Camaraderie Foundation

Community impact happens when organizations come together with a shared commitment to serving others.

Today, I had the opportunity to pick up donations collected through a partnership between Verizon and TeamBonding in support of veterans and military families served by Camaraderie Foundation.

These donations represent more than items in a bag. They reflect the generosity of employees, volunteers, and community members who chose to invest in the well-being of those who have served our nation.

We are incredibly grateful to Verizon and TeamBonding for coordinating this effort and for demonstrating the power of collaboration, service, and community engagement.

Partnerships like these help strengthen the network of support surrounding veterans and their families while reminding them that they are not alone on their journey.

Thank you for helping us continue our mission of providing connection, support, strength, and purpose to those we proudly serve.






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Mental health support is not one-size-fits-all.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we recognize that every veteran, service member, and family member experiences life’s challenges differently. Because no two journeys are the same, we work to connect clients with treatment approaches that best fit their individual needs, goals, and circumstances.

Through our nationwide network of licensed providers, support may include traditional counseling, EMDR, virtual reality therapy, equine-assisted therapy, faith-based counseling, mentorship, and other evidence-based approaches designed to help individuals heal, grow, and reconnect with purpose.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize that millions of Americans struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and stress. Veterans and military families often face additional challenges related to service, transition, loss, and reintegration.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we believe seeking support is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of strength.

Our mission is simple: ensure veterans and their families have access to care that meets them where they are and supports the journey ahead.

Because healing looks different for everyone.

And no one should have to walk that journey alone.






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We are honored to have been selected by the SDFM Tampa Bay Chapter to participate in DFMI Orlando 2026 as the featured nonprofit organization.

This sold-out conference will bring together approximately 1,700 attendees, including military, government, defense, and industry professionals from across the country.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share Camaraderie Foundation’s mission and continue advancing conversations surrounding veteran mental health, leadership development, transition support, and community connection.

If you will be attending DFMI Orlando, we invite you to stop by and connect with us.

📍 World Center Marriott
📅 May 27–28, 2026

Thank you to the of Defense Financial Management (SDFM) and the Tampa Bay Chapter for their support and partnership.






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For many Americans, Memorial Day is marked by gatherings, long weekends, and celebration.

But for Gold Star families, Memorial Day carries a very different meaning.

It is the empty chair at the table.
The folded flag carefully preserved.
The milestones missed.
The conversations that never got to happen.

Behind every fallen service member is a family that continues carrying that sacrifice every single day.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, and we hold space for the families, loved ones, and communities forever changed by that loss.

As we remember those who never made it home, may we also remember the responsibility we share to continue supporting veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors long after the ceremonies end.

Today, we honor.
We remember.
And we never forget.






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Small acts of support can create a meaningful impact.

Throughout the month of May, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is supporting Camaraderie Foundation through a special giveback campaign in which $1 will be donated for every bottle 750ml or larger sold, up to $20,000, to help support veterans and their families.

Partnerships like this help strengthen access to mental health support, mentorship, leadership development, community connection, and programs that continue serving veterans long after military service ends.

We are grateful to ’s Handmade Vodka and everyone helping turn everyday purchases into meaningful support for the veteran community.

Because when communities come together, impact grows.






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We are deeply grateful to the Bush Charitable Foundation for investing in the future of veteran leadership through support of Camaraderie Foundation’s Mentor Leadership Program.

This partnership will help create additional leadership, networking, and civic engagement opportunities for veterans participating in the program, including access to initiatives such as Leadership Orlando, Leadership Seminole , Leadership Winter Park, and other community leadership experiences.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we believe transition is not the end of service, it is the beginning of a new chapter of leadership, connection, and community impact.

The Mentor Leadership Program continues this journey by helping veterans strengthen leadership skills, expand professional networks, build mentorship relationships, and remain engaged as leaders within our communities long after military service.

We are incredibly grateful to the leadership team at the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation for believing in our mission and in the continued potential, leadership, and impact of the veterans and families we proudly serve.

