Our History

Medevacs Land at Camp Pendleton

Our story began in the spring of 2003. Just returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, the first wave of wounded Marines and Sailors landed at Camp Pendleton, California. A dedicated group of Marine spouses jumped in to greet the wounded service members and their families, providing them with needed items for comfort and recovery. They provided a specialized van for a quadriplegic, a young Marine LCpl, through the generosity of donors like retired Marine Colonel Jack Kelly. This was just the beginning of a long commitment and promise to care for our wounded, ill, and injured and their families.   

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is Born

On May 17, 2004, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is born. The following day, Karen Guenther and Dawn Olsen pick up incorporation papers at the San Diego Court House. The efforts of 1st Marine Division Marine spouses during the past year have evolved into a national 501(c)3 nonprofit—The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund!

President George W. Bush Acknowledges Semper Fi Fund

“Here at Camp Pendleton, a nurse named Karen Guenther saw the financial strain on the families of the injured sailors and marines. Many spent weeks, even months away from home, standing by their loved ones recovering at a military hospital. They struggle with the cost of food and lodging and travel and lost income. So she and other Marine spouses started the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund to raise money for those struggling military families.”–President George W. Bush

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund Featured in Cookie Magazine

Cookie Magazine announced three Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund women as recipients of the first-ever Smart Cookie Award, which recognizes and supports mothers in the business, philanthropy and celebrity worlds who are making outstanding contributions to women and children’s causes around the globe.

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund Launches Support for Caregivers

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund recognizes the toll that caregivers face in the day-to-day reality of caring for wounded, ill and injured service members. Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund steps in to help by providing support, education and resources for caregivers.

Team Semper Fi is Created

Team Semper Fi is created and the first sports teams are made up of wounded Marines and Sailors. Recovery Through Sport launches with eight members and has grown to include more than 2,800 service members representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Team Semper Fi was named after Peter Murphy, Semper Fi Fund Board Member and Counsel to the Commandant from 1984 to 2004. 

Learn more about the history of Team Semper Fi here.

Bob Hope Spirit of Hope Award

Semper Fi Fund received the Spirit of Hope Award at a Pentagon ceremony in which all branches of the service were recognized. The award, established by the Hope Family Foundation in 1997 in honor of Bob Hope, is for patriotism and service, reflecting the essence of Bob Hope’s dedication to those in the Armed Forces.

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund Introduces Cover Me

Cover Me is the first documentary showing Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) military leadership talking about PTSD. Thousands of copies were distributed stateside and overseas to combat units, also used as a teaching resource at BUMED, Navy Chaplain School, and Combat Operational Stress Control training for active duty and families. Many copies were also ordered for local first responders across the country. 

Highest Rating Granted by Charity Watchdogs

Semper Fi Fund was rated an A+ by CharityWatch and 4-Stars by Charity Navigator, the highest rating awarded by each of these watchdogs. We have maintained these top grades ever since.

Read more about how we prioritize our financial accountability and stewardship.

Team Semper Fi Fund Members Compete in 1st Warrior Games

The Warrior Games is a multi-sport event for wounded, ill, or injured service personnel and veterans. It was hosted at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. This was magical for our service members and their families as our athletes were competing on the same ground as our Olympic & Paralympic athletes. 

Semper Fi Fund Provides $50 Million in Assistance

Semper Fi Fund celebrates reaching $50 million in assistance for post-9/11 wounded, ill and injured service members and families.

Bob & Renee Parsons First Donation Match Challenge

GoDaddy hosted a significant year-end holiday party at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ where Bob and Renee Parsons presented Semper Fi Fund with checks totaling $2 million. The first $1 million check came from generous donors, including GoDaddy customers, and the second $1 million check represented the matching funds from GoDaddy and The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, who began their United States Marine Corps 237th birthday tribute with matching gift campaigns in November. This was the first annual match, and through 2021 this annual match has raised $169 million for our combat wounded, critically ill and injured service members, veterans, and military families.

Help for All Branches Is Provided

America’s Fund program started to open up Semper Fi Fund assistance to all service branches — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. gives the first large donation to seed America’s Fund efforts.

Karen Guenther Appears on Oprah’s Favorite Things

Semper Fi Fund Founder Karen Guenther was selected to appear on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) as part of an unsuspecting group of military spouses who have done amazing things in their community.

Tim and Sandy Day Canine Companions is Founded

The Tim & Sandy Day Canine Companions program is created to unite injured and critically ill service members with service dogs. Sponsored by the Timothy T. Day Foundation, it also ensures that dogs are properly trained and related expenses in caring for their service dog are provided.

Veteran 2 Veteran Program (V2V) Is Introduced

Working closely with our wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans, the V2V program is created to provide peer to peer support, resources, and networking in their local community, to make a smoother transition back to civilian life.

Unit Reunions Commence

When a military unit faces combat, the members of that unit rely on each other to overcome the challenges of war. During the process, they form a bond unlike any other. However, once the unit returns home, service members move on to other duty assignments or transition out of the military, leaving very little time for the group to process the events they have experienced. A Semper Fi Fund Unit Reunion reunites the members of a military unit in a safe, stigma-free environment so they can reconnect, remember and recover together.

Semper Fi Fund Hits $100 Millon Milestone

Semper Fi Fund announced they had crossed the $100 million mark in providing assistance to wounded, critically ill and injured service members and their families.

