The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors -The FEW

The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors, The FEW, is a unique organization that proactively and directly supports Exceptional Warriors, who epitomize Honor, Valor, Service and Sacrifice. The Foundation has defined Exceptional Warriors as the veterans of Special Operations Forces, those recognized for Valorous actions, former Prisoners of War and those wounded in combat; regardless of era. 

The difficulties reaching today’s veterans, both active and prior service, are well documented, and America’s elite and valorous warriors are the least likely to ask for help. Training, suitability and selection for their unique and dangerous service demands independent thought and action for these elite Warfighters. This greatly contributes to success in an area of operations, but it can often serve to make reintegration that much more difficult.

In 2012, The FEW was founded by and is still led by Exceptional Warriors, and personal experience has taught that the best healing is gained through joint experience. Exceptional Warriors that find difficulty with formal, traditional therapy settings will gladly attend a recreational event with other warriors of similar backgrounds and supportive members of the community. 

To those ends, The FEW assists in the healing process of Exceptional Warriors and their families. The Foundation provides customizable therapeutic recreational and sporting events, at both the local and national levels, to enhance their mental and physical health and to better allow for successful reintegration with their family and community. To facilitate the most healing, The FEW is a volunteer-based organization which allows over 95% of donations to go directly to our mission.

After more than 20 years of sustained conflict and multiple deployments, we now have entire generations of service members, veterans and military families who know nothing but War--- and the War that comes home with them. Their battles are real and never has a clear path to restoration been more needed yet found so scarce. With the VA reporting 22 veteran suicides per day, more veterans are dying by their own hand than in combat operations. It must be stated that most of these suicides are by the under-supported Vietnam veterans. As a patriotic society it is up to us, the protected 99%, to intervene. Saving the lives of veterans must be our utmost priority.

Dr. George Dent of the Kansas City, VA Behavioral Health Department states, “The VA can only treat the symptoms when the service member is here. They must make the active decision to become a part of society again. We need community partners to help us foster the desire to step out into the community. Recreational events are the single most effective ‘first step out’ we have seen. Service members that have a ‘go it alone’ mindset are attending these types of events and finding that they are never really alone.

They also realize that there are entire communities of patriotic Americans that appreciate their sacrifice and are anxious to thank and support them. This can provide a therapeutic epiphany that cannot be reached any other way."

The FEW was founded by the same men it serves. Our mission is to conscientiously impact the most underserved of all military communities: the SOF Operators, the Valorous, POWs and the Combat Wounded. We work alongside local communities, businesses and organizations to plan and implement recreational activities of all types nationwide. The vision of The FEW is to Reach, Recognize and Refresh Exceptional Warriors using therapeutic recreational and sporting events. The FEW recognizes and understands that active duty Operators are in great need.

“The benefits of therapeutic recreation are well established. Physical fitness is only one result; gains in morale, self-confidence and performance in other areas are known and demonstrated through the soldiers or veterans recovery, skills development and general well-being.”

- Wounded Warrior Newsletter

A Call to Action

The FEW’s mission is unique, needed and critical. Its infrastructure, composition and personal experience make the organization uniquely suited to help these Exceptional Warriors.  The FEW is volunteer-based which keeps overhead extremely low and the focus can and will remain where it should: on the Exceptional Warrior.

If healthy, Exceptional Warriors represent an unparalleled source of leadership, knowledge, talent and skills that can help build our country’s future. Because all of The FEW’s events are cost-free to the Warrior, we are seeking your financial support in helping us defer expenses relating to the planning, staging and implementation of these events. 

With typical events are 3-6 days and range from $700 to $6,000 in value per participant and include an average of seven Warfighters and/or family members, your financial support would allow for additional events for America’s Finest and ultimately save lives.