Each November, Americans commemorate the patriotism, service and sacrifice of those who’ve fought to protect our country on Veterans Day.
At Johnson & Johnson, honoring veterans and active service members is actually a year-round effort, thanks to partnerships with organizations like the USO and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation that work to support our nation’s bravest.
“Johnson & Johnson has a strong reason for supporting service men and women, their families and our veterans,” says Susan Can, Senior Director of Corporate Equity and Partnerships. “Giving back to these heroes who sacrifice so much to serve is reflective of our company Credo—it’s inherent to who we are.”
From helping to build high-tech houses for service members wounded in combat to sending care packages to soldiers still in the field, here are just a few of the ways Johnson & Johnson assists America’s active and veteran service people—and how you can help, too.
1.
The USO: Supporting Service Members Overseas and at Home
Since Johnson & Johnson became the official healthcare partner of the United Service Organizations (USO) three years ago, it has helped open the Warrior and Family Center at Naval Support Activity Bethesda—the home of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center—and the new USO Center at Newark Liberty International Airport. This upcoming holiday season, the company is also sponsoring USO initiatives that anyone can support.
From November 1 through December 31, donate a virtual gift—from comfort-food packages to WiFi service—through the USO Wishbook, and Johnson & Johnson will match donations up to $400,000.
You can also download the free Donate a Photo app, upload a snapshot once daily and the company will donate a dollar for each photo to help a service member call home.
Want to learn more about this storied organization? Tune into PBS and watch a new documentary, USO—For the Troops, which chronicles the USO’s 75-year history.
2.
Building for America’s Bravest: Constructing Smart Homes for Wounded Soldiers
For many service members who’ve been seriously hurt in the line of duty, returning home requires adjusting—and adapting—to a whole new way of living. That’s why the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation started Building for America’s Bravest, a program focused on constructing custom-designed homes geared toward help returning soldiers lead independent lives following catastrophic injuries in the field.
Depending on the needs of the individual, homes might feature wheelchair-accessible showers and doorways, adjustable-height counters and automatic lighting.
To date, the organization has designed 56 homes with the help of partners like Johnson & Johnson and Home Depot.
3.
The Travis Manion Foundation: Inspiring the Leaders of Tomorrow
Johnson & Johnson is also a proud supporter of the Travis Manion Foundation and its Character Does Matter (CDM) program, which connects veterans and families of fallen service members with young adults around the country to not only teach them values-based leadership skills but also inspire them to serve their communities.
Through presentations, leadership courses and mentoring, the program has paired nearly 300 veterans and families of the fallen with more than 150,000 young people since 2008. The children and their mentors also tag team on service projects, such as helping to feed the hungry and refurbishing neighborhood recreation centers.
