Robin Kelleher

The moment that sparked my passion

In 2006 I led a team of wives in organizing what became the First Annual Run for the Warriors at a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, in support of wounded Marines and to raise awareness of the toll that combat takes on service members and their families. We had over 2,000 participants. During the opening ceremony it started pouring rain — so hard you couldn’t see right in front of you. And no one flinched, complained or left. Watching those Marines surround their wounded comrades was so powerful that I knew I had to do something to address the unmet needs of injured military families. 

What I wish other people knew

There’s much more going on in the military than most people are aware of. I often hear, “Why do we need to support military families when we’re not at war?” The physical, mental and moral injuries that service members endure are lifelong, even with all the advances in medical care. In some cases these injuries don’t fully manifest themselves until years after service.  Most of the people we work with have not one but a host of injuries: traumatic amputations, concussions, internal injuries from multiple blasts, not to mention trauma-related stress. 

Advice to others who want to make a difference

Recognize that making an impact doesn’t have to be front-page news. I know two high school boys in Florida who power-wash windows in their free time, entirely for donations. They’ve raised almost $10,000 for Hope for the Warriors. They started small, did something they knew how to do, and now they’ve encouraged their friends to join them. It’s had a positive financial result for us, inspired other kids and impressed people whose windows they’ve washed. Simply being a good and kind person will make a positive impact. 

Why my approach is unique

When we first started, we focused on the catastrophically wounded, like a lot of other organizations. We recognized quickly that resources were abundant in hospitals but not in communities. We needed to follow the wounded home. We do whatever it takes to help those we serve and, even more important, to stay connected with them and keep them connected with others.

We also partner with the University of Southern California to offer internships in the school’s social work program, and then we hire the graduates to work in their communities around the country. We recognize that all service members and military families have their own goals and needs and that ideal resources do not always exist in their communities. We restore self, family and hope through our national services, virtual capabilities and partners.