The VetsConnection Podcast

Episode 37 - The Call On Me Foundation, Providing Short-Term Financial Support To The Families Of Veterans Who Have Passed Away Unexpectedly

• Scott McLean • Episode 37

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James Jackson, president of the Call on Me Foundation, shares an incredible story of transformation from his time in the Marine Corps to starting a powerful nonprofit. With heartfelt sincerity, he reveals the personal experiences and passions that led him to provide crucial support for families of veterans who have passed away unexpectedly. These families often face challenges in silence, and James, alongside ambassadors like Leslie, is creating a community through shared experiences and support. Our conversation explores his transition into the construction industry and the founding of the foundation in February 2023, driven by a mission to aid families affected by military suicides, including poignant stories like that of Greg Gillum's family.

Guiding us through the meticulous process of determining which families receive aid, James highlights the importance of assessing genuine need. The foundation's collaborations with other nonprofits, such as Tunnels to Towers, showcase the power of partnerships in enhancing support for veterans. Fundraising is a cornerstone of the foundation's efforts, with events like the September gathering at Cisco Brewery, an annual reunion, and the Memorial Day MURPH fitness challenge. These gatherings not only raise essential funds but also foster a sense of community and solidarity among veterans and their families.

As the conversation unfolds, James addresses the broader challenges facing nonprofits, such as securing donations and increasing awareness. By collaborating with organizations like One Man, One Mic Foundation and the Warrior Golf Academy, the foundation amplifies its impact, offering diverse resources like equine therapy and focusing on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) treatments. The episode wraps up with a powerful message on building bridges between foundations, emphasizing community connections, and includes a public service announcement with vital resources like 988 and 211 for veterans and their families.

Scott McLean:

Welcome to the podcast. I'm Scott McLean. My guest today is James Jackson. James is the president of the Call on Me Foundation, located in Green Acres, florida. How you doing, james?

James Jackson:

Doing well. Scott, how are you?

Scott McLean:

Good, good, good. Thanks for coming on the podcast, I appreciate you having me. All right, you're in the big pink couch.

James Jackson:

Yeah, that's nice, that's nice, right? Okay, there you go. Everybody loves the big pink couch.

Scott McLean:

He that's nice. It's nice, right. Okay, there you go. Everybody loves the big pink couch. He'll get his picture taken and then I'll post it all over social media afterwards. Might be the only pink couch he's ever sat on, I think. So probably all right. So, uh, let's get right into it, man. Um, so tell me a little about yourself. Tell us a little about yourself. Tell us a little about yourself where you're from and when you went into the military, what branch.

James Jackson:

Sure, okay, so I'm originally from Chesapeake, virginia, grew up there as soon as I graduated high school in 2006. I joined the Marine Corps, served in the Marine Corps for eight years. I was stationed in South Carolina and California, deployed to Iraq Al-Asad in 2008 to 2009. I was aviation ordnance. I worked on F-18s but went to school with a GI Bill and actually found another veteran organization called Operation New Uniform who works with veterans and their transition. So it helped me kind of gauge how I can present myself better for interviews and also networking. And all that actually helped me get connections to the construction industry, which I didn't even think I was interested in. So once I completed my degrees I ended up meeting somebody in my first construction company. They interviewed me, hired me and I'm still doing construction to this day. So it's definitely been a blessing and you know, working for some great companies and you know it's my work, family, you know. So it's been amazing.

James Jackson:

And eventually you know me and some buddies decided to start this nonprofit. So it originally started, I believe my buddy, scott and Tim. They started talking and then kind of cued me in on what they were thinking. But we just experienced too many suicides. It was. We just experienced, you know, too many suicides.

James Jackson:

We all have experienced somebody that we've worked with or known who has committed suicide, and one of the guys that we deployed with did the same, and so we started talking and we were like, how can we help? How can we, what can we do? We started researching all the organizations that are out there and it didn't. It didn't seem like, uh, there was anything that necessarily helped out the families. Uh, afterwards, um so we all started chit chatting on what we could do, brought a couple other guys in. So, um, uh, the main four of us that are, uh, are running the organization. Uh, is myself, uh, tim mcculloch, nick dasso and aaron mitchell. Um, so we, we all, you know, put our heads together. Try to figure out, uh, how we could help, uh, try and figure out the nonprofit road, how we got there which was definitely a lot of hurdles, a lot of lessons learned, mistakes and achievements as well.

James Jackson:

We got there and February 2023, we started the foundation, got approved by the IRS I believe it was about six months to a year later and so we're 501C3, and we've just been trying to kick ass ever since and we've helped three families. We've helped three families. So that's through. So what we do is we provide short-term financial assistance to families of veterans who pass away unexpectedly. It's primarily suicide, but it could be, you know, anything else that was unexpected. These families are losing their significant other, but also, you know, it could be a primary source of income or just additional source of income that you know they needed to help kind of keep their family together, and that's huge. So we're just trying to help out any way we can, and it's through public donations. So we try and gain the support of other organizations our community, uh, which and we try and build our, our community, our veteran community, and bring people together for the same same goal and, uh, it's been great so far. Um yeah.

Scott McLean:

Is there a particular incident that really set this off, cause there's usually a catalyst to something.

James Jackson:

So we, everybody with the foundation we've known, you know, at least one or two guys that have committed suicide, and the one that kind of really set it off was the first family that we actually helped, which was Greg Gillum. So his wife, leslie we knew her from the Marine Corps as well, but Greg deployed with us and we just had to do something. So we put this foundation together to help her out and she has a teenage boy. So we just had to do something and we started reaching out to everybody we knew, trying to get donations. We set up events. We set up our first event, which was in Beaufort, south Carolina, where we were first stationed.

