Join the Shields & Stripes Mission.
WE BELIEVE OUR NATION’S HEROES DESERVE THE BEST.
They Raised Their Hand and Pledged to Protect You.
Now, They Need Your Help.
Our nation’s Military Veterans and First Responders have a 5 x higher risk of experiencing mental health problems due to constant exposure to death and destruction.
Sadly, the current mental health system in America was unprepared for this reality, and today, those brave men and women need help to survive life.
Our Military Veterans and First Responders Secretly Fight Their Own Battles.
Did You Know?
Between 17 and 44 veterans commit suicide daily?
The previous report of 17.2 a day reporting doesn’t account for accidents, undetermined, reported self-harm, or overdoses, resulting in undercounting errors.
In One Year, We Lost…
Firefighters
POLICE OFFICERS
VETERANS
Data reporting is conducted with the intent to raise awareness and has sourced several agencies to capture the most accurate data to reflect the problem we are trying help fix. If you feel the data does not reflect the current situation, please contact: contact@shieldsandstripes.org
Shields & Stripes Is Helping Our Heroes!
With a top-tier, 3-month intensive program led by the finest doctors, therapists, nutritionists, and trainers, Shields & Stripes is now providing the care our brave warriors, protectors, and servants deserve.
ZERO
Cost to attendees!
Trauma Focused Psychological Therapy
Physical
Therapy
Occupational
Therapy
Nutrition
Education
Meditation
and Yoga
You can help Shields & Stripes continue their mission of saving our brave men and women and getting them on the road to a healthy, peaceful life.
Could You Handle This Over, and Over, and Over?…
What one police officer with military service experiences in their career…
- NViolent or tragic death of children
- NTraumatic suicides and homicides
- NExplosions and gunfire
- NAmbushes and unplanned attacks
- NViolent physical assaults
- NDeaths of co-workers
- NHigh-speed traffic collisions
- NEntry into burning buildings and vehicles
- NChild abuse, neglect, poverty
- NJob-related injuries
- NPolitical and administrative assaults
- NDestruction of family
How Your Donations Make a Difference
Your contribution enables attendees, referred to as athletes, to benefit from comprehensive care, starting with 3 weeks of personalized in-person support, followed by 9 weeks of telehealth.
81.5%
Program Services
15.9%
Fundraising
2.5%
System Management























Team Member Spotlight
Dr. Heidi Anderson
Meet Dr. Heidi Anderson, the lead mental health consultant for Shields & Stripes.
Besides her work with Shields & Stripes, she is the founder of The Healing Impact, which helps people with trauma, and she has spoken nationally about healing from trauma.
The Latest From Shields & Stripes
SPONSORS
We’re grateful for our amazing sponsors who care about our first responders and veterans as much as we do!
Follow @ShieldsandStripes on Instagram
REPOST from @shieldsandstripes President:
“We may be an inch wide, But we’re a mile deep”
Ever since Jennifer Byrne, my co-founder of Shields & Stripes, said this it has been my go to phrase when describing what we do to anyone interested.
In a saturated #nonprofit community, with 40,000 other veteran service nonprofits, I’d venture to go out on a limb here and say most are a mile wide and an inch deep.
They service hundreds if not thousands of veterans in their given programs, which is great don’t get me wrong, but how long lasting are the impacts of a 24-72hr program..?
In this day and age, everyone’s looking for that easy button, the quick fix..
I’m here to say, when it comes to fixing what “broke”, it’s going to take A LOT of WORK, TIME and CONSISTENCY.
We aren’t machines, you can’t turn a wrench or replace a part and be better.
At Shields & Stripes you don’t get a vacation retreat, you don’t ingest weird elixirs, no pharmaceuticals, no injections and no easy buttons.
🧠 It’s Brain Health
💪 It’s Physical Health
👨👩👧👦 It’s Family Health
and in some cases, It’s Spiritual Health
That’s what we offer
We will always be a mile deep, help us expand our width.
Learn more ways to help at www.shieldsandstripes.org
Photography by @trexler_media

We want to take a moment to recognize Sara Wilkinson and @thestepupfoundation for their commitment to supporting veterans and first responders.
The Step Up Foundation was founded on the haunting realities of the mental health crisis plaguing our nations war fighters.
As a Gold Star Spouse, Sara and her team have made it their mission to not only bring awareness to those battling inner turmoil, but to actually do something about it.
By our metrics, their contribution will change the lives of not just the 3 heroes going through the @shieldsandstripes program, but the lives of their families as well.
And let’s not forget that these changes have generational impacts that ripple throughout each generation and their communities!
If you’re a business with a Social Responsibility mission that aligns with Veterans and First Responder initiatives, we want and need your support!
DM us to join The Step Up Foundation and others that have committed to doing, not just talking.
Read about CHAD1000X on our blog 🔗 Link in bio.
Find More about the Step Up Foundation at stepupfoundation.org

@shieldsandstripes team members are working tirelessly to prepare for our next program in March, providing life-changing care for Veterans and First Responders.
We want to take a moment to thank one of our sponsors, Black Rifle Coffee Company Fund, and Dean Goble for their generous support! @brccfund @deangoblejr @blackriflecoffee
Their sponsorship will not only change the life of a program participant but also bring hope and relief to their family. We are incredibly grateful and honored to have BRCC’s backing.
If your business is interested in sponsoring and supporting the Shields & Stripes program, DM me for ways to get involved!
#shieldsandstripes #blackriflecoffee

We would like to honor the Green Beret Foundation @greenberetfoundation for supporting our March 2025 program!
We are grateful for GBF’s support and to be part of their resource ecosystem as they serve Green Berets, past present and future.
They have been an avid partner since our beginning and we look forward to jointly continuing to change the lives of those who have given so much to our nation!
As always - If you’re looking for a way to truly impact the heroes of our nation AND actually SEE the impact, consider sponsoring or contributing to Shields & Stripes mission.
🔗 Link in bio or visit www.shieldsandstripes.org
Second photo @trexler_media

Our clinical and operations team is working hard to ensure every detail is in place for the athletes who will soon embark on this life-changing journey in March. We can’t be more excited to welcome this new group to the @shieldsandstripes at program - they are a diverse group with military and first responder experiences from across the country.
🚨This work is critical, and it is only possible because of generous supporters like you. Please consider donating to help us continue providing this support at no cost to those who need it most. Every single dollar makes a difference.
Join us in this mission. Donate today.
🔗 in bio or visit www.shieldsandstripes.org
Cover photo by @trexler_media
#ShieldsAndStripes #veteransupport #firstresponders
