Veterans United donates $100,000 to Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program to help heal the invisible wounds of war

October 9, 2013

Gift goes to help returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury

BOSTON “Veterans United Home Loans announced a $100,000 donation to the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program to support its clinical, education and research to help Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families recover from Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury“ the "invisible wounds of war.

The donation was made equally by Veterans United Home Loans and its charitable-arm, Veterans United Foundation. The announcement took place Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Home Base clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Home Base executive director retired Brig. Gen. Jack Hammond discussed the challenges returning veterans and their families are experiencing in New England and the increase in veterans seeking help at Home Base.

"So many of our veterans are having difficulty doing what others take for granted, said Brig. Gen. Hammond, who commanded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They are having trouble sleeping, being in crowds, driving, and are feeling numb in their relationships with their loved ones. Home Base is here to help them get their lives back, and we are deeply grateful to Veterans United Home Loans and Veterans United Foundation for their support of our mission. It is especially gratifying to know that a nationwide company based in Missouri understands that PTS and TBI affect men and women all over the country and cares enough to donate to Home Base. "

Home Base was founded in 2009 after the Boston Red Sox visited wounded service members at Walter Reed Medical Center. The Red Sox Foundation partnered with Massachusetts General Hospital to create a clinical, education and research program to help returning veterans and their families get help and recover from the signature invisible wounds, which affect one in three returning veterans.

"Home Base gets it when it comes to family involvement," said Megan Sievers, director of Veterans United Foundation. "The Home Base team recognizes that when one family member serves, the entire family serves. When those veterans come home, sometimes, it's just not the same. There are issues hidden, but very much in the way. We were drawn to Home Base once we heard they take the time to meet not only with the veteran, but with his or her parents, significant other, children, siblings and other loved ones to ensure they are all getting the help they need."

Home Base serves veterans throughout New England from all branches, including the National Guard and Reserve regardless of their time of service and discharge status. Home Base is a Tri-Care provider, but if veterans or family members are uninsured or unable to pay, they will not see a bill from Home Base.

"The number of veterans who come to Home Base for help has increased significantly during the past year, and this generous contribution from Veterans United will enable us to continue to provide world class care to the men and women and their families who have served and sacrificed for our nation," Brig. Gen. Hammond said.

Veterans United, which operates in all 50 states with nearly 1,500 employees, first heard of Home Base thanks to a news article about the nations newest Medal of Honor recipient, Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, and his effort to fight the stigma of PTS.

"Staff Sgt. Carter is such an inspiration to us all," Sievers said. "He continues to serve by letting other veterans know it is OK to have these invisible wounds. We hope by partnering with Home Base we can use our platform to reach even more veterans and service members across the country. Every veteran and every military family deserves our support in facing the wounds we cannot necessarily see."