Published Jun 29, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT
Semper Fi & America's Fund offers long-term care, connection with other veterans.
As Americans honor PTSD Awareness Day, a renewed spotlight will be thrust onto the thousands of veterans that struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder every day. While curing PTSD and reducing the high veteran suicide rate are huge challenges, there are organizations making groundbreaking efforts to help former service members. The Semper Fi & America’s Fund has explored new, hands-on ways to assist critically wounded, ill and injured veterans, providing more than $500 million to over 40,000 veterans. Karen Guenther, Semper Fi & America’s Fund founder and chief executive officer, believes the organization has made a sizable effort to help ailing veterans, but realizes much more must be done. Through the past three years, veterans who’ve received assistance have seen a 75% decrease in suicidal ideation, anxiety and housing insecurity, along with an 80% reduction in substance abuse, according to the organization. The fund offers one-on-one case management, connection with mental health professionals and other veterans, and gives veterans long-term support. Based on statistics provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 300,000 veterans who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan battle PTSD at times throughout the year. Former service members also die by suicide at a higher rate than civilians. “At Semper Fi & America’s Fund, we recognize that PTSD is not something that can be solved with a one-time intervention. Healing often requires ongoing support, connection and access to the right resources,” Guenther said. “We provide individualized, lifelong care through case management, peer support, unit reunions, integrative wellness programs, neurofeedback training, caregiver support, adaptive sports and critical financial assistance.”
