Our mission is to serve the Warfighter Community through programs and services that strengthen the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual independence of our servicemembers, wounded combat Veterans, their Caregivers, families, and Allies who served alongside them in combat.
Sarah Verardo assumed the role of CEO in 2017. Throughout her tenure, The Independence Fund has been a stalwart in financial stewardship, donor trust, and transparency.
Drawing from her personal experience as a Caregiver to her husband, a catastrophically wounded Veteran, Sarah intimately understands the challenges endured by Veterans and their families. She leads with compassion, empathy, and a dedication to empowering this community of heroes.
Sep 10, 2026
The next Feeding Independence event will take place at the South Charlotte VA Clinic, providing Veterans with groceries and other essentials to combat food insecurity among our nation’s heroes.
Jun 7, 2026
This year, The Independence Fund hosted several wounded heroes and their families for a retreat aboard a Disney Cruise. This fun and fully accessible therapeutic retreat was made possible by the Kappa Alpha chapter at High Point University.
Dec 1, 2025
Our Family Program held a Dollywood retreat for Veterans, Caregivers, and their loved ones, reinforcing familial bonds, and providing space to rest and recharge, while finding community and peer support with other Veteran families.
Amplifying the voices of the Veteran community and supporting real legislative reform.
Supporting the ongoing resettlement and cultural needs of our wartime Afghan Allies.
Empowering military Caregivers with resources and support while meeting the entire family’s need for comprehensive healing.
Assisting Veterans with post-military benefits and services.
Fighting Veteran food insecurity across the nation with donations of groceries and home essentials.
Restoring the physical independence of wounded, injured, and ill Veterans of all eras.
Fostering mental health and wellness by reuniting combat units to prevent suicide and build resilience through camaraderie.
Providing experiences that re-engage wounded, injured, and ill Veterans with hobbies like hunting and shooting.
Training law enforcement to de-escalate and de-criminalize Veterans facing mental health crises.
