob Woodru Foundation VOWS program contin ued to expand, and to reach more organizations that focus on helping veterans and military spouses find meaningful careers.

As it has for the last 17 years, Stand Up for Heroes (SUFH) returned in November to honor our nation’s veterans and their families at David Ge en Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in NYC. The event, in partnership with New York Comedy Festival and sponsored by Bread Financial, raised over $14 million in support of our mission to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures.

Attendees settled in for a star-studded evening of comedy, music, laughter, and a few surprise appearances. Joining us on stage were Rita Wilson, Josh Groban, The War and Treaty, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Jimmy Carr, Tracy Morgan, John Mellencamp, and - for the 17th year in a row - Jon Stewart. Bruce Springsteen thrilled audiences with a surprise appearance. In addition to the incredible entertainment, Stand Up for Heroes shined a light on the stories of the remarkable men and women who have stood for us as members of our nation’s military.

During the event, craigslist founder and philanthropist Craig Newmark took to the stage to announce an extraordinary $10 million donation from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support the Bob Woodru Foundation’s initiative to improve mental health. The self-proclaimed "nerd" asked the AI version of himself how the money should be used, but Craig ultimately made the decision on his own.

The event also included video messages from First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Dr. Biden reminded guests that families serve as well even though they don't wear a uniform, and that the wellbeing of service members and their families is of national importance. Prince Harry spoke of the importance of service, of the military community, and of upholding the values learned on base and the battlefield: service, honor, integrity, togetherness, and solidarity.

Stand Up for Heroes has raised $84 million to date to help all veterans and military families have successful futures. We are grateful to Caroline Hirsch, Andrew Fox and New York Comedy Festival who, like Jon Stewart, have been with us for every Stand Up for Heroes since 2007.

Why We Stand Up for Heroes A Look Back at the 17th Annual Event

Craig Newmark Donates $10 Million at the 17th Annual Stand Up for Heroes

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Delivers a Message at the 17th Annual Stand Up for Heroes

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

Acorn Hill Foundation

Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation

The Mary E. Bazar-Robin Foundation

Alfred Phillips Foundation

Barnacle Parking

Thomas Poole

Estate of Peter Schub

Andy and Elliot Berndt

C. Curtis, Mary, and Susan Dunnavan

Margie Goldsmith

Suni and Woody Harford

Michael and Kelly Ho man

John and Karin Kukral

Robert and Michele O'Shea

Dan and Linda Rosensweig

Sandy Samberg

Rand Schmidt

Robert Adrian

Robin and Susan Baker

Neil Bender

Marilyn J. Bishop

Tad Brown

Gary and Peggy Cecchine

Sanjay and Allison Chadda

Eric A. Cole

Constance M. Cooper Foundation

Stephen and Rose Crawford

Kate Crowley

Jim and Katherine Denny

David Dillmeier

Christine Duca

Howard Edelstein and Lisa Weitzman

Paul Ferri

Virgil Maceo Fisher

Christopher French

Paul Gillespie

John and Suzanne Golden

Robert Gorab

Colin He ron and Rosalind Dodd

Mariana Herrmann

Tara Howard

Laura and Brian Hull

I See A Foundation

Paul Ingrey

Paul and Melissa Keary

Michael and Elizabeth Keyes

Bernt Killingstad

Harold Levy

Ashley and Je McDermott

David McIntyre

Daniel and Melanie McNulty

Tom and Louise Middleton

T. Ryan Myrick

Craig Overlander

Kirk Howard Pierce

Martha Raddatz and Tom Gjelten

Michael and Sheila Rankowitz

Leonard and Allison Stern

Beth Stevens

Lee Tesconi

David and Sherrie Westin

Guy Wisinski

Mark and Jan Zucker

Support

Our Veterans

With support from our donors and partners, we ensure our programs and service have maximum impact.

If you're a veteran, service member, or military family who would like to know more about the programs and services we support, visit our Got Your 6 Network Partner Directory.

If you are an organization that would like to join the Got Your 6 Network, apply today.

https://bobwoodru foundation.org/got-your-6-network/