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Current Veteran Suicides in 2025

388.44

This number updates continuously based on the current suicide rates and includes both intentional suicides and unintentional suicides resulting from overdoses related to self-medication practices.

TWO BLACK RAVENS FOUNDATION

In old Norse mythology, Odin the God of War had two black ravens; Huginn and Muninn, and they represented Thought and Memory (respectively).  And so we chose our foundations name to represent the transition from memories of trauma as they shift towards the focused thoughts of what the future still holds.

OPERATION SISU 2025 Prize Partners

Over $2K worth of Prizes to win!

Our Mission

Our mission is to host world-class events that promote healing and success for DoD military service members and veterans who are wounded, injured, or ill. Through these events, we offer them the chance to learn positive coping mechanisms by using various forms of art to express and process their emotions when words fall short. By fostering emotional intelligence through artistic expression, we help veterans communicate more effectively with family, friends, co-workers, and mental health providers, ultimately contributing to a reduction in veteran suicide rates.

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STATISTICS

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1.8M

U.S. veterans living with physical or psychological wounds.

3 out of 4

U.S. veterans find art to be an effective form of communication when words are not enough to express their emotional pain.

60%

of wounded, injured, or ill veterans want to use creative outlets like art to process trauma and reconnect with their identity and purpose. However, they often find that federally funded programs are inaccessible and their programs are focused on simplistic crafts that lack meaningful impact.

HOSTED EVENTS

We utilize a progressive loading approach to our art instruction, that allows the participants to build upon previously learned skills. 

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Event 1: Fundamentals of Art

Learning the fundamentals of an art format is vital to the success of our participants. Each event is a week long and hosted in Springfield Missouri. Participants are provided with all the tools necessary to learn the art being instructed.

Event 2: Advanced Art Techniques

Learning advanced art techniques allows our participants to refine their skills enabling them to better articulate their thoughts and emotions. These events are week long specialized courses. The locations are selected based on the focus of instruction. Our participants, are provided all the necessary tools, equipment, and permits required to learn these advanced techniques.

Event 3 Gallery Art Show

Being able to connect Service Member and Veteran artist with art curators, industry leaders, talent agents, and publishers allows them to make the right connections needed to showcase their work around the world. These events are also a week long, and assist our participants with learning how to market and price their work, providing them a source of income that is tailored to their disabilities.

Words from our Founder

As the Founder and CEO of Two Black Ravens Foundation, I am driven by a deep commitment to supporting our nation's heroes—wounded, injured, and ill service member and veterans. As a retired Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) veteran, I have witnessed firsthand how the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates. This experience gives me a unique perspective on the challenges our veterans face and the complexities that often seem insurmountable.

Our foundation is dedicated to addressing a significant issue: many veterans struggle to access meaningful resources for their recovery. Federal programs frequently fall short, offering simplistic activities that feel disconnected from the real emotional and mental challenges our veterans encounter. As a result, they often feel misunderstood and left without effective tools to heal and move forward.

At Two Black Ravens Foundation, we refuse to accept this status quo. We focus on three key areas—art, business development, and advocacy—to create real change. Through art, we provide veterans with the means to process their trauma in ways that words alone cannot express. We empower them to rediscover their identity and purpose, helping them build a future beyond their military service.

Additionally, we emphasize business development, equipping veterans with the skills and resources needed to thrive in civilian life. Our advocacy efforts shine a light on the needs of both veterans and artists, ensuring their voices are heard and their contributions valued.

As we work to prioritize our participants' healing, we also maintain a fiduciary responsibility to our donors. We are committed to ensuring that our programs are effective and efficient, yielding productive results. By being transparent about our use of resources and the impact of our initiatives, we honor the trust that our supporters place in us.

Together, we are making a difference. By fostering emotional healing and personal growth, we are creating pathways for our veterans to reclaim their lives and share their stories. We believe that every veteran deserves access to the resources that will help them heal and succeed.

Join us in our mission to empower those who have served. Together, we can change lives and honor the sacrifices of our veterans.

 

- Adam Schwartz

Two Black Ravens Foundation Nondiscrimination Statement:  The Two Black Ravens Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We strive to foster diversity and ensure equal access to our programs, services, and opportunities, with a focus on uplifting and empowering wounded, injured and ill service members and veterans.
© 2025 TWO BLACK RAVENS FOUNDATION