How the Gary Sinise Foundation Restores Dignity and Independence to Wounded Heroes

For most of us, our home is a place of comfort and refuge — a familiar place to rest and reconnect. But for many of America’s most severely wounded veterans, the home can represent a very different kind of battle. Everyday tasks like opening a door, reaching a kitchen cabinet, or stepping into the shower can require the help of a caregiver. 

The Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) believes that home should never be a place of struggle. Through its Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program, the Foundation builds custom, mortgage-free smart homes for heroes who have sustained catastrophic injuries in service to their country. Each home is designed and built to meet the unique physical and emotional needs of one veteran and their family — to honor their resilience and provide a foundation for their future. 

A Blueprint for Empowerment 

The R.I.S.E. program began with a simple but powerful idea: helping restore independence to those who have lost theirs in service of others. Working closely with veterans injured in combat or in the line of duty, the GSF team designs one-of-a-kind homes equipped with adaptive technologies and personalized layouts to make everyday life accessible again. 

No two R.I.S.E. homes are alike. From the placement of outlets to the height of countertops, every detail is considered through the lens of the veteran’s lived experience. The process is deeply collaborative — the veteran and family have input at every step to ensure their home reflects their needs, preferences, and sense of identity. 

The results are life changing. A veteran who once relied on caregivers for daily tasks can now move freely through a home built specifically for them — opening doors, preparing meals, bathing, and living with dignity. What most of us take for granted becomes an empowering return to normalcy and autonomy. 

To date, the Gary Sinise Foundation has constructed 94 R.I.S.E. homes across the country, with 13 more currently in progress. They will soon hit their 100th home milestone, marking a decade of compassion channeled into action. 

A Place of Safety, Healing, and Hope 

For the veterans and families who receive them, R.I.S.E. homes are pathways to possibility. They remove physical barriers and open emotional doors, giving heroes and their loved ones the chance to live with greater peace, stability, and self-reliance. 

Intended to be a long-term solution, not a one-time fix, the design of each home enables veterans to remain close to their medical care and community support systems for years to come. The R.I.S.E. team works with each family to anticipate future needs, ensuring that the home will remain a haven through every stage of life. 

Through trusted relationships with leading construction professionals and corporate partners, the Foundation delivers homes of exceptional quality — each one a physical manifestation of America’s enduring gratitude to those who have served. 

Shared Values, Lasting Impact: The Scripps Family Impact Fund 

Guided by a family legacy of giving that honors service, compassion, and empowerment The Scripps Family Impact Fund (SFIF) supports organizations that restore dignity, independence, and opportunity to people facing profound challenges. 

Funding from the SFIF is helping the Gary Sinise Foundation advance construction on its 13 R.I.S.E. homes currently under construction — including that landmark 100th home. The grant enables the Foundation to reach more wounded heroes faster, ensuring that the promise of independence is not delayed by cost or circumstance. 

Building Beyond the Blueprint 

Every home built through the R.I.S.E. program delivers benefits far beyond accessibility. These homes ease the burden on spouses and family members, restore confidence to the veterans themselves, and stand as examples of resilience and renewal within their communities. 

 
The Scripps Family Impact Fund’s support helps sustain that momentum—ensuring the Foundation’s efforts continue reaching families in need and inspiring others to serve. 

A Foundation of Gratitude 

As the Gary Sinise Foundation approaches the completion of its 100th R.I.S.E. home, the milestone serves as both a celebration and a call to continue. Behind each home is a story of courage and a network of supporters, donors, and partners like the Scripps Family Impact Fund, whose belief in the power of human dignity makes such transformation possible.