I served our great nation in uniform for nearly four decades, so I know well the power of our armed forces. As a boy, I lived in remote towns in the Middle East and in the US Navy, I was part of disaster response and humanitarian assistance operations. I know that America’s most extraordinary power is the spirit, compassion, and generosity of the American people. That power is embodied in Spirit of America.

Daily headlines remind us of threats to American interests and increasing efforts to deprive others the freedoms and ideals foundational to peace and prosperity. Brutality is on display in the war in Ukraine. We see it in Chinese aggression and intimidation in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Iran is enflaming the Middle East as the puppeteer of its deadly proxies. Ominously, disinformation campaigns are sowing mistrust and suspicion in the broad information environment in which we live.

Our government has and will continue to meet these challenges, but overcoming them demands more than just government action. Spirit of America is the only nonprofit that unites Americans like you with our troops and diplomats to ensure that freedom and democracy prevail — for us and for future generations.

Spirit of America is unique. It is unabashedly aligned with American interests. It is on the ground where needed, listening and responding. It moves with speed and flexibility. It is an organization that does not talk about what needs to be done — it does it.

Spirit of America invests rapidly in critical initiatives that deliver results. Funding a secure communications network in Ukraine identified threats and saved countless lives. To create greater public resilience in Taiwan, a community emergency response program was put in place, and in Central Asia, a communications campaign has promoted positive messages about the US to counter deepening Chinese and Russian influence. These are but a few of the meaningful ways that Spirit of America defends freedom and strengthens the frontlines of democracy.

The challenges to America and to those who cherish and aspire to a free and better life will not diminish in the foreseeable future. Indeed, they will increase. New programs and methods will be needed to enhance and increase America’s ability to respond. Through the extraordinary power of Americans like you, Spirit of America will be there where and when needed, working alongside our troops and diplomats to address tomorrow’s challenges head on.

Your generous support of Spirit of America makes it all possible and makes an enormous difference.

Sincerely,
Gary Roughead
US Navy, Retired