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About Us

The Bob Woodruff Foundation is the nonprofit dedicated to ensuring injured service members, veterans and their families are thriving long after they return home. A national organization with grassroots reach, the Bob Woodruff Foundation complements the work of the federal government —diligently navigating the maze of more than 40,000 nonprofits providing services to veterans—finds, funds and shapes innovative programs, and holds them accountable for results.

Our Cause

More than 2.5 million U.S. service members have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since September 11, 2001.

90 percent of today’s service members are surviving their injuries.

One of every 50 service members in Afghanistan and Iraq has sustained a physical combat injury; one in five suffer from PTS, TBI and/or depression.

The Veterans Administration (VA) estimates that a veteran dies by suicide every 80 minutes.

On average, one suicide a day occurs in the military, and the number of service members who took their lives this year has surpassed the number killed in combat.

BWF works to support all injured service members with a special emphasis on the Hidden Injuries of War - Traumatic Brain Injury and Combat Stress. While the wounds of these injuries may not always be visible, their impact is felt long after a service member returns and their treatment is often the most costly and difficult to attain.

The Hidden Injuries of War »

Traumatic Brain Injury

There's a good chance that service members who return with a visible wound is also being impacted by a hidden one. TBI severity depends on the nature of the injury, the strength of the force, area of the brain affected, physical and genetic variations, and more. It's a silent epidemic, hard to identify and diagnose and individualized with each victim. Mild TBI, a concussion or multiple concussions can lead to problems with balance and coordination, impaired memory, judgement, hearing, vision or speech. More symptoms range from fatigue, lack of focus, anxiety, depression, impulsivity.

PTS and Combat Stress-Related Symptoms

Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) is a reaction that can occur after a person has been through a traumatic event. Like TBI, effects of combat stress injuries are highly individualized. Symptoms can include depression, anxiety, misuse of alcohol and drugs, strains in family functioning, separation and divorce. Once called "battle fatigue" and "shell shock," these injuries are often stigmatized in the armed forces, which leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment. But stress injuries heal more quickly and completely if they are acknowledged and given appropriate care. Most are considered the body's normal reaction to abnormal circumstances.

Our Difference

Helping Heroes on the Homefront.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) has raised over $15 million to support injured service members, veterans and their families since inception. BWF has forged more than 80 local and national program partnerships.

To date, BWF has impacted well over 1,000,000 service members, veterans, family members, and support personnel.

Through over 160 grants to charitable organizations around the country, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has funded programs to help reintegrate injured service members and assist their families with the transition.

Our History

The Bob Woodruff Foundation was co-founded in 2006 by award winning television anchor, Bob Woodruff, and his family, after he sustained serious injuries while covering the Iraq war. Their own experiences inspired them to help make sure our nation’s heroes have access to the high level of support and resources they deserve, for as long as they need it.

In January of 2008, the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) separated from the Brain Injury Association of America and became an independent 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.