National campaign aims to raise $250,000 to expand life-changing services for Veterans and their families by Veterans Day

For Immediate Release:
July 13, 2026

SANTA ROSA, CA – As Americans reflect on the nation’s 250th anniversary following Independence Day celebrations, Nation’s Finest is inviting individuals, businesses and communities across the country to honor the people who helped preserve those freedoms. Through its “250 for 250” campaign, the nonprofit is calling on supporters to invest in Veterans and their families by helping raise $250,000 by Veterans Day.

For 250 years, freedom has been the promise at the heart of America. Yet for many Veterans, the freedoms they fought to protect can feel out of reach as they navigate homelessness, financial hardship, trauma or the invisible wounds of military service. Funds raised through the campaign will support housing assistance, employment services, behavioral health care, transportation, food assistance and other programs that help Veterans and their families rebuild stability and independence.

“America is not just a place, it is a promise,” said Chris Flaherty, retired senior Naval officer, combat Veteran and Chief Executive Officer of Nation’s Finest. “The promise of self-evident truths and inalienable rights. For more than 250 years, that promise has been upheld and defended near and far by those who have worn the uniform. Now more than ever, we as a nation need to fulfill that promise to those who have served to make us a more perfect union. That is what this campaign is all about. It is an investment in those who invested so much in us, so they can build the future they have earned.”

The campaign launched on April 19, the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, connecting America’s founding ideals with Nation’s Finest’s ongoing commitment to serving those who have defended them.

On any given night, more than 32,000 Veterans experience homelessness nationwide, approximately 17.5 Veterans die by suicide each day, 33% of homeless Veterans live in California, Arizona and Nevada, the states where Nation’s Finest operates, and 85% of Veterans with a substance use disorder go untreated.

Across California, Arizona and Nevada, Nation’s Finest provides personalized services that help Veterans achieve long-term independence. In 2025, the organization:

  • Served more than 7,400 Veteran families
  • Helped Veterans secure and maintain more than 2,030 homes
  • Provided more than 292,400 meals
  • Delivered more than 97,400 safe bed nights
  • Provided counseling services to more than 560 Veterans
  • Helped more than 140 Veterans secure employment

“Behind every number is a Veteran rebuilding a life,” Flaherty said. “And we know each by name. Whether it’s helping them find stable housing, reconnect with employment or access the care they deserve, every donation creates opportunities for Veterans and their families to pursue their happiness.”

Supporters can participate in the campaign in several ways:

  • Minutemen Battalion ($25): Seeking 1,000 donors to remember those ordinary citizens who helped spark a revolution. Helps provide basic needs for a Veteran and their family. Joins a nationwide movement of supporters standing with Veterans during America’s 250th anniversary.
  • Signer’s Society ($250): Seeking 250 supporters to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Helps provide crisis support to a Veteran in need. The first 56 donors will be recognized as founding members in honor of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Original 13+ ($2,500): Seeking 50 sponsors in celebration of the 50 states. Helps stabilize a Veteran in housing for one month. Sponsors receive recognition on the campaign webpage, with the first 13 donors honored as the “Original 13” in recognition of the original 13 colonies.
  • “John Hancock” Title Sponsor ($25,000): One exclusive sponsorship opportunity that helps expand services to 25 additional Veterans while receiving prominent recognition across campaign materials and Nation’s Finest’s website for one year.

Individuals who donate $1,776 or more will receive a commemorative coin and a copy of the Declaration of Independence in recognition of their support. Support at any level is deeply appreciated and makes a meaningful impact.

To learn more or make a donation, visit the Nation’s Finest 250 for 250 campaign.

Press Contact:
Meagan Luevano
mluevano@ka-pow.com

About Nation’s Finest 

Nation’s Finest is one of the nation’s largest community-based Veterans service organizations, serving more than 7,400 Veterans and their families each year across 30 locations in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Guided by its mission to give every Veteran the support and respect they need to live their best life, the organization provides wraparound support to help Veterans achieve stability, health, and independence. From housing and employment to mental health, wellness, and supportive services, Nation’s Finest meets Veterans where they are and stands beside them as they build what’s next.