FREEDOM IS NOT FREE HISTORY

Why FREEDOM IS NOT FREE was established – a Brief History

The U.S. led invasion of Iraq, and the military efforts in Afghanistan to uproot the terrorist infrastructure, made headlines from the start. By 2005, however, casualty reports were barely making page six news. The American public had settled back into the mundane routine of daily life. In Iraq and Afghanistan, however, injuries and fatalities were mounting daily. It was precisely this disparity that motivated David Dominguez, a San Diego entrepreneur, to establish FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. The name he chose for the non-profit gave expression to his sentiment that the brave men and women serving in the military, and their families, were shouldering the price, and all too often the ultimate price, for the freedoms that we ALL enjoy. David enlisted long-time friend and Vietnam veteran Carl Frank. Together they began to frame the FREEDOM IS NOT FREE philosophy, ultimately formulating the mission statement under which the organization has labored since its establishment:

"Aiding wounded troops, their families and the families of the fatally wounded"

The mission epitomizes the founders’ belief that the injury or loss of a hero has a far broader effect than the specific individual. They wanted to create a safe environment where supporters would feel confident that their donations were actually going to help those most in need.

Dominguez and Frank established an intentionally lean organization with special emphasis on financial checks and balances. They deliberated at great length on the importance of a transparent model for the allocation of funds to the most worthy recipients. This requisite led to the establishment of the Purple Heart Board. They assembled a group of carefully selected, highly committed veteran and active duty Purple Heart recipients and their relatives to serve as "gatekeepers". The Board, made up of "those who have been there", determines how the funds raised by FREEDOM IS NOT FREE are allocated in order to respond to the innumerable number of requests received.

In a similar vain, the FREEDOM IS NOT FREE Patriot Advisory Board was established. Its primary role is to serve as an advisory body to management and assist in the promotion of FREEDOM IS NOT FREE programs and fund raising initiatives. The Patriot Advisory Board is comprised of a diverse group of individuals with complementary personal and professional backgrounds, skill-sets and experience. They all share the passion for the “mission” and the will to make a difference. They offer unbiased feedback, new ideas and an invaluable knowledge-base that contributes to FREEDOM IS NOT FREE’s operations.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE is an a-political, non-partisan 501(C)3 non-profit organization registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE’s programs and grants are made possible solely by the generous support of donors. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE receives no federal, state or governmental support or funding.