September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time when our invested communities, providers, and individuals come together around one of the most urgent crises of our generation: Veteran suicide. At Veterans Collaborative, our mission is simple but powerful—increase access to resources and opportunities where Veterans live— stand beside them and ensure no one slips through the cracks.

Every day, an average of 22 Veterans make the tragic decision to end their lives. That is 22 families broken, 22 communities grieving, and 22 lives of service and sacrifice cut short. One life lost is one too many.

We like to say “all veterans deserve access,” but in practice, I’ve seen well-intentioned people draw invisible lines about which veterans have “earned” that access. As well as, which veteran service organizations are "quailified" to serve veterans.

We are all trying to address veteran suicide. But if we only invest in what works in theory without ensuring veterans can actually reach those interventions, we will continue to lose lives.

The solution isn’t either/or—it’s evidence and access, innovation and infrastructure, national standards and local reach. Local being the magic key.

Because at the end of the day, a veteran’s life is saved not just by the existence of a treatment, but by the ability to access it—right here, right now, where they live.

Let’s start with this: Cultural competency isn’t a checkbox. It’s a lifeline. We must ensure training is ongoing and continuous for local clinical care partners who encounter our Veteran and military families. We can 100% activate this at the local level—so when a Veteran walks into a clinic for care and says, “I am a Veteran,” it means something.

At Veterans Collaborative, we believe these unalienable rights must not only be protected and honored but actively extended to every person who has worn the uniform—and to the families who have stood beside them with unwavering strength and sacrifice on this journey of service, courage, and purpose.

Veteran organizations play a critical role in addressing the unique challenges faced by Veterans. From overcoming physical and mental health struggles to tackling financial and societal barriers, these organizations empower Veterans to lead fulfilling post-military lives. Their missions are both heartwarming and inspirational, deserving of our collective support.

On behalf of our team at Veterans Collaborative, thank you for your steadfast support. Together, we have driven meaningful change at the local level by empowering Veteran and community leaders, expanding access to vital resources and services, and championing the inclusion and support of local organizations and those closest to the challenges faced by our Veteran and military-connected community.

Veterans are not only protectors who have worn the uniform, but also compassionate leaders and innovative thinkers. They are warriors, skilled technicians, philanthropists, and humanitarians. They answer our Nation’s call with courage and dedication, standing in service while others often sit idle. Veterans are the backbone of America, tackling some of society’s greatest challenges, inventing and leading industries, building businesses, and fostering communities. They are the portraits of courage we look up to.

At Veterans Collaborative, our mission is clear: to empower Veterans, military families, and the communities they proudly call home. Through innovative programs, essential services, and impactful projects, we strive to foster healing, growth, and meaningful connections. This year, your support and inspiration have driven us to reach further, serve with greater purpose, and make a deeper impact.

As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible community we have built together. Veterans Collaborative was founded on the belief that connection, support, and shared purpose can create lasting change for Veterans and their families. This year, that belief has been reinforced time and again through the inspiring efforts and unwavering commitment of our community.

This gap is what I call the glass floor of partnerships—a seemingly solid foundation of power and influence that, in reality, is fragile without ground-up buy-in. It’s where leaders of authority assume that their ideas will automatically work because they’ve been shaped in high-level boardrooms and through strategic alliances, but they fail to see the blind spots and the complexities of local implementation.

What does it mean to be the light in someone's darkness? For those who have served or supported those who have, we know the challenges are complex and overwhelming. It’s often a balancing act where we desperately want to change the narrative and show you who these heroes are-- tough and determined, loving family members, loyal servants, and American heroes, but we have to address the elephant in the room. Today, we are remembering the 125,000 Veterans that have lost their lives to Veteran suicide, and we are focused on the average 30 that will lose their lives today to Veteran suicide.

Veterans Collaborative is proud to be the only fiscal sponsorship solely dedicated to our Veteran and military-connected community. Projects can be founded by and/or serving our community. Projects founded by Veterans enable access to charitable funding and capacity, and projects serving our community enable access to vital resources at the local level. Most of our projects do both.

On this 4th of July, as we prepare to light up the sky and celebrate the birth of our nation, it's a poignant moment to reflect on the state of our democracy and the trust that rests with the people. As Washington referred to it, “the establishment of our New Government seemed to be the last great experiment, for promoting human happiness, by reasonable compact, in civil society.” The journey is continuous, marked by storms and calm seas alike, requiring constant vigilance, effort, and course correction, with you as its captain.

As PTS Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to highlight some challenges our Veterans face when seeking mental health interventions. By understanding these barriers, we can work together to uncover the hope that awaits them in communities across our country.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the VA Immersive Summit in Washington, DC. The Summit was a deep dive into the innovative technologies and strategic efforts being undertaken to enhance the healthcare experiences of our nation's Veterans. Serving 9 million enrolled Veterans across 1,255 healthcare facilities, the VA plays a crucial role in addressing the healthcare needs of nearly half of the Veteran population in the United States.