As the nation pauses to honor its heroes on Veterans Day, one Florida nonprofit is quietly making a difference for those who answered the call, paid the price, and face new battles at home.
The Wounded Veteran Relief Fund (WVRF), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, is a crucial safety net for the state’s nearly half-million wounded and disabled veterans. Founded in 2009, the WVRF provides emergency financial assistance and other services to qualified Florida veterans who served after the September 11 attacks and have been honorably discharged.
The group’s cornerstone program provides one-time financial grants of up to $1,500 to cover urgent living expenses. For some, that support prevents eviction; for others, it keeps the lights on long enough to find a new job or get back on their feet. Requests for assistance surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained high amid the current rise in housing and utility costs.
“Unfortunately, (caring for wounded and disabled veterans) should be a priority for government, but it’s currently not,” said WVRF Operations Director Nick Cannon. “So, we’re the ones who are tackling the issues every single day, ensuring that when that veteran finally does raise their hand and reaches out for help, we are ready to step in right away for that individual.”
So far in 2025, WVRF has provided about $1.6 million in total assistance to 1,145 veterans. Each case is handled individually, ensuring funds go directly to cover verified needs such as overdue utility bills, emergency rent, or medical costs. The organization works with Florida’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which refers veterans who qualify for help.
Four years ago, WVRF happened into a new line of service, one that has proven invaluable to its clients.
“In 2021, we had a veteran come into our office looking for dental care,” Cannon recalls. “Not knowing that 85 percent of veterans do not qualify for VA dental care, we said, ‘Wow, maybe we can do something about this.’ So in 2021, we partnered with one dentist here in West Palm Beach to service this one veteran, and then we started to grow.”
That act of compassion has blossomed into a statewide network. Today, WVRF partners with more than 300 private dental providers across Florida and has delivered dental services to more than 1,000 veterans.
“I’m sure we all have personal stories of that flickering dental pain,” Cannon says. “You don’t want to mess with it, maybe because you don’t want to spend the money. And then that one cavity turns into a total mouth restoration, and that $500 bill turns into a $10,000 bill.”
Beyond the cost savings, Cannon emphasizes that restoring a veteran’s smile can have profound psychological benefits, helping them feel confident about their appearance as they move through the civilian world and workforce.
The Wounded Veteran Relief Fund operates primarily through donations and fundraising events, ensuring that more than 80 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to programs that support veterans. As Veterans Day approaches, Cannon says he hopes Floridians will remember that supporting veterans is not just a once-a-year gesture — it’s a shared responsibility.
For more information or to support the Wounded Veteran Relief Fund, visit www.wvrf.org.
