Background Statement
The Home Front Cares began in 2003 as an all-volunteer initiative led by two retired Air Force colonels, Bob Carlone and Joe Henjum. As Vietnam veterans, they were keenly aware of the financial and emotional struggles for families of deployed military members, and how easily these families could fall through the cracks of bureaucracy and society. In 2004, the organization incorporated as a 501(c)3, and in their first full year of operation provided some $34,000 in aid to Colorado military families. Since then, The Home Front Cares has grown annually, significantly increasing the amount of aid distributed to between $300,000-$400,000 each year. Today, the mission has expanded from serving primarily active duty military families to serving already separated veterans of all wars, as well as their families. The nonprofit augments its volunteers with four full-time and two part-time professional staffers, and is a respected voice of advocacy for veterans issues in the Pikes Peak Region. Since inception, The Home Front Cares has distributed more than $5 million to Colorado military and veteran families in need.