Our Impact
High Impact + Relentless Efficiency = Meaningful Outcomes
High Impact: Rebuilding Peer Support Networks
Reconnecting America’s Warriors and Gold Star Families is what we do. Since our founding, seven years ago, we have reunited over 4,000 combat veterans and Gold Star Families across more than 55 reunions at no cost to those who attend. We accomplish this through relentless efficiency by our all-combat veteran staff and the generous support of patriotic Americans. 2024 will be another banner year in the history of WRF with over 20 reunions reconnecting veterans and Gold Star Families!
Relentless Efficiency: We Spend ~$500 per Attendee
The average cost per reunion attendee covered by WRF is $500. This includes covering all costs associated with a 3-day reunion experience to include travel, lodging, meals, reunion activities (recreational, team building, memorial service, informational briefings, service project, and more...)
Meaningful Outcomes
of post-reunion survey respondents said that attending their reunion “strengthened their social connections with their military family.”
of participants were "likely" to reach out to their veteran peers for support. Before attending a WRF reunion, only 28% reported they were "likely" to reach out for support when needed.
of post-reunion survey respondents had not seen members of their unit in over 5 years
“We remember who we were and hold on to that memory as we determine who we will be. We are together. And together we are strong. Hope: the cornerstone. Laughter: the tie that binds. Commitment to the mission; to each other: how boys become Men. You breathe life into us. You must continue your work. We are eternally grateful.”
“Healing and hugs. The healing I still feel from just those four days helps me get through most of the days I find hard. We moved so fast coming home from deployment, a lot of us didn't get a chance to process and say our goodbyes to those we didn't know we needed to until it was to late. 15 years and hugging those men and women and seeing their faces and knowing they're good gave me peace of mind for them.”
“The people you will meet when you go are no different than the guys in your platoon and easily could have been, the only thing they care about is you spending the weekend with your men. I can't believe I almost flaked on my platoon and didn't go because of personal hang-ups and fears, my friends at home pushed me onto a plane and I'm glad they did. Thank you for bringing us all together again.”
Impact Reports
Click on a cover to view one of our impact reports.