Mr. Brett D’Alessandro of Jersey City, New Jersey, served six years in the Marine Corps and returned home after a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan, struggling to determine his next steps in civilian life. He also began dealing with what he later recognized as PTSD. Because of a chance meeting with a homeless veteran, Brett started Backpacks for Life, dedicated to serving homeless and at-risk veterans by distributing backpacks filled with critical supplies. Mentorship is also a key part of the program, which has personally helped him heal, along with countless others. The organization has distributed nearly 12,000 backpacks in 36 states and has worked one-on-one with 1,000 veterans. Brett once met General Gray who encouraged him to continue this important work.

“It was a lot returning home, I saw some Marines committing suicide and I wanted to do something,” he said. “Through Backpacks for Life I found my purpose, which is caring for other people, other veterans.”

“It was a lot returning home, I saw some Marines committing suicide and I wanted to do something,” he said. “Through Backpacks for Life I found my purpose, which is caring for other people, other veterans.”