Enhancing the lives of our service members.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a veteran service organization, 501(c)3 providing housing, transportation, and caregiver & family support to severely wounded, ill and injured post-9/11 service members from every branch of the United States Military, following unexpected medical crises.
Since our founding in 2005, our priority at Yellow Ribbon Fund has been to keep families together during the recovery process for wounded, ill, and injured service members. We do this by providing housing and transportation during recovery and by giving caregiver support when and where it is needed. We take our mission seriously, and it shows in the way we run our organization.
Since 2005, Yellow Ribbon Fund has been here to serve wounded and ill service members. We proudly support the military medical community, who has continued to provide outstanding care for injured warfighters.
Our philanthropic effort would not be possible without our relationship with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Often called “The Nation’s Medical Center”, WRNMMC has a longstanding history of delivering premiere quality health care. The Yellow Ribbon Fund’s staff maintains a close relationship with nurse case managers, military unit liaison officers, military executive staff, and the world-class medical providers that stabilize and rehabilitate our wounded, ill, and injured warfighters.
The History of YRF
2005
Identifying the crucial needs at hand.
In 2005, the father of a severely injured Marine introduced local businessmen to staff members at the Naval Military Medial Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which would later become Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. It was also known as the “Casualty Collection Point of the U.S. Military”.
As the group learned that day about gaps in resources, they had the opportunity to help a mother in need. Her son had been wounded and evacuated off of the battlefield, stabilized in Landsthul, Germany, and transported to Bethesda. She was far from home after frantically rushing to meet her son at his bedside with no lodging reservation.
The group provided her with an open-ended hotel reservation while she provided caregiver support to her son. They also discovered there was no hotel shuttle available during off-hours when she needed to travel back and forth from the hospital. So, they provided a rental car. Having seen firsthand the needs of our military families, the group joined together and launched Yellow Ribbon Fund.
2008
Building the foundation for success
In 2008, YRF built a large brick patio behind the Mologne House, where family members and outpatients lived at the old Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
After the ribbon-cutting by then-Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, the patio became a gathering place for injured service members and their families, with four gas grills, two fireplaces, and tables and chairs.
YRF also installed a gazebo near a fish pond, creating a quiet place for peaceful retreat, and a playground for the children of the injured.
2009
A growing cause, one event at a time
In 2009, YRF’s first Gala was held at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md.
It was a huge fundraising success, and the event has continued to grow at other area venues
2012
Making a larger presence at Walter Reed
In 2012, YRF installed a playground at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
YRF also constructed a patio with barbecue grills that benefit families navigating treatment on campus
2016
YRF Expands
Keystone establishes National presence; expands to 10 chapters coast-to-coast.
2017
Assistance from Boeing
Boeing honored YRF with a $200k grant – and have continued to support us with an additional $150k.
2019
$1Million+ from Jack Fitzgerald
Jack Fitzgerald/ Fitzgerald Auto Mall recognized and honored for loyal support and $1M+ since 2005.