• On any given night, nearly 60,000 Veterans sleep on the streets.
• Veterans are twice as likely to be homeless than those who have not served.
• Women veterans are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.

The figures above are eye opening to say the least and reflect a sad reality for our veterans returning home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Often times, many return to our homeland without a job, a place to live, health insurance, and/or a compromised health condition. To lighten these gloomy conditions and to demonstrate appreciation for their services and selfless sacrifices, volunteers from the Home Depot Store and the Romanoff Foundation joined the Volunteers for America to build a playground area for a new Veterans Housing project in Rancho Palace Verdes, California. Specifically built for women veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and their families, this project was another moment for Romanoff volunteers to compassionately respond to wounded soldiers in their new battle by providing them with a safe haven for play, and an opportunity to experience normalcy in a community of leisure intended to bring them hope and joy with newfound memories.

Rare and with little warning, homes and lives in West Virginia were tragically swept away from devastating torrential rains of June 2016. Survivors, Brandon Eagle and his family, were uprooted from their home and so was the foundation of their home.

Thankful to be alive, yet somewhat destitute with only the clothes on their backs, they received help from their family and from the outreach provided by an associate from the Romanoff Foundation.

Although Mr. Eagle would have been satisfied to have received beds for his children as requested when asked about his urgent needs, he must have experienced great relief knowing that each of his three children would be safe and warm in their new bed, new mattress, and new sheets along with a special toy. Catastrophe struck their home destroying everything they knew in the summer of 2016; but associates from the Romanoff Foundation combated those losses with torrential acts of kindness, regenerating the hope that darkness fades when the sunshine emerges after a storm.

Hope was the one thing this American Veteran of the United States Air Force depended on when she returned to civilian life. However, her hope was defined by hardships. With hope, she and her four children traveled six states for a better income opportunity and way of life. With hope, she became unemployed when the job was not what she expected; consequently, she lost all her family’s belongings that were in storage. Her hope eventually led her and her children to a homeless shelter, and then to a bare apartment.

Her turning point of hope was manifested when her story was shared with The Romanoff Foundation. Warm-hearted volunteers of Romanoff donated 1,000.00 dollars to deliver this warrior of disappointments with real hope that had a meaningful impact on her and her children. With such kindness and empathy from the Romanoff associates, our American Veteran could experience the restoration of the life-giving hope and the life-giving spirit that ensues when hope in action serves its wearied civilian soldiers in life.

For students and educators alike, excitement, worries, and wonderment exist at the beginning of a school year. To ease the anxiety for those not quite equipped to begin their school year and to support the Roosevelt Elementary School’s philosophy of respecting and valuing self and others, the Romanoff Foundation graciously validated individual students when they provided four classrooms with necessary school supplies to position them for a successful school year.

Backpacks, crayons, composition books, markers, colored pencils and much more to reach out, to demonstrate, and to model a few of the core blocks of respecting and building community; that is by giving and serving others. Like many teachers, volunteers of the Romanoff Foundation respect and value others as they donate their time, funds, resources, and services. They lead others by example, build community, and leave a footprint behind for others to follow by giving to others whom they know and to those they do not know. Like teachers, they share important messages about life. In this case, they shared their own story behind the four pillars of The Romanoff Foundation to ignite the next generation to volunteer, to give to others in need, and to empower them with the knowledge that making a positive difference in the lives of others eventually sparks another flame to the betterment of individuals, towns, cities, communities, and worldwide persons. Moreover, this project provided one of the best life-long lessons of their school year!

Even this generous donor who has been committed three and one half years of giving approximately 30,000 pounds of food each week to shelters and food banks gets a hand from the Romanoff Foundation. Passionate, persistent, and purposeful, Mr. David Skoke started an organization called Helping Feed Atlanta by collecting nearly expired food from Costco and Whole Foods in the Atlanta area, operating two vans to complete his mission.

However, being on a fixed income, it had been a struggle to keep both vans on the road, so the Romanoff Foundation donated a $500.00 gas card to fuel the mission. Our recipient and the individuals he serves were enormously touched by the foundation and wanted to thank each donor. Feeding and fueling others with what they need describes the Romanoff Foundation, and Atlanta associates looking for a day of service are encouraged to seek Mr. Skoke to partner with him for a day.

Hardships did not spare the Venegas’ family of Douglasville, Georgia. Physical ailments with the mother led to part-time employment and financial setbacks that nearly cost them the loss of their home. The mother had experienced a heart attack and later her daughter experienced life-threatening health problems requiring ICU attention at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a couple of weeks.

Although they overcame their life-threatening illnesses, heavy financial burdens to maintain their home and medical expenses remained. Thankfully, their caring neighbor reached out to the Romanoff Foundation for help, and the Venegas were spared homelessness because their burden was lifted with a 1600.00-dollar donation. Because of Romanoff’s generosity, they could enjoy their renewed health from the comforts of their own home. In this case, Romanoff worked much like their daughter’s inhaler for asthma, and that is their donation was able to breathe new relief for this family in dire need of a help.

Ultimate tragedy and sadness ensued when a family of four struck an unlit, broken down tow truck in Henry County, Georgia. Just hours before the accident, a father and his three children were at the exciting Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, on their way back home, an unavoidable accident occurred, taking two of his and his wife’s children.

Unexpected pain and unexpected burial expenses deepened the wound; however, the Romanoff Foundation stepped in to relieve unexpected finances for this grieving family. Not only did they initially provide 1500.00 dollars, but they spearheaded a fundraiser to help support the multiple losses and to provide the love and support the foundation exemplifies when others are in crisis or in need. With grieving, yet grateful hearts, these parents wear a smile as Scott, an associate of the Romanoff Foundation, hugs them with love, compassion, and meaningful support.

The Greathouses are indeed grateful to the Romanoff Foundation because it positioned them to move forward in life. With cash flow from Romanoff, they could purchase a vehicle that led to independent travel for work, ability to maintain needed doctor’s appointments, participate in worship service, to attend their child’s school meetings and to foster enrichment activities for their daughter.

Alleviating a significant hardship for this family truly reflected Romanoff’s mission to restore hope and provide people with newfound freedom. Consequently, this family believes themselves to be empowered, stronger, and even proclaimed a new dream because of Romanoff, and that is they are now able to look for a home. Isn’t this what the Romanoff Foundation is all about; providing experiences of hope so that people may dream again with optimism!

The Romanoff Foundation learned the heartfelt story of Katrina Gregory and her mother Pam (Pictured Below). Shortly after graduating from high school Katrina was diagnosed as being in kidney failure and was in need of a transplant.

Katrina received a kidney from her mom Pam but unfortunately the transplant ended up failing. Katrina would spend the rest of her days on constant dialysis and praying for another transplant. Katrina's mother suffered multiple financial burdens in trying to help care for her.

The strain of everyday bills had become too much for her to handle. The Romanoff Foundation was able to jump in and donate a $500.00 gift card to help her with everyday needs and groceries. While her sadness lives on, Pam is very grateful the Foundation could help ease her financial issues is this way. Katrina passed away recently at the young age of 39. Her positive outlook touched the lives of many and will be remembered always.