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10 ORGS · 58 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
approach

Veteran-Led Mentorship

By engaging veterans as mentors and role models in structured programs, we foster youth development, civic engagement, and mutual healing, because lived military experience builds credibility, trust, and relatability that enhances both individual growth and community cohesion. This strategy centers on leveraging the moral authority and experiential wisdom of veterans to bridge military-civilian divides, promote youth leadership, and support reintegration. Unlike general mentorship models, it specifically activates veterans’ identities and service backgrounds as catalysts for intergenerational connection, making it distinct from peer- or celebrity-led approaches. Programs succeed by transforming personal experience into purpose, benefiting both mentees and mentors through shared values of discipline, sacrifice, and civic duty.

10
orgs running it
58
activities of those orgs
12
activity groups touched
who runs it

Organizations running this strategy · 10

what it looks like in practice

Activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above — what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Youth mentoring and community programs AMERICAN LEGION POST 239
    direct service
    Provides youth mentoring and sponsors community programs that promote patriotism, national security, and support for veterans.
  • Construction and donation of recreational facilities for military personnel KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Funds and donates recreational infrastructure—including basketball courts, gymnasiums, and outdoor gym pavilions—to improve quality of life for U.S. and allied service members at military bases in Estonia, California, Louisiana, and New York. Projects include a basketball court at Tapa Military Base (Estonia), a gym pavilion at Lincoln Military Housing (CA), and Airmen Attics at Barksdale Air Force Base (LA), serving hundreds of service members, trainers, and families.
  • Distribution of care packages and essential supplies to deployed personnel KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Distributes care packages, personal correspondence, and moral support to deployed U.S. military units, including sponsorship of 34 soldiers during a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan. Also provides essential items such as winter clothing to American volunteers serving with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas.
  • Educational travel programs for civilians on national security issues KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Operates educational travel programs that provide civilians with firsthand insight into the lives and challenges of U.S. service members, their families, and allied personnel, including focused programming on geopolitical conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and tensions involving Iran, China, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula. These programs include expert briefings, panel discussions, and diplomatic engagements to enhance public understanding of national security affairs affecting U.S. interests.
  • Funding college tuition for children of U.S. submariners KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    grantmaking
    Awards annual financial support to cover college tuition for children of U.S. submariners pursuing higher education.
  • Grant funding for humanitarian and educational projects in Ukraine KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    grantmaking
    Provides grant funding for humanitarian aid and education in Ukraine, including support for a school in Zhytomyr for children with special needs and financial contributions to Kind Deeds for prostheses, medical treatment, and rehabilitation services for Ukrainians injured in the war.
  • Hosting morale-boosting events for service members KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Organizes large-scale social events for U.S. military personnel, such as a Bonfire BBQ hosted for over 400 service members at Joint Task Force Guantanamo in Cuba, aimed at boosting morale and showing civilian support.
  • Public outreach and media dissemination of program insights KAPLAN PUBLIC SERVICE FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Shares findings and observations from its national security education programs with the broader public through media and news outlets to increase civilian awareness of military and geopolitical challenges.
  • Community Drives and Support Events STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Conducts musical performances in conjunction with food, clothing, blood, and toy drives to support community needs and promote engagement.
  • Event Access and Community Engagement for Veterans and Youth STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Distributes free tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other events for veterans, military personnel, and youth. Hosts concerts and branded events for these communities to foster connection and support.
  • Fundraising and Donation Activities STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Organizes fundraising events and accepts monetary donations through online platforms to support organizational programs.
  • Military and Veteran Training and Mentorship Program STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Offers a tuition-based American Warrior Military Mentorship & Training Program for U.S. military prospects, including ASVAB academic support, fitness, military training, and community morals and ethics. Provides structured mentorship and training to veterans and active military personnel to support healing and personal development.
  • Partnership Programs STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Collaborates with external partners such as Dianna Najar on the Heart and Hue program to expand service delivery and impact.
  • Suicide Prevention Workshops STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Hosts suicide prevention workshops for veterans and military communities, such as the event held at Batavia Downs, to promote mental health awareness and support.
  • Therapeutic Arts Programming for Veterans and Children STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Provides musical performances and lessons for veterans at veterans hospitals and for children at children's hospitals, using the arts to support emotional and physical well-being.
  • Veterans Retreat Program STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Operates a retreat program for veterans offering musical and martial arts training, hiking, swimming, meditation, and aromatherapy to support emotional and physical well-being.
  • Youth Development and Mentorship Programs STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Operates structured youth programs that provide discipline, mentorship, and support using instructors from entertainment, military, and martial arts/MMA backgrounds. Programs include leadership skills, academic support, physical fitness, and marksmanship training.
  • Youth Entertainment and Creative Arts Program STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ORGANIZATION
    direct service
    Offers a youth entertainment program featuring music lessons, band building, filmmaking, acting, podcasting, gaming, and writing to engage and support at-risk youth through creative expression.