irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION ORGANIZES AND CONDUCTS BIENNIALLY, AN ALL-EXPENSE PAID MISSION TO NEW YORK FOR A PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT FROM EACH STATE, AND THEIR CARE-GIVER. EACH MISSION TOURS THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR, GEORGE WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS WHERE THE FIRST BADGE OF MILITARY MERIT WAS PRESENTED, NEW YORK'S 9/11 MEMORIAL, AND THE US MILITARY ACADEMY. THESE POWERFUL VISITS PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS AND TO EXPERIENCE THE APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL NATION.
- #2 $37KNATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE U.S. MINT, CREATED A SET OF NATIONAL PURPLE HEART COMMEMORATIVE COINS WHICH NPHHM THEN PROMOTED TO THE PUBLIC. PRICED FOR MAXIMUM SURCHARGE REVENUE, THIS COIN SALE RAISED VISIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION AMONG THE COMMUNITIES OF COIN COLLECTORS AND PATRIOTS EVERYWHERE. IT ALSO FINANCIALLY ENABLES THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION TO CONTINUE ITS BIENNIAL MISSIONS, AND ITS WORK OF CREATING INTERNET DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL VIDEOS OF PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS AND THEIR STORIES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Genesis Legacy Medal
Annual award presented to distinguished Purple Heart recipients and civilian supporters of veterans; includes a fundraising dinner that supports the organization’s mission
National Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Program
Collaboration with the U.S. Mint to create and promote commemorative coins, with surcharge revenue funding the organization’s outreach and educational initiatives
National Purple Heart Day Ceremony
Annual tribute event held on August 7 at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, NY, bringing together Purple Heart recipients to share stories and be honored for their service and sacrifice
Purple Heart Patriot Project
Provides all-expense-paid trips for one Purple Heart recipient from each state and their caregiver to visit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, George Washington's Headquarters, and West Point; includes educational and commemorative activities over a multi-day itinerary
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Memorial and Veteran Honor Services 6 activities
- Conduct the Purple Heart Patriot ProjectOrganizes biennial, all-expense-paid missions for one Purple Heart recipient from each state and their caregiver to visit historic sites in New York, including the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, George Washington’s Headquarters, the 9/11 Memorial, and the U.S. Military Academy. This program was temporarily suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
- Host National Purple Heart Day and national tribute ceremoniesHosts an annual national tribute ceremony on August 7 to honor Purple Heart recipients and provide a platform for sharing personal narratives. Has hosted ceremonies at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, NY, and played an integral role in organizing the 2020 White House National Purple Heart Day event attended by the President.
- Host educational programs and public events at the Hall of HonorProvides educational tours for schools, camps, Scout groups, and adult groups at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, and hosts annual events to commemorate significant anniversaries and historic milestones related to the Purple Heart.
- Operate a Mobile Tribute and Education CenterRuns a traveling mobile exhibit featuring multimedia displays, artifacts, video testimonials, and virtual reality storytelling about Purple Heart recipients. Includes a recording studio for veterans to preserve personal stories, and provides free public access to honor and educate about the legacy of the Purple Heart.
- Operate and expand the National Purple Heart Hall of HonorFounded, established, and led a $17 million expansion of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor near West Point, NY, which opened in 2006 and reopened in November 2020 with enhanced exhibits and visitor experiences. The facility is located at the site associated with the origins of the Badge of Military Merit.
- Reunite lost Purple Heart medals with recipients or familiesOperates a program to locate and return found Purple Heart medals to recipients or their families, such as the recovery and return of Staff Sgt. Curtis R. Patton’s medal nearly 60 years after his death in Vietnam. Unclaimed medals are displayed in traveling exhibitions or at the Hall of Honor.
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Veteran Support Grantmaking 1 activity
- Fund veteran outreach and education programs through commemorative coin surchargesCo-created and promoted National Purple Heart commemorative coins with the U.S. Mint, where surcharge revenues fund biennial Purple Heart Patriot Project missions, digital storytelling initiatives, and educational outreach for combat-wounded veterans.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advocate for federal recognition of Purple Heart recipients through commemorative initiativesPlayed a leading role in the creation and passage of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act in 2020, resulting in the minting of the nation's first official commemorative coin honoring Purple Heart recipients in 2022. Also led the effort that resulted in the U.S. Postal Service issuing the Purple Heart Forever stamp in 2014.
