Nonprofit Spotlight

Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation

Supporting Armed Forces, Veterans and First Responders

Crowd-at-RFASWashington state is a flood with almost 45,000 registered and legit not-for-profit organizations. Their missions are wide ranging, but all attempt to address a significant community need, often relying completely on donor funding and an active cadre of community volunteers to do so.

For many residents, the nonprofit world can seem like a confusing, amorphous bag of missions, volunteers, fundraising, staff and activities, often seeming to overlap. But these groups provide or supplement essential and usually underfunded resources, direct services and programs that address critical community needs, bringing added value their service areas and hope to those who need it most.

HuddleNonprofit Spotlight hopes to provide a snapshot for you as readers, residents, potential volunteers, donors and clients with the basics, the info you need to make an educated decision on whether to support or participate. These are often community-based organizations, so you can bet that both will be highly valued and greatly appreciated. Check them out, ask questions, stop by, call or email for further info. They’ll be delighted to hear from you!

This Month: Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation

  • ptsdfoundation.org
  • Founder: Leslie Mayne
  • Board president: Seth Storset
  • Executive director: Steve Easton

LabyrinthThe Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation supports military veterans and first responders struggling under the weight of trauma in finding an alternative and lasting approach to mental health and wellness. The organizations is committed to bringing hope and healing to first responders, military members, veterans and their families dealing with post-traumatic stress and combat trauma.

Mission: “Help veterans and first responders throughout the Pacific Northwest to access effective, long-term solutions to transform post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth.”

“I am proud to support and serve a foundation like the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation because it is local and based on turning loss, pain and struggle to a platform for growth and healing for our veterans, first responders and their families,” says Mickey Traugutt, CEO of Washington Patriot Construction and former PTSD Foundation board member. “As a combat veteran, service never stops, and I’m able to continue to contribute to making a difference in how we take care of our service members and first responders, their mental health and their growth through it.”

Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation

Key Programs and Services

Mind, body and spirit workshops: Delivering courage and leadership summits, eliminating barriers for veterans to receive equine therapy and counseling and smoothing the way for many local veterans and first responders to attend a progressive, week-long retreat that offers combat stress recovery and focuses on post traumatic growth.

Monthly huddles: Programs include Matters of the Heart, a spousal support group; and Heroes Huddle, hosted to bring hope, connection and a sense of community to those who have served.

Warrior Path: A transformative, lifelong, post-traumatic, growth-based training program for combat veterans and first responders.

Awareness and special events: These include Swing for a Soldier, Race for a Soldier, Prayer Breakfast and Pull for a Soldier.

Location: 3733 Rosedale Street NW, Suite 100, Gig Harbor
Contact: 253.432-6502 or lesliem@ptsdfoundation.org
Donate: ptsdfoundation.org/donate