Semper Fi Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides a variety of programs to assist wounded veterans in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. The organization describes its mission as "providing urgently needed resources and support for post-9/11 combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families." As of November 2019, the Semper Fi Fund has issued 209,000 grants totaling $210 million in assistance to 24,000 service members and their families.
History
Formation
The Semper Fi Fund began in early 2003 as a gathering of military spouses around a kitchen table discussing ways to help Marines who had been injured during the invasion of Iraq. Early efforts included the distribution of snacks and toiletries at hospitals and a specialized van for a catastrophically injured Marine.
Incorporation
The nonprofit was officially incorporated as the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund on May 17, 2004. General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., who served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987 to 1991, was named the chairman of the board of the Semper Fi Fund and served in this position until November 2014.
First donation
The first official donation to the Semper Fi Fund was made by the Lighthouse Christian Church in Oceanside, California. Throughout 2004, the Semper Fi Fund received more than $2 million in donations.
Milestones
On April 25, 2005, Cookie Magazine announced that Semper Fi Fund founder, president and CEO Karen Guenther and co-founders Wendy Lethin and Sondria Saylor, were recipients of the first-ever Smart Cookie Awards, which recognize and support mothers in the business, philanthropy, and celebrity worlds who are making outstanding contributions to women's and children's causes around the globe. Other recipients included Mariska Hargitay, Marcia Gay Harden and Cynthia Nixon. In June 2007, the Semper Fi Fund announced that it had raised and given away more than $50 million in assistance to service members and their families. On November 19, 2007, the Semper Fi Fund received the Spirit of Hope Award at a Pentagon ceremony in which all branches of the service were recognized. The award, which was established by the Hope Family Foundation in 1997 in honor of Bob Hope, is for patriotism and service reflecting the essence of Bob Hope's dedication to those in the Armed Forces. On June 9, 2012, the Semper Fi Fund announced the creation of America's Fund, a self-funded program of the Semper Fi Fund created to direct urgently needed resources and financial support to injured and critically ill members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. In February 2013, Karen Guenther was named Marine Corps Spouse of the Year. (She had previously been nominated for 2011 Military Spouse of the Year.) In an interview on CBS This Morning on July 4, 2013, Guenther noted that since beginning the Semper Fi Fund in 2004 with $500, the organization had raised $101 million. On September 20, 2014, Karen Guenther was named an Honorary Marine by General James F. Amos, 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps. On November 17, 2014, Karen Guenther received the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award in a ceremony at the Pentagon. On January 28, 2015, the Semper Fi Fund announced they had crossed the $100 million mark in providing assistance to wounded, critically ill and injured service members and their families. On June 1, 2017, the Semper Fi Fund announced they had crossed the $150 million mark in providing assistance to wounded, critically ill and injured service members and their families. In 2017, the Semper Fi Fund was presented the U.S. Special Operations Command Patriot Award for exceptional and enduring contributions to the welfare of Special Operations Command wounded warriors and their families from July 2003 to September 2017. In 2018, the Semper Fi Fund established the LCpl Parsons Welcome Home Fund designed to care for veterans from all U.S. military service branches who are catastrophically injured from combat operations in Vietnam. On January 21, 2020, the Semper Fi Fund announced that former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. was named chairman of the board.