The United Relief Foundation consists of a group of non-compensated officers, board members and veteran advisors United in Service with volunteers, partners and patrons dedicated to doing the good deeds that make profound lasting differences in the lives of the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces.

For the most part, with the exception of a Good Morning America appearance, occasional media attention and public accolades, the United Relief Foundation has quietly gone about Making a Difference by Being the Difference since 2006.

Being united in the service of remembering, honoring and helping the men and women who served in the United States military is how we can show our Veterans they have not been forgotten in their time of need and their service has not been forsaken.

United Relief Foundation Also Remembers and Honors the service and sacrifice of our Fallen Heroes, reserve and active duty military, and their families.

How We Get Connected with The Veterans We Serve

In-Person
United Relief Foundation One-on-One Boots-on-the-Ground efforts and engagement contact.

Third Party
United Relief Foundation is contacted by a veteran service organization or agency.

Veterans
Veterans contact the United Relief Foundation by phone or using website’s Veterans in Need form.

Our Benchmarks

2005-2006

2005 – Founding president Frank Salato leads Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts to collect and deliver relief supplies.

The first effort: relief flown by private aircraft to Slidell Airport Louisiana under military control, 2nd supply air-transport and returning to Illinois with victims of Katrina and reunited them with their respective families.

2006 – United Relief Foundation, Inc. is chartered by the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit organization on February 2, 2006, and formed as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid organization.

Frank Salato’s United Relief Foundation rationale is that he could do more good by marshalling his personal and professional resources, uniting others with him, and keeping operational and administrative expenses to a bare minimum can compound the good that can be done thus providing more relief to more people in need.

2006-2010

United Relief Foundation continues to provide humanitarian aid to Hurricane Katrina victims and received on-air recognition from Good Morning America anchor Robin Robbins for the Foundation’s compounding the good approach and relief efforts in her childhood hometown, Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Natural disaster relief efforts continued. Post 9/11 (Iraq and Afghanistan) veterans brought forth an acute awareness of the overwhelming wellness and wellbeing challenges facing all generations of veterans, thus starting United Relief Foundation’s gradual transition from providing relief to disaster victims to only providing relief to veterans.

2011

United Relief Foundation’s humanitarian aid, relief efforts and Care Comfort Compassion Lifeline are realigned to serve the wellness and wellbeing needs and challenges of veterans.

Unequivocally, we owe the men and women who served and are serving in the United States military a debt of gratitude and support. These brave men and women often face unimaginable challenges and sacrifices. Their dedication ensures our safety, freedom, and way of life. As a society, we must honor their service by providing them with the care, resources, and respect they deserve.

2011-2012

United Relief Foundation starts Project Restoring Hope Initiative with House 348 Home Sweet Home Project as the Foundation transitions from disaster relief to efforts dedicated to providing lasting, positive, life-changing opportunities for veterans.

Note: Project Restoring Hope Initiative Home Sweet Home projects suspended after House 348 to dedicate vital resources to the Care Comfort Compassion Lifeline.

2013

United Relief Foundation’s Care Comfort Compassion Lifeline includes a Rapid Response Initiative to serve the most vulnerable veterans who do not have the physical or financial resources to travel to receive basic wellness and wellbeing support.

Rapid Response Boots on the Ground engagements encompasses serving veterans in the Illinois counties of Cook, Lake and McHenry and the Wisconsin counties of Kenosha, Racine and Walworth.

Note: United Relief Foundation responds to veterans in need outside Boots on the Ground areas, and national wide, with the assistance of partner organizations.

2017

“United in Service” is introduced to faithfully recognize the volunteers, partners and patrons engaged with the United Relief Foundation. 

First ‘Tis the Season of Service effort starts with a single focus of bringing attention, and provide help, to unsheltered and sheltered homeless veterans during the holidays.

Note: ‘Tis the Season of Service is an annual effort from November 11 to December 31.

2018

United Relief Foundation starts a pilot Horticultural Healing Program for transitioning veteran housing environments to improve the state of mind, rebuild self-reliance, and boost the social skills of the residing veterans.

Horticultural Healing program engages veterans in various garden-related activities that produce a host of wellbeing and wellness benefits for them. View Program Accomplishments

2020 to Late 2022

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.

In response to COVID-19 Pandemic, United Relief Foundation expands its Rapid Response Initiative to coming to the aid of veterans in need at a moment notice. 

Note:  Additional precautions were taken to protect the health of volunteers and the veterans served.

Late 2022 and 2023

With the lessening of COVID-19 health concerns and restrictions, United Relief Foundation’s COVID-19 Rapid Response engagements were shift to Care Comfort Compassion Lifeline efforts.  The COVID-19 pandemic officially ended in the United States on May 11, 2023

In response to women veterans being the fastest growing group in the homeless population, and four times more likely to become homeless than their male peers, the United Relief Foundation launches Women are Veterans too campaign.

2024

The achievements of United Relief Foundation’s Horticultural Healing program prompt the start of a pilot Military Garden extension project to serve more veterans and include reserve-duty and active-duty military.

Planning

United Relief Foundation Home Sweet Home Project plans to renovate Chicago houses in of repair to provide veterans trade skills training and affordable homeownership opportunities are underway, and announcements will be made as details are confirmed.