Dreams for Veterans, a program of Dream Foundation, received the highest honor and a $90,000 grant as part of the 2023 Fisher Service Award. The Dreams for Veterans program was formed in 2014 to tailor the Dream experience to veterans, service members, and their families.

Dream recipients are terminally ill U.S. military veterans, active service members, or members of the Reserve and National Guard from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This program acknowledges these groups and honors their service by fulfilling their final dream, providing them, their families, and caregivers inspiration, comfort, and closure at the end of the day.

“We are truly honored that Dream Foundation’s Dreams for Veterans program is the recipient of this year’s Fisher Service Award,” said Dream Foundation CEO Kisa Heyer. “We share this honor with everyone who makes this program possible, who believes, as we do, that making the final dream of a veteran facing the end of life is a powerful way to thank them for their service. Dreams come in many forms, and the grant will be used to help us reunite veterans with their loved ones to say goodbye, visit military memorials to pay their last respects, or provide essential items when they are most needed. We want to express our profound gratitude to Fisher House Foundation and Military Times Foundation on behalf of all those we serve for recognizing that dreams are a critical part of a palliative care program and for helping bring joy, comfort, and closure to those who have selflessly served as they face the end of life.”

Dreams for Veterans was selected as the top nonprofit entry out of 450 competitors by a panel of 11 judges that evaluated each entry based on the organization’s creativity, innovation, and impact on the respective communities.

The Fisher Service Award began in 1999 as the Newman’s Own Awards and has now awarded more than $3 million across 205 nonprofit programs that support military and veteran quality of life. The grant program is run in partnership between Fisher House Foundation and Military Times Foundation. This year, Dream Foundation received the top award and four other programs, available on the opposite page, received $40,000 each.

“Military Times is proud to support military-connected families and organizations that strive to improve the lives of those in this community. Our support of the Fisher Service Award is just one of the many ways we underscore the Military Times mission of service to the community we serve” said Kelly Facer, SVP Sightline Media Group/Military Times. “As is the case every year, our honorees exemplify the power of community, cooperation, and innovation in tackling the most important issues for our nation’s heroes and their families.”