Our Mission
“If a veteran, service member, or military family walks through our doors on one of the hardest days of their life, they should leave with greater hope, stronger connections, meaningful opportunities, and the knowledge that they belong.”
Our Purpose
To strengthen the lives of those who serve by creating places where purpose, belonging, and community endure.
The Four Pillars
Four ways the mission shows up.
Every event, program, and partnership lives under one of these four. Each pillar drives an initiative. Each initiative runs programs.
The Initiatives
How the pillars become programs.
Each pillar drives one initiative — a body of work that runs year-round.
Recreation & Adventure
Operation Adventure
Kayaking, hikes, seasonal outings, MURPH, weekly workouts — programming that builds camaraderie through shared physical experience.
Community & Service
Operation Serve
Volunteer projects, park restoration, school drives, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day activations — service beyond the uniform.
Growth & Opportunity
Operation Next Mission
Leadership workshops, education pathways, career and entrepreneurship support, and benefits navigation.
Family & Belonging
Operation Homefront
Family recreation, holiday events, spouse programming, and youth activities — because service is a family calling.
The Long-Term Vision
The Esprit de Corps Campus.
The Campus is the permanent home where the mission is lived every day — recreation, leadership, service, growth, and family, under one roof.
Standing with veterans
THE TASKFORCE
Chicago sponsors, partners, and community organizations behind the Foundation's programs.
