Wounded Warrior Project Empowers Women Warriors Through Expansive Community Partnerships
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) understands that no organization can meet the evolving needs of post-9/11 wounded warriors, their families, and caregivers alone. This includes the needs of women warriors.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that women will make up 18% of the veteran population by 2040. That compares to just 4% in 2000. As the fastest-growing demographic of veterans in the country, there is a growing demand to understand what women veterans are facing and how the community can help.
WWP's Women Warriors Initiative shows that women warriors report a lack of recognition for their service and a misconception of women in combat. They report anxiety, depression, and military sexual trauma (MST) at higher rates than male warriors. While women are breaking down barriers in service to the United States, they still experience unique challenges – in uniform and after service.
That is why WWP partners with best-in-class organizations to augment its programs and services to build a collaborative support network for women veterans to thrive long term. WWP invests in the following veterans service organizations that provide tailored programming for female veterans.
1. Boulder Crest Foundation – Boulder Crest Foundation’s (BCF) mission is to facilitate post-traumatic growth through transformative programs, world-class training and education initiatives, and research and advocacy efforts. WWP’s grant supports women-specific cohorts of BCF’s Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) Program. The program utilizes the science of Posttraumatic Growth to facilitate transformation so veterans and their families can live productive, fulfilling, and service-oriented lives at home. Women-specific environments, like the ones provided through PATHH, enable women veterans to connect with one another, reflect on shared experiences, and develop lasting relationships that are critical to their healing journeys.
2. Farmer Veteran Coalition – The mission of Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is to mobilize veterans to feed America. FVC fulfills this mission by developing viable employment and meaningful career opportunities through collaboration with farming and military communities. WWP proudly supports FVC’s Veteran Fellowship Fund, which empowers post-9/11 veterans to start their journey in agriculture. The Veteran Fellowship Fund is a grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans in their beginning years of farming or ranching, helping them to acquire essential equipment to scale their businesses. To empower more women in the agricultural industry, a portion of WWP’s funding is dedicated to women.
3. Melwood – Melwood’s mission is to advocate for and empower individuals with disabilities to transform their lives through unique opportunities to work, live, and thrive in the community. Melwood supports women warriors through Operation Tohidu. Specifically, WWP’s grant focuses on women warriors recovering from military sexual trauma (MST). Through Operation Tohidu, warriors experience a holistic retreat, helping them overcome obstacles to their recovery through experience-based learning and other alternative therapies and interventions.
4. Soldier To Sidelines – Soldiers To Sidelines (STS) gives veterans, service members, military spouses, and Gold Star families a renewed sense of purpose by providing them with the skills and certifications to become character-based sports coaches who serve their communities. To empower women veterans in sports, WWP’s grant supports STS’ virtual coaching certification seminars for women warriors regardless of their coaching experience and background, leveraging the leadership skills they garnered through their military service.
5. The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families – The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University is higher education’s first interdisciplinary academic center created with the specific mission to study and act on opportunities to impact the social, economic, and wellness concerns of America’s veterans and military-connected families. Through its 14 national training programs, community services, and research efforts, the IVMF has impacted over 192,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military family members to date. WWP funds IVMF’s Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) program, which supports, educates, and empowers women veterans in entrepreneurial ventures.
6. The Mission Continues – The goal of The Mission Continues is to empower veterans to continue their service and empower communities with veteran talent, skills, and preparedness to generate visible impact. The Mission Continues’ vision is for all veterans who want to continue their service to be a part of a movement to transform communities. With WWP’s support, The Mission Continues offers the Women Veterans Leadership Program (WVLP). This cohort-based program fosters strong connections between women veterans to expand networks and support systems to build a community of women veteran leaders.
7. U.S.VETS – U.S.VETS is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk veterans. With the help of WWP, U.S.VETS offers programming to women veterans through its ADVANCE Women’s Program and Women Vets on Point. ADVANCE Women’s Program is a transitional housing service that addresses the unique needs of women who were exposed to sexual trauma during their military service and may be experiencing problems with PTSD, substance use disorder, and other mental health issues impacting their housing stability. Women Vets on Point unites women who have served by connecting them and their families to employment, housing, and other resources, including specialized mental health services for individuals and families.
8. Veteran’s PATH – Veteran’s PATH provides high-quality, veteran-specific mindfulness training and support to build inner strength and resilience. WWP proudly supports two women-specific programs offered by Veteran’s PATH. These curriculum-based programs are facilitated by veterans who are trained in mindfulness and meditation practices. The four-month Women’s BRAVE Program provides women with the tools and environment to foster healing and strengthen self-compassion and social connection. The Accelerated Mind Performance (AMP) training is an online course that teaches female veterans techniques for developing mental resilience and agility through meditation practices.
Since 2012, WWP has invested more than $343 million in 218 organizations that assist wounded veterans and families at the local and national levels, connecting them with the resources they need to thrive in civilian life. WWP’s partnerships with veterans service organizations expand the resources available to America's injured veterans and help ensure they and their families thrive long-term. This work is vital to building strong, resilient veteran families and communities. Learn more about WWP’s Community Partnerships.
Contact: — Krissty Andaur - Public Relations, kandaur@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.760.6957
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.