{{short description|American veterans' support charity}} {{Infobox organization | name = Gary Sinise Foundation | image = Gary Sinise Foundation.svg | founder = Gary Sinise | type = Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Corporation | purpose = To honor the nation's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, & those in need; provides & supports unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen & build communities. | headquarters = Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. | website = {{URL|https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/}} }}
The '''Gary Sinise Foundation''' is a charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military. It operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Gary Sinise Foundation|url=https://www.charitywatch.org/charities/gary-sinise-foundation|website=www.charitywatch.org|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831192300/https://www.charitywatch.org/charities/gary-sinise-foundation|url-status=live}}</ref> Among its programs is the construction of specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans that are provided mortgage-free.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Forrest Gump Star Gary Sinise Opens Up About Raising $30 million for Veterans|url=https://people.com/movies/forrest-gump-gary-sinise-raising-30-million-for-veterans/|website=People.com|language=EN|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227062512/https://people.com/movies/forrest-gump-gary-sinise-raising-30-million-for-veterans/|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2011 to 2021 the Gary Sinise Foundation has raised over $300 million for wounded veterans, first responders, and their families.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/financials |title=financials |access-date=2020-11-04 |archive-date=2020-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221103/https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/financials/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The organization was founded in 2011 by actor Gary Sinise.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Gary Sinise Wants Every US Service Member and Veteran to See 'Brothers After War'|url=https://www.military.com/off-duty/movies/2025/02/26/why-gary-sinise-wants-every-us-service-member-and-veteran-see-brothers-after-war.html|website=Military.com}}</ref> The foundation serves all branches of the military at U.S. installations domestically and abroad.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gary Sinise's memoir isn't your typical celebrity dispatch. Then again, he's not your typical actor.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/gary-sinises-memoir-isnt-your-typical-celebrity-dispatch-then-again-hes-not-your-typical-actor/2019/02/11/b08b52a6-2ae2-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html|last=Liebenson|first=Donald|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2020|date=February 12, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117010442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/gary-sinises-memoir-isnt-your-typical-celebrity-dispatch-then-again-hes-not-your-typical-actor/2019/02/11/b08b52a6-2ae2-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
As of April 2024, the Gary Sinise Foundation has built 94 specially adapted smart homes<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/specially-adapted-smart-homes |title=specially adapted smart homes |access-date=2022-03-19 |archive-date=2022-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123204913/https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/specially-adapted-smart-homes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> for severely wounded heroes, served more than 1,000,000 meals to serving servicemen across the country, and organised around 500 support concerts for serving servicemen sponsored by the foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/by-the-numbers |title=our impact by the numbers |access-date=2022-03-19 |archive-date=2022-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319223342/https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/by-the-numbers |url-status=live }}</ref>
The organization also sponsors educational trips and outreach for students and veterans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Sinise Foundation sponsors trips, gives back to those who served|url=https://thisisreno.com/2023/09/gary-sinise-foundation-sponsors-trips-gives-back-to-those-who-served/|website=This Is Reno}}</ref>
== History == Having grown up in a family of veterans, Sinise has been involved with supporting military veterans going back as early as the 1970s. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Sinise became more actively involved in supporting the military.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Sinise: Serving Those Who’ve Served|url=https://www.historynet.com/gary-sinise-serving-those-whove-served/|website=HistoryNet}}</ref> thumb|'''Gary Sinise & the Lieutenant Dan Band at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in 2025''' In 2004, Sinise started the Gary Sinise & the Lieutenant Dan Band<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/lt-dan-band |title=gary sinise & the lt. dan band |access-date=2022-03-19 |archive-date=2022-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524094600/https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/lt-dan-band |url-status=live }}</ref> a cover band that has played over 500 shows around the world, visiting active-duty soldiers including Iraq and Afghanistan. The band has also performed for members of the military and their families to entertain troops and raise money for disabled veterans.
On April 26, 2022, the foundation announced its headquarters would move from Los Angeles, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, in the mid-year.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lt. Dan in the Volunteer State: Why Gary Sinise is moving his veteran-focused nonprofit to Tennessee|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2022/04/26/gary-sinise-foundation-moving-veteran-focused-nonprofit-tennessee/7409607001/|work=The Tennessean}}</ref>
In the year 2024, the Foundation reported total revenues, gains, and other support amounting to $86,027,376, while total functional expenses were recorded at $76,162,960.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/yx7kkugbpdox/2GuKxi8cAKHxGH7BsxRJ5a/07c4c9a063c71e95a8f0d9aeea852fef/Gary_Sinise_Foundation_Mar24_AR_Final.pdf|title=Gary Sinise Foundation and Subsidiary|access-date=2026-01-23|website=assets.ctfassets.net|type=pdf}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
On September 18, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and foundation representatives presented a total of more than $100,000 in equipment grants to local departments for responders in the Pittsburgh area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Paul Skenes surpasses $100K strikeout goal for Gary Sinise Foundation - CBS Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/paul-skenes-gary-sinise-foundation-strikeout-goal/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pirates’ Paul Skenes joins Gary Sinise Foundation to serve lunch, give aid to local first responders |url=https://triblive.com/local/monroeville/pirates-paul-skenes-joins-gary-sinise-foundation-to-serve-lunch-give-aid-to-local-first-responders/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=triblive.com}}</ref> thumb|322x322px|'''Gary Sinise Foundation dedicates new smart home to wounded Marine veteran''' In November 2025, the foundation reached an milestone by constructing its 100th specially adapted, mortgage-free home for a wounded veteran. This home was donated to retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Joe Bowser through the foundation's R.I.S.E. program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Forrest |date=2025-11-20 |title=Gary Sinise Foundation celebrates milestone 100th home built for veterans |url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/gary-sinise-foundation-celebrates-milestone-100th-home-built-for-veterans |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF) |language=en}}</ref>
The foundation constructed 12 more smart homes as part of the R.I.S.E. program, with a total budgeted cost of approximately $12.605 million.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/}}
Category:American organizations established in 2011 Category:Organizations based in Tennessee Category:Non-profit organizations based in Tennessee Category:American veterans' organizations Category:Military-related organizations Category:United States military support organizations