Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise and his foundation have launched a cognitive health and mental wellness network that will provide care to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse.
The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network will build on the work of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH program, according to a release. It will establish 20 treatment sites nationwide to serve thousands of veterans, first responders and their families.
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“When I formed the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, it was rooted in a personal mission to provide support, raise spirits and improve the mental wellness of our nation’s heroes and their families,” said Gary Sinise, the foundation’s founder and chairman.
Co-founders of The Home Depot Bernie Marcus and Arthur M. Blank each invested $20 million from their personal foundations to lay the groundwork for the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network.
“We’ve lost more veterans to suicide than we have on the battlefields of the Global War on Terror. Our veterans and their families put their lives on the line for us and they deserve the highest level of care available. The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network is ready to serve our veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war,” said Marcus.
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Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress affect nearly one out of every three military personnel deployed to war zones since 2001, according to the release. An estimated 30% of the nation’s first responders also experience symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress. Though dubbed “invisible wounds,” the changes in psychological health that accompany these conditions have led to depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse, impacting not just the veterans and first responders themselves, but their families as well.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Bernie Marcus again to support a cause that’s important to both of us, the well-being of the individuals in our armed forces and our first responders,” said Arthur M. Blank, chairman, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The national network’s name stems from Arthurian legend: Avalon was the sanctuary where King Arthur was taken to heal physically and spiritually after being wounded in battle
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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