- Award the Genesis Legacy Medal and host annual recognition dinnerHosts an annual dinner in New York to honor Purple Heart recipients and award the Genesis Legacy Medal. Attendance is free for all Purple Heart recipients through sponsor support, and the event serves as the organization’s largest annual fundraising activity.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10K
Contributions & grants$10K96%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$372
expenses
Total expenses$132K
Program expenses59%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising26%
Salaries & benefits$69K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.37M
Cash$1.37M
Investments$0
Liabilities$142K
Net assets$1.23M
Liquid reserves124.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -95.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSSELL VERNON COLONEL RETNYARNG | EXECUTIVE DI | 1 | $60K |
board members · 20
- ANDREW KOMONCHAK — BOARD MEMBER
- BETH JENNINGS — BOARD MEMBER
- COL CHARLES FARO — BOARD MEMBER
- DANIEL CLARINO — VICE CHAIRMA
- EDIE MCCOY MEEKS — SECRETARY
- ERNIE RIVERA — RESIGNED 01/
- FELIX GARCIA III — RESIGNED 01/
- GLEN HELLER ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- JEREMY MCVEY — BOARD MEMBER
- JIM KULISEK — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN SERGI — BOARD MEMBER
- KEN KANNERS — BOARD MEMBER
- LUKE J LYONS — BOARD MEMBER
- MARYKAY MESSENGER — BOARD MEMBER
- NATHAN PARKER — BOARD MEMBER
- PATRICK GARTLAND ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- PETER M OLYMPIA JR — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD D LAY — CHAIRMAN
- ROBERT T QUINN — BOARD MEMBER
- THOMAS D WEDDELL CPA — TREASURER
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- America 250 Partner — Collaborates on the launch of the Mobile Tribute and Education Center as part of America 250 celebrations in 2026.
- Chippewa Lake Yacht Club Partner — Hosted a ceremony for the return of Staff Sgt. Curtis Patton's Purple Heart medal.
- Gary Sinise Foundation Partner — Organization whose "Soaring Valor Flight" program served as inspiration for the Purple Heart Patriot Project.
- Genesis Group Partner — Collaborated with the Genesis Group over eleven years to establish the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
- Honor Flight Network Partner — Organization that inspired the design of the Purple Heart Patriot Project.
- MOAA Partner — Collaborates on sharing stories of Purple Heart recipients through joint media initiatives.
- Medina Weekly News Partner — Published a news article about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission's return of a Purple Heart medal to a veteran's family.
- National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Partner — Collaborates to promote the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
- National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Partner — Receives unclaimed Purple Heart medals on loan for display.
- National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Partner — Shares personal data only when applicable for purposes related to the mission.
- Palisades Interstate Park Commission Government — The Hall of Honor operates under the jurisdiction of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission as a New York State Parks site.
- Purple Hearts Across America Tour Partner — Traveling exhibition initiative to honor and educate about Purple Heart recipients.
- Tunnel to Towers Partner — Awarded the Genesis Legacy Medal to Tunnel to Towers Chairman Frank Siller in recognition of service to veterans.
- U.S. Congress Government — Collaborated with the U.S. Congress to pass legislation for the Purple Heart Forever Stamp and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act.
- U.S. Mint Partner — Collaborated to create National Purple Heart commemorative coins
- U.S. Postal Service Government — Partnered to issue the Purple Heart Forever Stamp in 2014.
- U.S. Treasury Government — Worked with the U.S. Treasury to mint the National Purple Heart commemorative coin in 2022.
- United States Mint Government — Partnered with the U.S. Mint to issue commemorative coins honoring Purple Heart recipients.
- White House Government — Collaborated with the White House to organize and host the 2020 National Purple Heart Day event attended by President Donald J. Trump.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Honor Through Public Education and Storytellingmethodology: public_education_through_storytellingBy sharing personal narratives and stories of Purple Heart recipients through public events, mobile exhibitions, museum displays, and educational programming, the organization increases national awareness of military sacrifice and fosters public engagement, because lived experiences create deeper emotional resonance and lasting civic memory than abstract facts alone.
- Medal Recovery and Restitution as Honormethodology: medal_recovery_and_restitutionBy recovering lost or unclaimed Purple Heart medals and returning them to recipients or their families through investigative and ceremonial processes, the organization restores dignity and recognition to individual acts of valor, because physical restitution of the medal serves as a tangible affirmation of service and sacrifice.
- Peer-Based Commemoration and Connectionmethodology: veteran-peer-recognition-through-commemorationBy organizing group visits to historical sites modeled on veteran honor flight programs, the organization strengthens peer recognition among Purple Heart recipients while advancing public commemoration, because shared experience and collective tribute reinforce both individual healing and national remembrance.
- Sustainable Funding via Symbolic Commemorationmethodology: sustainable-funding-through-commemorative-productsBy selling commemorative coins with high surcharge pricing, the organization generates sustainable funding for veteran tribute and storytelling programs, because symbolic consumer participation (e.g., purchasing a coin) translates public support into financial resources while extending educational reach across generations.