Camaraderie Foundation

08/18/2026

08/14/2026

We are grateful to the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation for hosting Camaraderie Foundation’s Board of Directors meeting and for the opportunity to spend time with President & CEO David Odahowski. Their beautiful facilities provided an inspiring setting for our discussion and are a wonderful resource made available to organizations serving the community right in the heart of Central Florida.

We are proud to partner with the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and grateful for their investment in the future of the veterans and military spouses we serve. Their support reflects confidence in our mission, our leadership, our Board, and our ability to turn that investment into meaningful opportunities for those we serve.

Through the Foundation’s support, top graduates of Camaraderie’s Mentor Leadership Program cohorts in 2026, 2027, and 2028 will receive scholarships to continue developing as community leaders through Leadership Orlando , Leadership Seminole, and Leadership Winter Park .

For us, that is what partnership should look like: not simply supporting where people are today, but investing in where they have the potential to go next.

Thank you, David, and the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation for welcoming our Board, believing in our mission, and investing alongside us in the next generation of military-connected leaders.

Saving Families. Saving Lives.

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08/14/2026

Applications are open for the next Mentor Leadership Program cohort, but only through the end of this month.

Camaraderie Foundation’s Mentor Leadership Program (MLP) is designed for service members, veterans, and military spouses who are ready to take the next step in their personal and professional journey.

Over nine months, participants are connected directly to their community through:

• Two dedicated local mentors providing real-world insight, accountability, and access to opportunity
• Monthly learning experiences with companies and civic organizations focused on leadership, communication, and purpose
• Community service opportunities that strengthen local connections
• A network designed to help participants build confidence, gain clarity, and move forward with purpose

Top-performing graduates may also earn scholarships to premier leadership programs including Leadership Orlando, Leadership Seminole, Leadership Winter Park, and Leadership Hillsborough.

MLP runs August through April, with cohorts in Orlando and Tampa, and space is intentionally limited to 15–20 protégés per cohort.

If you are ready to invest in your next chapter, or know a veteran, service member, or military spouse who is, now is the time.

Applications close at the end of the month.
Learn more and apply through Camaraderie Foundation.

Proven Impact. Local Connections. Lifelong Results.

A big thank you to our sponsors FAIRWINDS Credit Union , Truist, State of Florida , and Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation.

CareerDevelopment LeadershipDevelopment VeteranSupport MilitaryFamilies Orlando Tampa

08/14/2026

An evening of patriotism, purpose, and impact.

Join us for the 2026 American Patriot Gala as Camaraderie Foundation brings together community leaders, veterans, military families, corporate partners, and friends of our mission for a special evening celebrating 250 years of America and the people who continue to serve it.

This signature event helps fuel our work providing no-cost mental health counseling, transition support, and family-strengthening programs for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

📅 September 19, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Hilton Orlando Altamonte Springs
350 S. Northlake Blvd., Altamonte Springs

The American Patriot Gala is more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to stand with the men and women who have served our nation and the families who serve alongside them.
We look forward to an unforgettable evening of connection, gratitude, and purpose.

Saving Lives. Saving Families.

Jim Craig Pete Marion Marnie McCree Michael Waldrop Paul Hey Jeremiah Fuller Garth Arevalo Stephanie Ketron, Keynote Speaker Olesea Aguilar, MBA, SPHR Jenny Beakley Regine Bonneau, CTPRP Derek Grimm, CFP® Bill Bond Joshua Walker Matt Franz Angela Albright Chase Skylar DeMayo, Ph.D, AMDA Barron Mills Patrick Connors Dennis Lemma Robert Smith, Jr John Mina
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08/09/2026

Florida is expanding mental health support for veterans and military families and Camaraderie Foundation is honored to be part of that work.

We are grateful to announce a $420,000 State of Florida appropriation supporting Camaraderie Foundation’s work with veterans, active-duty service members, and military families across Florida.

The funding will provide approximately 2,500 hours of professional mental health counseling, serving an estimated 250 veterans, active-duty service members, and military family members. It will also support care coordination, employment-related assistance, and an expansion of services into Jacksonville and the Florida Panhandle.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Jason Brodeur, MPH, MBA, MikeRedondo, Governor DeSantis, and the of Florida for recognizing the importance of strengthening resources for Florida’s military community.

For Camaraderie Foundation, this investment represents far more than funding. It means reaching people earlier, removing barriers to care, supporting families through difficult transitions, and helping veterans and service members move toward healing, stability, and long-term success.

