2013
Several Texans in the Brazos Valley came together to provide financial support for the Warrior and Family Support Center (WFSC) in San Antonio, Texas, to support families, next of kin, and rehabilitating warriors at the nearby Brooks Army Medical Center (BAMC), one of the world’s best trauma centers
2015
In 2015, this group of friends created a Texas non-profit called Brazos Valley Cares for the primary purpose of providing significant ongoing annual financial support to WFSC, as well as occasional targeted donations to the Fisher House and the Center for the Intrepid (CFI) at BAMC in San Antonio.
Recognizing the number of veterans living in the Brazos Valley and needing meaningful psychological, emotional, physiological, and targeted financial support, Brazos Valley Cares also expanded its giving strategy in 2015 to include financial support for veterans and veteran families located in the Brazos Valley.
2016
In 2016, Brazos Valley Cares launched an annual grant process with regularly defined periods to submit, evaluate, select, and communicate awards for grants. Additionally, Brazos Valley Cares created a small Emergency Fund available to assist individual veterans or family members on very short notice with emergency tactical needs outside the customary grant process.
2017
Since 2017, Brazos Valley Cares giving increased dramatically due to the generosity of our sponsors and donors including grants to local organizations like American Legion, TAMU Veteran Resource Center, Aggie Shields, DAVS, Wreaths Across America local branch, TAMU Veteran Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, and Museum of the American GI. Our Emergency Fund committee increased responses to meet the needs of local veterans and their families, with anything from paying utility bills, rent, groceries, and even funeral expenses and PTSD Bootcamps to serve local veterans.
2020
Along with the rest of the world, Brazos Valley Cares pivoted curing COVID-19 and held a virtual Steak Your Support and continued the mission of supporting and investing in the veterans of Brazos Valley. We received a grant from United Way of Brazos Valley which supplemented the Emergency Fund and assisted veterans who were out of work due to the pandemic.
2022
We held our 1st Grant Awards Banquet bringing together representatives from all the organizations that Brazos Valley Cares partners with for check presentations and networking. The veterans of Brazos Valley will undoubtedly benefit from the interagency cooperation.
2023
Brazos Valley Cares celebrated our 10th Anniversary at Steak Your Support on March 25th. Special edition Challenge Coins were given to our sponsors in appreciation of their support. Many of the original founding Board members as well as the volunteers who serve year-round on the Emergency Committee responding to hotline calls were in attendance to celebrate the successes of Brazos Valley Cares.