The Apprenticeship Program is Launched

The Apprenticeship Program is initiated to assist service members in preparing for and finding meaningful trades, careers or small business opportunities through short-term vocational education and apprenticeships with trade experts.

‘You Are Not Alone’ Initiative Is Launched at The Fund’s 2/7 Unit Reunion

The ‘You Are Not Alone’ initiative is designed to connect community members with veterans who are struggling with life-threatening conditions, such as severe post-traumatic stress, anxiety, isolation and depression. The initiative provides ‘You Are Not Alone’ resource cards that anyone can order free of charge. These cards provide important outreach help where veterans can receive immediate support and care, including contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a QR code to the REACH to Prevent Suicide website and contact information for Semper Fi & America’s Fund.

Semper Fi Fund Provides $150 Million in Assistance

Semper Fi Fund celebrates another major milestone by announcing $150 million in assistance to service members, veterans, and military families of all branches in the Armed Forces.

Platinum Rating by GuideStar

Semper Fi Fund celebrates GuideStar’s Platinum Rating, demonstrating our commitment to transparency in our finances, operations and governance. 

Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award

Semper Fi Fund Founder, Karen Guenther, was named the recipient of the 2013 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Service Award at a Pentagon ceremony.  The award is a multi-service recognition presented to an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional patriotism and humanitarian concern for members of the Armed Forces or their families.

NeuroFitness Program Begins

An innovative part of Semper Fi Fund’s Wellness Program, NeuroFitness is added to provide neurofeedback training. This helps to restore cognitive function, improve memory, manage pain and assist with other stress-related issues.

US Special Operations Command Patriot Award

General Thomas presented the Semper Fi Fund’s America’s Fund program with the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Patriot Award for exceptional and enduring contributions to the welfare of Special Operations Command wounded warriors and their families.

Launched the LCpl Bob Parsons Welcome Home Fund

The program will expand our mission to care for veterans from all U.S. military service branches who are catastrophically injured from combat operations in Vietnam.

Launched the Visiting Nurses Program

The Semper Fi Fund & America’s Fund Visiting Nurses Program provides support to service members and veterans of all five service branches to help navigate complex medical and mental health care for our catastrophically wounded, ill, or injured. 

The Visiting Nurses Program provides emotional support, assistance in the development of coping skills, identifies health and wellness needs, gaps in care, and barriers to using a self-care management model. The goal of the Visiting Nurses Program is to create a framework of support to improve overall service member and veteran and family health and wellness.

COVID-19 Response

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of our service members and families faced higher unemployment, limited access to medical care and personal necessities, and increased social isolation. These challenges threatened the mental and physical health of our veterans, especially those with pre-existing conditions. Semper Fi & America’s Fund had boots on the ground and took action to ensure our service members and families knew they were not alone, including providing $5 million in financial assistance. With over 16 years of experience as a virtual nonprofit, we were well-prepared to meet the challenges of the pandemic.

Covid-19 Pandemic Support Continues

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect the country in 2021, The Fund provided all-encompassing support to our service members, veterans, and military families. We arranged drive-by visits to deliver necessary supplies and food to families in need and hosted 1,230 virtual events throughout the year. These classes, which included cooking demonstrations, athletic training, and caregiver support classes, maintained an emphasis on healing the mind, body, and spirit to help our Fund family remain connected and cared for throughout such unprecedented times in our country.

We are always here for our military families … Today. Tomorrow. Together!

Karen Guenther: American Spirit Award

Our founder, president, and CEO, Karen Guenther was awarded the 2022 National WWII Museum American Spirit Award for the work she has done to support veterans. The American Spirit Award honors individuals whose efforts embody the essence of those who served during World War II.

Karen was recognized for her initiative in stepping in to help veterans and military families when the first wave of injured service members returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. She and a small group of military spouses began what would become Semper Fi & America’s Fund in 2004 as a way to fill in the gaps of care. Since then, The Fund has grown into a worldwide organization that has supported more than 30,000 service members.

Milestones of Support

The Fund reached two significant milestones at the beginning of 2023! We have given more than $300 million in support to more than 30,000 service members, veterans, and military families since our inception in 2004. It has been such an honor serving our Nation’s heroes and we are so grateful for all the donors who walked alongside us to make this possible.

The Olympus Within Impact Award

The Olympus Within Impact Award recognizes exceptional individuals and organizations whose effects create a lasting and meaningful impact, akin to the transformative journeys of elite athletes. In 2023, Semper Fi & America’s Fund received this prestigious award, which was presented by gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton, as a tribute to The Fund’s unwavering commitment to treating the mind, body, and spirit of our wounded service members and veterans through the transformative power of adaptive sports.

Our 20TH Anniversary Celebration

In May 2024, The Fund celebrated our 20-year anniversary at the Historic Ranch House aboard Camp Pendleton! With the backdrop of the Marine Corps Air Station, we highlighted our 20 years of service to over 33,000 active duty, veterans, and military families and over $330,000,000 in support by bringing together our supporters, our military families, senior military leadership, our amazing team, and our guests of honor, Bob and Renee Parsons.
With the ongoing care of our military families remaining at the core of all we do, we celebrated our community, our mission, and our critical work ahead with grateful hearts for our donors, who remain by our sides in “serving those who preserve our freedom.”