John Guinn

About me:

Saying Thank You with Action

Since its launch in November of 2006, The Thank You Foundation has worked vigorously to show appreciation and express gratitude to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, both past and present, and to their families.

To date the Foundation has been involved in events and activities across the country touching the lives of literally thousands of veterans and active duty military personnel.

In the state of Ohio alone, the Foundation has been instrumental in the Veterans Administration’s Welcome Home Celebrations in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Chillicothe and Dayton. These events have provided information and raised awareness among Veterans about VA Health Care benefits and services offered by other organizations. Most importantly, these events provided free recreation and a morale boost to all who attended. The Foundation’s relationship with Nashville recording artist Daniel Smith has presented us with an opportunity to provide entertainment at these and other events that honor troops and veterans.

Additionally, the Foundation has been involved in briefings, deployments, and welcome home activities for active duty forces and family members all the way from Ft. Stewart Georgia, to Jackson, Michigan. The Foundation has participated by supplying refreshments, awards, and emotional support during these activities.

Since 2006 the Foundation has taken the time to personally honor hundreds of Veterans with its Certificate of Appreciation and Tickets for Troops programs. In some cases the Foundation has traveled hundreds of miles to present to just one individual military member and in other cases has honored a contingent at special ceremonies.

Through our Little Warriors Program, the Foundation conducts visits to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. and Brook Army Hospital in Texas to deliver stuffed animals to the children of wounded soldiers and to provide heartfelt compassion and gratitude to their parents.

In Cincinnati, the Foundation with input from its Board members was responsible for initiating a project to build a mobile health unit for the VA Medical Center and then spearheading the design process. Fortunately, once the project was unveiled to the public, it received great financial support through a grant from the Farmer Family Foundation and Cintas through which we were able to expedite the build-out of the unit. The Foundation provides maintenance support for the unit and from time to time also provides hospitality services. The schedule for the unit is can be found on the Foundation website.

The Foundation has also been involved in a number of service activities that have given school children across the country the opportunity to express their gratitude by participating in the Foundation’s Thank You Card program. Over 100,000 thank you cards have been distributed to schools all over the United States, signed by children, and then distributed to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally the Foundation has worked with schools to participate in care package collections and service days through projects such as beautification of the grounds of the Cincinnati’s Fisher House and providing refreshments to Veterans visiting the Cincinnati Veterans Medical Center.

The Foundation has also provided thousands of dollars in financial support for veterans and military personnel. Through its Holiday Support program, the Foundation has helped to provide over $10,000 worth of food and gifts during the holidays. Additionally, the Foundations “Gas and Groceries” program has helped a number of families keep food on the table and has provided emergency relief for gas and electricity. On two occasions the Foundation has held fundraisers, one for a soldier severely wounded in Afghanistan and the other for a soldier who was diagnosed with terminal cancer while serving in Iraq.

In the last year the Foundation has made great effort to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Representatives of the Foundation have traveled to military hospitals across the country learning from and sharing information with doctors, brain injury associations, publishers, and families in attempt to provide support and resources for those that have been diagnosed with PTSD and TBI. The Foundation has developed a relationship with one of the nation’s leading resource material publishers and intends to offer support programs and increase the awareness of these issues.

The Thank You Foundation has also taken initiatives to support Women Veterans by working with the Cincinnati VA to establish a Women Veterans Support Group and helped sponsor the State of Ohio Women’s Veteran Conference in 2009.

Through its programs, services, and activities the Foundation has developed great relationships both within the corporate and veteran community. The Foundation maintains valuable relationships with County Veteran Service Commissions, the VA, and several military related support groups and non-profit organizations by which informational resources are shared and provided to those in need.

Get Involved

• Visit The Thank You Foundation Website
• News & Information
• Event Calendar
• Make a Donation

You can help say "Thank You" with action

Add Gratitude to your grocery list with the Kroger Neighborhood Rewards Program

The Kroger Neighborhood Rewards program is the easiest way to help "Support the Troops" and our Veterans without making a donation! Learn more about how you can help!

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