Bridging the gap for veterans
Independence looks different for everyone.
For many veterans, it means reclaiming the freedom to live with dignity, autonomy and purpose. That’s where organizations like The Independence Fund make a difference.
“We focus on filling gaps that the VA or other organizations don’t fill,” said Doug Ackerman, Chief Operating Officer.
The Independence Fund offers comprehensive support to catastrophically wounded, injured or ill veterans and their families through mobility, caregiver, food security and suicide‑prevention programs. It also provides casework and advocacy with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies.
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the nonprofit was “born in 2007 in the halls of Walter Reed National Medical Center,” Ackerman explained, where the realities of severe combat‑related injuries highlighted the need for resources beyond medical treatment.
Restoring mobility and confidence
Among its many initiatives, the nonprofit first gained recognition for its mobility program.
Standard wheelchairs and prosthetics often fall short when navigating snow, mud or dirt, leaving injured veterans unable to enjoy outdoor hobbies they once loved. Determined to change that, The Independence Fund provides specialized all-terrain track chairs that handle uneven surfaces and off-road adventures.
Each chair is tailored to the recipient’s lifestyle, with options for custom colors and equipment attachments. These innovations allow veterans to reconnect with loved ones and nature, restoring not just mobility, but a sense of belonging.
Ackerman shared the story of one veteran who had the choice between a pink camo color scheme and fishing accessories for her track chair. While she chose the pink camo design, The Independence Fund went above and beyond by including the fishing attachments as well.
“She’s gonna light up,” Ackerman said. “Giving people something that’s going to make them feel a little more whole – to be able to do the things they’ve done in the past – that’s huge.”
The nonprofit has gifted more than 2,700 all-terrain track chairs to veterans nationwide.
Easing the transition to post-military life
Life after service also requires veterans to navigate VA resources, a challenge that can feel complex and overwhelming. The Independence Fund helps cut through the red tape of post-military life through its casework program. From accessing benefits and connecting with medical programs to finding legal resources, the team works to lighten the burden. When government systems become difficult to manage, they step in to advocate, helping veterans and their families breathe a little easier.
“We’re going to walk hand‑in‑hand with that veteran to make sure they’re taken care of every step of the way,” said Steven Rozina, Deputy Chief Operating Officer.
Redefining purpose, rebuilding lives
That same commitment extends to veterans facing mental health crises. The nonprofit’s Veterans Justice Initiative partners with first responders to prevent the criminalization of mental illness and substance abuse. Instead, the team prioritizes treatment options to address the mental and emotional toll of warfare.
“We’ve trained over 5,000 first responders in North Carolina,” Rozina said. “When officers encounter a veteran in crisis – we try to get in touch as quickly as possible to keep them out of the justice system.”
But for many veterans, the scars of service – both visible and invisible – can escalate into something far more devastating without intervention. The figure “22 a day” serves as a stark reminder of the estimated number of veterans lost to suicide daily, shining on a light on this pressing issue.
As part of its suicide prevention efforts, The Independence Fund’s Operation Resilience reunites military units that shared traumatic experiences during deployment. The initiative helps strengthen coping mechanisms and emphasizes the power of peer support.
Cherokee Motes, Deputy Director of the Veterans Justice Initiative, knows the value of Operation Resilience firsthand. After his unit experienced multiple suicides, he participated in the program. The reunion, he said, helped rebuild accountability, restore relationships and renew hope.
“Since Operation Resilience, no one in my platoon has had a suicide attempt,” Motes said. “Knowing there are organizations that are willing to bring an entire company – up to 150 guys – free of charge, to get them the help they need, it means everything.”
Still, while veterans carry the lasting effects of service, The Independence Fund recognizes they don’t shoulder that weight alone.
“When we talk about the warfighter, it’s not just the guy that’s going over there,” Rozina said. “It’s his family as well.” To help families heal together, the organization’s caregiver and family programs offer support, education and respite for those who journey with veterans long after the uniform comes off.
An HR partner to support the mission
Behind every program and promise is a small team carrying a big responsibility. As The Independence Fund’s impact has grown, so has the need to support the people making that work possible.
With a lean 25‑person staff and expanding operations, the organization depends on a partner who can help care for its team – so it can continue bridging the gap for those who have sacrificed so much.
“Because of Insperity, we’re able to focus on our veterans,” Rozina said. “Insperity gives us the stability to allocate our resources where they need to be so we can continue to grow.”
That stability begins with building a strong human resources foundation. Insperity supports The Independence Fund in core people operations, including payroll, HR compliance and HR policy development.
Beyond day-to-day HR needs, Insperity collaborates with leadership to enhance culture through manager training and performance development, helping it clarify expectations and support employee growth.
A rewarding recognition
For its outstanding work with the veteran community, The Independence Fund was named one of Insperity’s Community Heroes, a program that celebrates clients making a meaningful difference through innovation, missional impact and collaboration. The recognition came as pleasant surprise to the nonprofit.
Bryanna Hames, an Insperity client liaison and The Independence Fund’s primary HR contact, nominated the organization after seeing how it supports veterans through every part of their rehabilitation, care and recovery.
With the award’s $10,000 donation, the nonprofit can support hands-on experiences, such as a caregiver gathering or Operation Resilience welcome dinner.
HR service that goes beyond
For The Independence Fund, the recognition reflects the depth of a partnership that extends beyond the office. That commitment was evident during a Feeding Independence event held in pouring rain, an initiative that provides food and basic necessities to veterans and their families.
“I look over, and it’s not an Independence Fund employee that’s out at the front of the line. It’s Bryanna,” Rozina said. “She’s out there running the show, making sure our veterans are taken care of.”
Looking ahead, together
As The Independence Fund continues to strengthen HR operations and expand its efforts, leadership views Insperity as integral to its success.
Insperity is a proven ally in helping the organization build for now and what’s next. With the right HR support and guidance in place, The Independence Fund has freed its team to focus on its mission: restoring independence to veterans and their families.
“We couldn’t be happier and more proud to be partners with Insperity. At the end of the day, being recognized by a partner is pretty amazing,” Ackerman said.
“We couldn’t be happier and more proud to be partners with Insperity. At the end of the day, being recognized by a partner is pretty amazing.”
Doug Ackerman
Chief Operating Officer
The Independence Fund