Maggie Soderholm David Odahowski Dawn Kraus Lisa Taylor Winkelbauer Amie Morgan, MBA





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Nearly a month later, the momentum from this year’s Mentor Leadership Program graduation continues to remind us what is possible when veterans, community leaders, mentors, industry partners, and organizations come together with a shared commitment to leadership and growth.

This year’s graduation marked an important milestone for the program as graduates were recognized during a formal event hosted at the Central Florida Tech Grove, helping elevate visibility for the Mentor Leadership Program and further position it within the broader Team Orlando ecosystem.

Approximately 60 attendees joined us in celebration, including V. Eskamani, PhD , General Christine Beeler, Cheros , current and prospective partners, sponsors, mentors, and community leaders committed to supporting veteran leadership and transition success. We were also honored to receive letters of support from Senator Rick Scott and Representatives Maxwell F. and Darren Soto.

A special thank you to Higgins for delivering an inspiring keynote presentation, and to Board Member Barron Mills for making this incredible event possible and creating a stronger recognition experience for our graduates.

Most importantly, we celebrate the graduates themselves, veterans continuing to lead with purpose, resilience, and commitment long after military service.

As the program continues to grow, applications are NOW OPEN for upcoming Mentor Leadership Program cohorts.

Through mentorship, leadership development, networking, and community engagement, the Mentor Leadership Program helps veterans continue building purpose, connection, and impact beyond military service.

Because transition is not the end of leadership, it is the beginning of a new chapter.

Those interested in becoming a protégé or a mentor, submit your application a https://www.camaraderiefoundation.org/transition-assistance/

One of the most important things we can do as a community is continue creating space for honest conversations around mental health, PTSD, transition, and the invisible weight many veterans and families carry long after service ends.

Too often, support is only discussed in moments of crisis. But real impact happens when leaders, organizations, advocates, and communities come together proactively — building connection, reducing stigma, and ensuring veterans know they do not have to navigate those challenges alone.

I’m grateful to share that Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma will be joining Camaraderie Foundation as a featured speaker for this year’s PTSD Awareness Breakfast and leading a presentation titled Standing Behind Those Who Served.

Sheriff Lemma has long demonstrated the kind of community-centered leadership these conversations require, and I’m incredibly appreciative of his support for this important event.

I’m also deeply grateful to the sponsors, community leaders, and partners continuing to stand beside our mission and the veterans and families we serve every day.

These conversations matter.
And so does the community willing to have them.

Yours truly,

María Cherjovsky
CEO-Camaraderie Foundation

Seminole County Sheriff's Office

The Celeste Hotel, Orlando, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
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A big thank you to Christopher Baker and the Orlando Regional Realtor Association Military Advisory Council for inviting our CEO, Maria Cherjovsky, to speak about the importance of supporting veterans and their families through connection, leadership, and community collaboration.

Camaraderie Foundation is proud to work alongside organizations and leaders who recognize that supporting those who served extends far beyond military service itself. Conversations around mental health, transition, leadership development, and community impact are critical, and they take all of us working together.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share our mission, connect with community leaders, and continue building partnerships that strengthen support systems for veterans and their families across Central Florida.

Thank you to everyone who attended and engaged in such meaningful dialogue.

Mother’s Day means something different in the veteran community.

Some mothers celebrate today surrounded by laughter and family traditions. Others carry memories, absences, and sacrifices that words can never fully capture.

Today, we honor the mothers who served in uniform, the military spouses and caregivers who held families together through deployments and transitions, the Gold Star mothers whose love continues beyond loss, and the women within our own Camaraderie Foundation family, including the mothers, volunteers, supporters, and board members who continue to strengthen this mission every day.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we recognize that service impacts the entire family, and behind so many strong veterans are equally strong women who have endured, adapted, supported, and loved through every chapter.

To the mothers who continue to show up with strength, compassion, resilience, and grace … we see you. We honor you. And we thank you.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Camaraderie Foundation. 🇺🇸