Permission To Start Dreaming Foundation

We want every veteran, first responder and their families to have a fulfilled life within reach of their dreams, and our hope is for every American to have the will to make it a reality.

The PTSD Foundation is working to restore self-awareness and renew hope for returning warriors by providing the right relationships, right people and the right resources. One of the ways we are doing this is by offering veterans a chance to participate in a proven model that is immersive and therapeutic.

Our approach will have a direct impact on the lives the service member and first responders with PTSD/TBI and their family. They will see a reduced suicide rate; reduced alcoholism and other addictions; fewer broken families with less of the abuse and seclusion that often come with it. They will also experience an increased quality of life through higher rates and quality of employment, increased social interaction through greater trust and reduced anxiety, enhanced levels of physical, emotional, social and spiritual health, and the ability to have positive dreams, both while sleeping and while awake. This is the source of our simple core statement -- giving veterans and first responders Permission To Start Dreaming.

We will also have positive impacts on the community, which will be comprised of a more informed and educated population, ready to take action to step alongside their military family members, neighbors, friends and coworkers to show them they are not alone.

The foundation will move mid-2020 into its first office spaces in Gig Harbor, Washington, allowing for administrative functions, small group meetings, counseling sessions, and storage to support it growth.

Throughout 2020, The Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation will, in partnership with Boulder Crest Foundation, prepare to bring Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) program to the PNW permanently starting in June 2021.

A relationship that began in 2013 has resulted in being able to deliver a long term strength-based program that will enrich the lives of hundreds of post 9/11 combat veterans and first responders in our area. Warrior PATHH is the nation’s first ever program designed to cultivate and facilitate post-traumatic growth (PTG) in combat veterans and enable these remarkable Warriors to transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. Over the course of 18 months, beginning with 7 days of intensive training and intentionality, Warrior PATHH students are able to make peace with their past, learn to live in the present, and begin planning for a great future.

The “NW Passage” Warrior PATHH program will offer hope and healing not only to combat veterans but also to our first responders in the near future. After they have protected their country and community, they deserve to find a life full of passion, purpose and service here at home.

The PTSD Foundation will also continue to grow its support to area veterans, first responders and their families, through monthly huddles, mental health counseling, and life-changing workshops.

We have everything in position to meet our 2020 goals:

We have built the right relationships, including local government officials, state Veterans Affairs offices, military units, local businesses, and community non-governmental organizations. We have the right people lined up as compassionate allies; veterans and first responders, and their families; dedicated and skilled staff and board members; and tremendous volunteers. We are constantly reviewing our resources so we know they will be there when we need them.

We have evidence our approach has a direct impact on the lives the service member and first responders with PTSD/TBI and their family. That will continue to improve throughout this year. Perhaps most importantly, we have an agreement with and support of the Boulder Crest Foundation to implement the Warrior PATHH program in the Pacific Northwest.

As we grow our operations this year, we will expand our community outreach through our primary three events, which will give us a more informed and educated population, ready to take action to step alongside their military family members, neighbors, friends and coworkers to show them they are not alone.

The foundation is on track to move in mid-2020 into its first office spaces in Gig Harbor, Washington, allowing for administrative functions, small group meetings, counseling sessions, and storage to support its growth.

2019 was a demonstration of the foundation's capabilities to serve our veterans and first responders while growing the organization. In 2020, we will continue to tap those resources as we evolve the Northwest Passage.

In 2019, the foundation's accomplishments included:
- Grew our monthly “Huddle” meetings to two locations, serving veterans and first responders and providing a space to encourage healing and connection.
- Held a well-attended Courage and Leadership Summit in December 2019 directed towards LEOs, first responders and military. It featured Jay Dobyns | Retired Special Agent and Veteran Undercover Operative with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Mike Washington | Seattle Fire Fighter, and addressed the critical issues our law enforcement, first responders and military face.
- Delivered a Wellness workshop in September 2019 to 30 first responders and veterans led by James Hatch,
Former Navy SEAL, Author, and founder of Spikes K9 Fund
- Sent 4 Pacific Northwest veterans and first responders to participate at Boulder Crest Warrior PATHH
(Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) retreat program in Arizona and Virginia.
- Put on four major community outreach events: Race for a Soldier, Pull for a Soldier, Swing for a Soldier and
Prayer Breakfast.
- Developed strong relationships with nationally recognized programs and leaders in the mental health
and wellness community that focus efforts and causes for our veterans and first responders and law
enforcement officers.
- We provided financial assistance for 12 equine assisted counseling sessions for a veteran in great need.
When traditional counseling was not working or relatable to him, this approach resulted in tremendous
growth and evidence of healing through this alternative method.
- We funded the purchase of a protective vest for Spike's K9 Fund.