Home Base is deeply grateful for all those who have donated time, treasure, and talent to support its noble mission. As a small token of appreciation, this new monthly “Donor Highlight” feature will help tell the stories of Home Base supporters.

As a 16-year Veteran of the British Royal Navy, Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine profoundly understands the importance of caring for our nation’s injured Veteran’s physical and invisible wounds. Well-known for his tireless dedication to Veterans, Chef Irvine founded the Robert Irvine Foundation—which gives back to the military and Veteran communities through outreach programs as well as by providing financial support to top-rated organizations that align with its mission. After learning about Home Base through a mutual connection in 2020, Chef Irvine facilitated a connection with his Foundation so that the two organizations could work together to bring healing and hope to the military community—at a time when it is needed more than ever before.

Amid the ongoing fight against COVID-19, increased stress and anxiety, combined with existing mental health injuries, can have deadly results—particularly for Veterans., Home Base has continued providing safe and effective care to Veterans, Service Members, and Families—despite facing a significant budget shortfall due to the turbulence associated with the pandemic.

“Our signature fundraising events traditionally raise a majority of the discretionary money that funds Home Base’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program,” explained Home Base Executive Director Brigadier General (USA ret.) Jack Hammond. “As a result of the difficult times we are going through, this critical program was at risk.”

Fortunately, a recently awarded grant through the Robert Irvine Foundation means that Veterans and Service Members from across the country will continue to have access to the world-class TBI programming provided at Home Base’s National Center of Excellence in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

“Ensuring military members and Veterans receive proper mental health and wellness is a top priority at the Robert Irvine Foundation. We are extremely proud to support Home Base and the work they do for the military community, so many Veterans and their loved ones suffer silently due to invisible wounds,” said President of the Robert Irvine Foundation, Judith Otter.

The Robert Irvine Foundation grant supports Home Base’s holistic and innovative approach to brain injury treatment, which provides coordinated, integrated, multi-disciplinary specialist evaluation, treatment, and care coordination for active duty Service Members and Veterans. Although this TBI programming is available to any Service Member or Veteran in need, the program has primarily been providing care to active duty Service Members of Special Operations Forces.

As a nonprofit organization that operates predominantly on philanthropic generosity, Home Base is grateful for the support from Chef Robert Irvine and the Robert Irvine Foundation that allows Veterans, Service Members, and Families from across the nation to access world-class care and support—at no cost to them. As American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead famously once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

To learn more about the important work the Robert Irvine Foundation is doing to support Home Base’s mission, please click here to listen to “Recipes for Success from the Kitchen to the Pentagon,” an episode of Home Base’s official podcast, Home Base Nation, featuring Chef Robert Irvine.