May 21, 2026

Dear Friends,

It is with deep gratitude that I am writing to you today.

After sixteen years of serving more than 700 American and IDF veterans, Heroes To Heroes has made the difficult decision to close its doors. This decision follows more than a year of thoughtful reflection, research, and discussion with our Board of Directors and staff.

Heroes To Heroes was founded with a singular mission: to help veterans transition from the experiences of war back into civilian life. Since the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the United States has thankfully seen far fewer service members deployed into active ground combat. As a result, the specific need our program was created to address has significantly diminished.

As many of you know, Heroes To Heroes has always maintained a rigorous vetting process for veterans entering our program. In recent years, fewer than 30% of applicants met the qualifications for participation. At the same time, moral injury and the challenges veterans face are now more openly recognized and discussed, and nearly 40,000 organizations across the United States are dedicated to supporting veterans in a variety of ways. We are confident that veterans seeking healing and support will continue to find meaningful resources and care.

When I founded Heroes To Heroes, I made a promise to be a faithful steward of every dollar entrusted to the organization. Maintaining the trust of our donors has always been essential—not only to our work, but to the integrity of the nonprofit community as a whole. Honoring that commitment has led us to this decision.

Heroes To Heroes never intended to exist in perpetuity. It was created to address a specific need during a particular chapter in a veteran’s journey home. Today, we are grateful to say that the demand for our specialized program has decreased.

Today I especially remember Cliff Nolan, my co-Founder, who we lost to Covid in 2020. Cliff inspired me to turn the Heroes To Heroes idea into reality.

Thank you to our Board of Directors who gave their hearts, time, and gifts. Heroes To Heroes flourished because of you:

Michael Haltman – Board Chair
Jared Levy – Treasurer
Joseph Noto – Secretary
Lawrence Shindell
Corey Tucker
Deborah Carman
Marc Lion
Michael Oppenheimer
Jason Walker

The staff members and volunteers who worked side-by-side with me as we built the organization are forever in my heart. Thank you, Keila, Gary, Omar, Sean, Todd, George, Ashlery, Bryan, Harrison, Kim, Joanie, David, Carlos, Joe, Suzie, Marianne, Donna, Laura, Monty, Josuan, Raymond, Becky, Brian, Chad, Corey, Dane, David S, Diego, Dennys, Duane, E Lafayette, Felipe, Jaclyn, Jason, Jerry, Jonathan, Joshua, Julio, Terrance, Luke, Manny, Mark, Michael B, Michael H, Michael P, Michael W, Moises, Nathan, Noah, Patrick, Pierre, Rochel, Rosie, Scott, TJ, Wayne, Will, and Cruz, for your support and for taking the reins when needed.

Thank you to Jewish National Fund’s Boruchin Fund for your support throughout the years. Because of you, we thrived!

Thank you for your unwavering support, your friendship, and your commitment to caring for one of our nation’s greatest treasures—our veterans. None of this would have been possible without you.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Judy Isaacson Elias

Judy Isaacson Elias