Home Base Blue Angels Foundation Commits $800,000 to Expand Veteran Care in Northwest Florida
Home Base Florida received a transformative $800,000 gift from the Blue Angels Foundation to support the expansion of mental health and wellness services for veterans, service members and military families in Pensacola and across Northwest Florida. Home Base Florida launched clinical services in Northwest Florida in November 2024 after receiving funding from the State of Florida and the Blue Angels Foundation.
This significant new investment marks a major milestone in Home Base Florida’s commitment to reaching underserved communities across the state—beginning in a region where the need is particularly urgent.
“Northwest Florida is home to tens of thousands of veterans, and many communities (such as Okaloosa and Escambia counties) feature veteran populations well above the state average,” said Armando Hernandez, Senior Director of Home Base Florida. “Through our partnership with the Blue Angels Foundation, Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care is delivering veteran‑centered, evidence‑based care to meet this pressing need.”
Florida is home to one of the nation’s largest veteran populations, with about 1.5 million veterans statewide. In Northwest Florida alone, over 119,000 veterans reside across just four counties, with Escambia County reporting nearly 15 percent of its adult population as veterans—twice the statewide average.
“Pensacola is the home of the Blue Angels, and the Blue Angels Foundation is proud and honored to provide the much-needed resources to take care of those who serve and have served within our hometown,” said a Scott “Intake” Kartvedt, former Blue Angel Pilot and President of the Blue Angels Foundation. “We believe this partnership with Home Base Florida will have a lasting impact on our veteran community.”
With this investment, Home Base Florida will expand its outpatient behavioral health services, peer support programs, and family counseling services in Northwest Florida available at is clinical partner Lakeview Center. These programs are offered at no cost to the participant and are designed to meet the unique needs of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.
This expansion builds on Home Base Florida’s long-term vision to grow its clinical footprint across the state, ensuring that all those who served—regardless of where they live—have access to life-saving care.
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