Troops First Foundation was created to develop, operate, and support wellness, quality of life, and event-based initiatives for post-9/11 combat-injured Warriors. These initiatives facilitate a greater recognition and an enhanced understanding of the quality and character of the men and women who volunteer to serve, their families, their daily sacrifices, and the constant need to evaluate and improve their quality of life.
In this episode, Rick Kell, Troops First Foundation Co-founder and Executive Director, joins Kevin Weaver and Dan Boever for a two-part conversation about the history and heart behind the foundation.
Shortly after visiting deployed troops in the Middle East with a group of college basketball coaches in the summer of 2005, Rick Kell received an invitation that would change his life.
A Warrior Care Liaison at Walter Reed Army Medical Center asked Kell to visit several OEF and OIF patients recovering from serious combat injuries. After multiple visits, many friendships were forged. These friendships cultivated a strong desire to provide meaningful assistance on a larger scale.
Over the next two years, Kell gained invaluable insight into the landscape of Warrior Care and used it to create concepts for new programs. Throughout this development phase, close attention was paid to a belief that new initiatives needed to be very relevant and without duplication.
Upon sharing this information with friend and passionate advocate for our troops, David Feherty, the two co-founded Troops First Foundation and incorporated as a non-profit organization in August of 2008.
Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.
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