2025
Veterans' Services
Two grandchildren of Edward W. Scripps – longtime family leaders Charles E. Scripps and Robert P. Scripps – answered the call to military service during World War II, and one of our current board members is a West Point graduate who served as an Infantry Company Commander if Afghanistan. So it was easy for the board of the Scripps Family Impact Fund to embrace veterans’ services as the focus of the 2025 giving cycle.
America’s servicemen and servicewomen (as well as their families) risk so much and ask for so little, so when they have needs that are unique to veterans of military service, it is important that a grateful community responds with much-needed help.
There are many outstanding non-profits focused on the noble cause of serving our veterans. We could have funded dozens with the knowledge of knowing our resources were going to good use. But, consistent with our mission, we chose to maximize our impact by focusing our resources on three remarkable organizations.
“My family knows firsthand the challenges faced by the heroes in our veterans community. As they return to civilian life, they have unique needs in such categories as housing, healthcare, and career transitions.
I’m proud that my family funded three partners with strong track records of meeting those needs in innovative and empathetic ways.”
– Austin Heidt, board co-chair
The recipients of grants this summer include:
The Gary Sinise Foundation serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. They do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.
Hire Heroes USA helps U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses find new careers. They empower U.S. military members, veterans, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce.
Operation Second Chance is a group of patriotic citizens committed to serving our wounded, injured and ill Veterans. They support Veterans and their families by building relationships and identifying and supporting immediate needs and interests. They are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces.
$2,675,000
Total contribution this year
“Our multigenerational family effort has granted more than $12 million to great causes in its first six years, but 2025 was our biggest year yet.
With a cause as important as helping those who have sacrificed for all of us, I’m especially proud that the Scripps family stepped up in such a big way for America’s veterans. My grandfather served in the infantry in Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, and I know he’d be pleased that his descendants gave nearly $2.7 million to people who joined him in putting on a uniform to defend this country.”
– Jonathan Scripps, board co-chair