Give a heart a second chance — Today!
The
Starfish Foundation
is a verified charity
with Guidestar.
The Starfish Foundation helps with the healing of emotional trauma through scholarships and sponsorships of programs dedicated to this purpose.
Scholarships:
Individuals attending programs for emotional healing can apply for scholarships to help pay for the cost of the program. Often, the people most in need of healing are also experiencing financial difficulties that would ordinarily prevent them from doing their healing work. Applicants complete a simple financial statement, with a letter stating why they are requesting a scholarship and how they will pay it forward so others can heal.
Sponsorships:
There are thousands of veterans who returned from service with PTSD and other emotional difficulties. We believe they have already paid with their service and they should not have to continue to pay for assistance in emotional healing. The Starfish Foundation raises funds to sponsor the Vets Journey Home programs so that veterans can attend at no charge.
Grants:
We have also shared our blessings through grants to other non-profit organizations, like Camp American Legion in Wisconsin. This is not our primary focus, however we help when we can.
Here are just a few testimonials:
from veterans who have participated in Vets Journey Home:
(For more testimonials visit Vets Journey Home or Great Non Profits)
VJH, Vet's Journey Home, helped me to start the healing. It opened my mind to new and exciting ventures. I feel as though I have direction in my life, that there is a purpose for me, and that I am proud of who I have become and the accomplishments I've made. I had to overcome many barriers and am still wrestling with I few. I feel that VJH gave me the tools and inspiration to overcome these challenges. I didn't realize I had so many mixed feelings bottled up within me for so many years until experiencing VJH. It helped me to release the anger, guilt, and shame I had carried with me for so many years. After that I felt this huge weight lifted from me and literally felt I could run a mile. I couldn't remember the last time I felt that good in my body, that much energy, and that much relief. Overall, the VJH experiece, had a very deep impact on my heart of hearts and a profound effect on my psche. I would definitely recommend this course to any vet still suffering from thier military experiences. Yours Truly, Daniel J. Morrison, Milwaukee, WI
Vets Journey Home saved my life after a deployment to Iraq. I would rececommend to any veteran of any war wanting to get a piece of themselves back. I go back continually to let others know what it has done for me and continues to do for others by leaving nobody behind. Not all wounds are visible. Jay Velasquez, Houston TX
I was a participant of one of the Vet's Journey Home Weekend's a few years ago. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I was a woman in combat in 1991 during Desert Storm. I have a bad case of PTSD. These people understood and helped me adjust far more than any V.A. program ever designed for us to date. Before the weekend, I was on the verge of suicide. Since, I have written 2 books and produced over 180 short films. My life went from having no meaning to finding abundance. I have continued to go back and volunteer at every possible weekend since. I get a lot from volunteering and knowing I helped make a difference in another struggling veteran's life. There aren't enough words in the English language to sing the praises of VJH and the Starfish Foundation Inc. Patricia Clason and Gene McMahon are wonderful healers and should be afforded every opportunity possible to keep doing the work they have dedicated themselves to by helping veterans. With the troops coming home from two wars, they provide an invaluable service. Please help them keep healing us. Lee LeTeff, Austin, TX
My experience with Vets Journey Home has changed my life and that of my family in an amazingly positive way. I had returned from Iraq after a 16 month deployment and thought I would just move right back into my "normal" life as a husband and father. Five years later I woke up one morning and did not recognize the man that was looking at me in the mirror. There were problems in my family because of how I had changed. It was that day I decided I needed some type of help. After a retreat with VJH, I began to move towards a more positive lifestyle. VJH not only gave me hope of a more fulfilled life, but gave me the tools and support to cope with my issues that I had bottled up for such a long time. Every day I wake up a happier man. My wife and two daughters are much happier now that they have their "old Larry"" back. Thank you Starfish Foundation for making it possible for me to heal my heart and begin anew! Sincerely, Larry Flaskrud - US Army 14 years of service, WI
from the Scholarship Recipients
It's amazing what 3 little days can do in the scope of a lifetime! That's how I feel about the experience the Starfish Foundation helped me participate in. My struggles with health issues, family challenges, and life in general truly had me in a funk. It seemed that there wasn't a way out. Then, an old, dear friend recommended I apply for scholarship from the Starfish Foundation to attend a weekend retreat. I did and I am so glad I did. I walked away with many gems of knowledge that I can actually apply to my daily life. This starfish thanks you Starfish Foundation! It does matter to each of us. Seas of love to you...
Christine Harrington
De Soto, WI
During one of my therapy sessions in early 2006, my therapist suggested that I attend a weekend long program to help me learn to deal with some of the negative patterns I had developed in my life due to my family dynamics. The program sounded greatly helpful, however, since I am on limited social security disability, if felt that attending the weekend was out of my realm of possibilities. Fortunately, I had a wise and knowledgeable therapist, who informed me that there was a scholarship program available to help people like me. This program is called the Starfish Foundation. I learned later that the Starfish Foundation is made up of a group of loving people who realize the need to help others and how some may not otherwise be able to financially afford to this special type of help. Their love is unconditional — something so many people have never felt until touched by this group and
their help in emotional healing. I, also, learned that the Starfish Foundation works through fund raising events along with donations to provide this money. Because of the Starfish Foundation and the Center for Creative Learning, I am a happier person who now sees that I am lovable and worthy of good things. I wish that all people in need could be touched by this type of love and that they may know that they are special. I am proud to say that, while I can't make big donations to the Starfish Foundation, I have been able to provide some donations along with assisting in the fund raising events so that I am able to "pay it forward" and help others. Susan "Suzi" Klump, Milwaukee WI
I had been in job search for 11 months after a layoff. I was struggling with a number of challenges, including the courage to launch my own business, the confidence to drive my business in the direction I wanted it to go, and thinking I needed to be what others wanted me to be (an employee with a steady paycheck and 'security'). My family was having financial difficulties due to the economy and job losses.
The Starfish foundation made it possible for me to take the Taking It Lightly weekend at a reduced rate, providing me the financial support I needed. The weekend helped me tremendously. I was able to move forward with much more confidence, openness and with several new tools to communicate with my family, friends and clients and a stronger, healthier, more loving way. I am building a business and doing everything I can to pay it forward for the great gift I received.
The Starfish foundation made it possible for me to take the weekend when I needed it. Dotty Posto, Milwaukee WI