Week 24 of #52weeksofgiving - Travis Mills Foundation - Central Maine
Lemay Family Goodworks is shining a light on the Travis Mills Foundation for week 24 of our #52weeksofgiving project! Located in Central Maine, this innovative organization provides a veterans retreat for recalibrated warriors and their families. The experience includes activities for veterans injured in active duty or as a result of their service to our country.
Read on to learn more about the Travis Mills Foundation retreat and their story.
About the Travis Mills Foundation
United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012 when he was critically injured by an IED while on patrol. The incident cost him portions of both legs and arms. Travis is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries.
As he recovered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Travis became a mentor and leader to other recalibrated veterans at the facility. During his healing journey, he and his family took a trip to Crested Butte, CO, where he participated in adaptive sports.
That trip inspired Travis and his wife, Kelsey, sparking a vision in which they could help other recalibrated warriors. Together, they decided to build a retreat in their new home state of Maine, where veteran families could continue their recovery and rehabilitation.
The Veteran Retreat
The fully accessible Travis Mills Foundation Veteran Family Retreat opened for combat veterans in 2017 at the historic Maine Chance Lodge in Rome, a town nestled in Maine’s Belgrade Lakes Region. Initially built by cosmetics and beauty mogul Elizabeth Arden, the lodge was the country’s first elite celebrity spa.
Surrounded by lakes, wildlife, and fresh air, Travis and Kelsey knew the lodge would provide the perfect tranquil setting for families to reconnect. They also chose Maine because it has the third-highest per capita veteran population in the United States.
Travis Mills Foundation transformed the lodge into a peaceful retreat with beautiful private lodges and community living and dining areas. The veteran organization provides various programs for these heroic men and women to help them overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and enjoy well-deserved rest and relaxation.
The foundation offers a FREE, all-inclusive, barrier-free experience for combat veterans who have been injured in active duty where they can partake in adaptive activities and connect with other veteran families. Retreat guests choose from an array of adaptive and traditional activities, including outdoor recreation, yoga, arts, culinary arts, and so much in between.
Currently, the Travis Mills Foundation has served 882 families from 44 states (plus Washington, D.C., and Canada)!
Warrior PATHH
In addition to their retreat program, the Travis Mills Foundation is a Warrior PATHH partner. Warrior PATHH is the country’s first program focused on post-traumatic growth (PTG) in combat veterans and first responders, giving them the tools to transform their severe struggle into profound strength and growth.
The Travis Mills Foundation begins with a 7-day onsite initiation, followed by 18 months of training delivered by Warrior PATHH instructors through their custom platform. Learn more about the program and the upcoming schedule.
How to Get Involved
You can donate one of several ways to support the veteran retreat. The easiest is to give an online donation, which includes the option to make a one-time or monthly donation. You can also donate in honor or memory of someone. Check out more ways to give.
To get involved directly, you can volunteer at the Travis Mills Foundation. Volunteer opportunities include:
Meal prepping and cooking
Housekeeping
Lawn and garden care
Trained ropes course belayers/helpers
Trained waterfront instructors
Facility upkeep
Company volunteering (for your organization’s group)
Learn more about volunteering and apply.
To discover all the Travis Mills Foundation has to offer or share the veteran organization with a loved one, follow them on Instagram @travismillsfoundation or Facebook.
What organization is near and dear to your heart? Tell us about it and what it means to you today!
