This Saturday will mark 104 years since President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 a day to honor America’s veterans. Then referred to as Armistice Day, the holiday is meant to celebrate the Nation’s veterans for their bravery, patriotism, and commitment to service.

At Pond, our reverence and support for veterans extends far beyond an annual holiday. We embrace the responsibility to honor and care for those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Many of our current and former employees served in the armed forces and have since dedicated their post-military careers to advancing defense missions on a project level.

We embrace the responsibility to honor and care for those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Our firm values the strong connection we have with service members and veterans, and we make it a priority to support and raise money for them through our corporate philanthropy initiatives. This year, we are continuing our tradition of “Honoring the Heroes” by collecting donations for four non-profit organizations that address the various needs of service members. With every dollar donated, Pond will match each contribution, up to $20,000.

Non-profit organizations our company is supporting this year:

Wounded Warrior Project 

The Wounded Warrior Project seeks to empower and support service members as they resume civilian life after active duty. What began in 2003 as a grassroots organization bringing care items to hospitals for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, is now a wide-ranging program that provides critical aid to wounded service members.  As of 2022, this organization has invested over $247M in mental health services, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care for the Nation’s service members and their families. Learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project here.

Fisher House Foundation

Families are often burdened with the cost of medical bills and temporary housing while their family member undergoes treatment. To ease this burden, Fisher House Foundation has created a network of comfort homes where those families can stay for free during a service-related medical crisis. With over 90 homes and a daily capacity of 1,300+ families, this organization has served over 455,000 families since its inception in 1990. Connect with the Fisher House Foundation here.

Hope for the Warriors

Hope for the Warriors is an organization that provides comprehensive support and community resources to service members, veterans, and military families. Their mission is to address the impact of war on all those affected by military service. They help navigate the unique challenges that come with life post-service and ensure that those who have served our country receive the support they need. Find ways to support Hope for the Warriors here.

Fold of Honor

Folds of Honor provides life-changing scholarships to the families of fallen soldiers and disabled military service members. By awarding educational scholarships to these families, their goal is to create new opportunities and ignite hope for their recipients. They have distributed over 51,000 educational scholarships since 2007. As of 2022, this organization has expanded their service to include the families of first responders, police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. Learn more about Folds of Honor here.

In addition to contributing financially to these organizations, Pond is taking part in Wreaths Across America. This annual event is held during the holiday season to honor the memory of fallen soldiers and pay tribute to those who have served our country. Volunteers place Christmas wreaths on the graves of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, with the goal of placing a wreath on every veteran’s grave. This initiative has inspired a national network of volunteers at over 3,700 locations across the country. The event will be held on December 16th this year and Pond is donating $1,500 to sponsor wreaths for the cause.

Finally, this Friday, Pond will be hosting our annual Veterans Day luncheon at our headquarters location to celebrate and show appreciation for employees who have served. At this gathering, employees share a meal and are invited to tell their stories and reflect on their experiences. Since 2010, we have commemorated this day with such an event, continuing our long history of honoring those who further freedom.