Senator Jason Brodeur will join Camaraderie Foundation on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a brief check presentation and photo opportunity recognizing this investment. Members of the media are welcome to attend. For additional information or inquiries please contact:

Maria Cherjovskya Cherjovsky, CEO
[email protected]

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07/26/2026

Gratitude looks even better in Lilly pink.

A heartfelt thank you to Lilly Pulitzer at Disney Springs for hosting a wonderful Shop to Support event benefiting Camaraderie Foundation.

We are deeply grateful to the Lilly Pulitzer team for welcoming our mission into their store, sharing it with their customers, and helping raise support for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Partnerships like this remind us that meaningful impact can begin with something as simple as opening your doors, inviting your community in, and choosing to give back.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shopped, learned more about our work, and helped support our commitment to Saving Families. Saving Lives.

We are honored to have community partners who believe that when one member of the family serves, the entire family does as well.

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07/23/2026

Tomorrow is the day! 🩷

Looking for the perfect excuse to refresh your summer wardrobe while giving back?

Join us tomorrow at Lilly Pulitzer at Disney Springs for a special shopping event benefiting Camaraderie Foundation.

🛍️ 10% of event proceeds will be donated to support our mission of providing no-cost mental health counseling and support services for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Every purchase helps strengthen military families because when one member of the family serves, the entire family serves as well.

📅 Tomorrow
🕛 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Lilly Pulitzer – Disney Springs

A heartfelt thank you to Lilly Pulitzer for partnering with us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much.

We hope to see you there!

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07/01/2026

Partnerships like this create lasting impact.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the leadership teams from Fun Spot America in Orlando, Kissimmee, and Atlanta to share the mission of Camaraderie Foundation and the life-changing impact of supporting veterans, service members, and their families.

I’m honored that Fun Spot America has chosen Camaraderie Foundation as its 2026 charitable partner and will launch a month-long Round Up Campaign throughout July across its parks.

Every guest who chooses to round up their purchase will help provide no-cost mental health counseling and critical support services for veterans, service members, and their families.

This partnership is about more than fundraising. It’s about bringing a community together to support those who have sacrificed for our nation and the families who serve alongside them.

A heartfelt thank you to Ivy Finnessy and the entire Fun Spot America team for welcoming us, embracing our mission, and standing beside the military community.

We look forward to an incredible July and to the lives we’ll impact together.

Saving Families. Saving Lives.

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06/24/2026

One of the most common questions I have heard throughout my career is:

“What do I do now?”

I’ve heard it from veterans leaving military service.

Students graduating into uncertainty.

Professionals facing layoffs.

Individuals rebuilding after illness or disability.

Leaders navigating unexpected change.

The circumstances are different.

But the question is the same.

And over the years, I’ve learned something important.

Most people don’t need someone to fix their problems.

They need someone who can help them see a path forward.

They need hope.

Not the kind of hope that says, “Everything will work out.”

The kind that says:

“You still have strengths.”

“You still have choices.”

“You are more than this moment.”

“You have value beyond what was lost.”

Hope is not pretending things aren’t difficult.

Hope is helping people believe they can move through difficulty.

Sometimes we provide hope by listening.

Sometimes by encouraging.

Sometimes by opening a door, making an introduction, sharing an opportunity, or simply reminding someone of what they are capable of when they have forgotten.

I’ve come to believe that creating hope is one of the most powerful forms of leadership.

Because people rarely change when they are judged.

They change when they can see a future worth moving toward.

And often, all it takes is one person willing to help them see it.

06/23/2026

Leadership isn’t always about holding a title. Sometimes, it’s about choosing to use your experience, your network, and your passion to make a difference in the lives of others.

At Camaraderie Foundation, we are opening nominations for our Board of Directors, Committees, and Ambassador Program, and we’re looking for leaders who believe that veterans, service members, and their families deserve unwavering support.

Whether your passion is community engagement, fundraising, event planning, advocacy, or strategic leadership, there is a place for you to serve.

When you join Camaraderie, you become part of something bigger than yourself. You help expand access to mental health counseling, strengthen military families, empower future leaders, and ensure that those who served our nation never have to face life’s challenges alone.

Your leadership. Your expertise. Their future.

If you—or someone you know—has a heart for service, we invite you to explore these opportunities and help us continue Saving Families. Saving Lives.

🔹 Board of Directors
🔹 Events Committee
🔹 Fundraising Committee
🔹 Ambassador Program

Learn more and submit a nomination at:
www.camaraderiefoundation.org/get-involved

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