Spirit of America Worldwide

Spirit of America is a nonprofit citizen service organization founded in response to the attacks of 9/11. We have pioneered a new model of providing philanthropic private assistance to support national security and the safety and success of America's troops and diplomats. We unite the American people with US troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the front lines of democracy, and help people secure a free and better life. Because of Spirit of America's partnership with the US military we are able to deliver private assistance efficiently and at scale in the world's toughest places. (Continued on Schedule O)In 2023 we prioritized assistance that would meet the highest needs and priorities of US troops and diplomats, and that would have the greatest potential to save and improve lives:1. Eastern Europe: To save lives and help Ukraine defend its freedom and democracy against Russian aggression, we supported frontline troops with nonlethal assistance. This included computer and communications gear to support a secure communications network, surveillance drones, advanced trauma kits, night vision goggles, vehicles, mobile combat shower units, and funding to rebuild and redeploy military trucks. We also supported a program to teach entrepreneurial skills to Ukrainian youth and provided funding to help them implement projects to rebuild their war-affected communities. In the Balkans, we provided targeted humanitarian assistance to firefighters, first responders, EMS, the miliary and law enforcement including protective equipment, rescue gear, technology, and emergency communications equipment. 2. Middle East and Central Asia: We promoted stability and social cohesion through targeted humanitarian and economic assistance to vulnerable communities, helped develop the capacity of host nation governmental and nongovernmental entities, and provided nonlethal equipment to host nation armed forces. Through educational projects, we empowered thousands of Afghan refugees and students to build a better future in six countries across the region. In northeast Syria, we enabled US troops to deliver humanitarian aid following a deadly earthquake. In Iraqi Kurdistan, we helped strengthen Peshmerga forces, a key US partner in the Defeat-ISIS Campaign, by funding English language courses. In Lebanon, we provided nonlethal equipment and supplies to special operations units in the Lebanese Armed Forces.3. Asia Pacific: To protect frontlines of democracy and deter aggression across the region, we strengthened relationships, built the capacity of host nation governmental and nongovernmental entities, and provided nonlethal assistance to host nation armed forces. In Taiwan, we helped citizens take action to preserve their way of life in the face of threats to their security and democracy. We partnered with the Taiwanese government and civil society to train thousands of citizens in crisis preparedness skills to build Taiwan's resilience to any crisis. We also partnered with local nonprofits to educate Taiwanese people on the skills they need to keep their families safe in the event of a crisis. In Mongolia we helped establish a pre-hospital medical training program to ensure widespread access to timely and lifesaving emergency medical care, and in Burma we provided a communications network for civilians displaced by the civil war.4. Africa: Spirit of America helped US troops strengthen partnerships to protect communities under threat in West Africa, where terrorist groups have destabilized the Sahel region and now threaten the democratic countries of the coast, and in East Africa, where terrorist activity displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. We provided targeted humanitarian and economic assistance to vulnerable communities, built the capacity of host nation governmental and nongovernmental entities, and provided nonlethal equipment to host nation armed forces. Efforts include funding renovations for schools and key government buildings in Mozambique, helping US troops train Beninese army partners in essential medical skills and treatment, building community resilience in Burkina Faso through community center renovations, and providing other educational and humanitarian supplies.