James Jackson:

It was at a brewery. It was more so a reunion event. It was kind of like our first event kickoff event for the foundation, to kind of spread the word and just bring some people together. So it was great. Leslie joined us and we had our sergeant major there. We had, you know, a bunch of guys from our unit, people we deployed with and it was just a great time. And so Leslie's actually an ambassador now for the foundation and she helps out with outreach. But also the biggest part, I feel, is speaking to these other families Because their wives who lost their husband went through the same thing that she went through and she's the only one that can really speak to that and knows what they're going through and can relate and help them deal with the challenges that she dealt with and help them get past that.

Scott McLean:

So you're not just local. This reaches national, or it's national regional.

James Jackson:

So I mean we're, we're willing to help uh any veteran anywhere, but we're spread out throughout the the east coast. So I'm in florida, we have a guy in georgia, and new jersey and massachusetts okay, um, and we're, we're open to travel wherever we. We've held uh events in south carolina, new jersey, uh down here in florida and then also in in boston. We had one this past september where in massachusetts is he located? He's in. I can't, uh, I can't remember off that's okay, I had.

Scott McLean:

Actually. That's where I'm from, so I'm from boston, so just Sure. So people reach out to you. Now how do they hear about you? Is it word of mouth? Do you have a like? Since this is one of those things, it's kind of very, very niche right, right and so how do?

James Jackson:

people hear about you, so mainly through social media, word of mouth. So we try and reach out to other organizations that have similar missions as ours. We reach out to our community, ask them to spread the word by sharing posts, and that's our main platform is social media.

Scott McLean:

I think the networking is a big one, also because I think all these foundations, nonprofits, run into this. And well, I didn't know about you until you reached out and we started talking. Well, now you're a resource for me and my foundation. And I'm going to pass the word on to others, because that's a pretty noble cause. You know the families. We don't like that. The veteran gets into the situation where they end up taking their own life.

James Jackson:

But it's the aftermath of it that needs attention, Exactly, and you know, to your point. There it's. You know we're advocates of mental health. You know we want to stop suicide, obviously, but we don't want to be, you know, an organization that has a need, you know, but it's still happening and we've got to do something. We've got to join forces. We've got to join forces, We've got to help each other out. And, yeah, you want to be there to support whoever is in need or is going through a tough time, but unfortunately, it continues to happen. So we've got to be there to help these families out. So what's your website?

Scott McLean:

I'll say this a couple times because this is important your website, thecallonmefoundationcom Callonmefoundationcom, and I think it's important to at least take a look at it. If you're a listener, go and take a look at the website.

James Jackson:

It's one of those ones.

Scott McLean:

It'll stick with you, because now it's a resource that I think we all should know about. It's a resource that I think we all should know about. So all of this costs money and fundraisers. Before I get to that, how do you it's?

Scott McLean:

kind of a tough question in a sense but I'm sure you have the answer, and I don't know how to put it in any other way other than how do you vet families that request? Because it's impossible to help everybody, which now that must be a very tough decision for you and your board to make, absolutely so how?

James Jackson:

if you don't mind. Sure, yeah, and we do have criteria that is in our bylaws, actually and we have to ask a few questions whether it's going to be the person that is connected to them or we're able to connect with the spouse. Sometimes it's harder, you know, going that route, but, uh, we need to. They need to be veteran, um, they need to uh have a need, uh, so I mean that to to that aspect of it. You know, if, if somebody is out there, it doesn't doesn't necessarily need the help, you know we'd like to understand that, because then there's other families out there who actually do need the assistance and we, you know, like to help them if we can. So, and then it also has to be, you know, an unexpected death, so primarily suicide, but you know it could be anything else, an accident that happens and now they're gone and you know insurance isn't covering it or something along those lines.

Scott McLean:

Oh, so scenarios start to pop up.

James Jackson:

Yeah, there's a lot of different scenarios there are a lot of different scenarios, but you know, we're not investigating.

James Jackson:

You know the criteria of, you know the accident, but you know we've had people reach out to us and it's like oh, you know, my father was sick, he had an illness and he passed away and in that circumstance, you know, that's not really in line with our bylaws and our mission. You know, obviously we, you know we'd love for you to get some support, but I think that there's some other organizations or other benefits that you can approach that might help you out better, right?

Scott McLean:

Are there any foundations that you guys kind of collaborate with, or is it just kind of?

James Jackson:

So we haven't really connected with too many other nonprofit foundations that we collaborate with. Connected with too many other nonprofit foundations that we collaborate with, we've done some outreach, attended some events here and there. We're working on a couple avenues of other nonprofits that maybe we can partner with so that could be a future opportunity there. We have coordinated with Tunnels to Towers. They did a 5K event in Boston, where we also had our event at Cisco Brewery at the Seaport. So we collaborated with them, we did the 5K, they had our logo up and then a lot of the people that attended the 5K came to our event afterwards and we've also received a legacy award from Tunnels to Towers as well. So they're a great organization, great people to work with. But as far as other foundations, that's really the extent of it for now.

Scott McLean:

I just want to touch on something you just said. You said the seaport area of Boston. Well, when I was growing up it didn't look anything like that.

James Jackson:

It was nice. It was pretty crazy that there's a brewery right in the middle of downtown.

Scott McLean:

Yeah, it was pretty crazy without that building, all those buildings there growing up, but that's another story. So fundraisers, right? Well, first of all, I want to say, if you're a nonprofit, and you're listening to this, or if you're a veteran, or if you're a spouse, family member or friend of a veteran, this is a great resource to know.

Scott McLean:

I think it's very important. There's not many of them out there that are doing this and I think this is at least take note of this foundation, because it unfortunately might arise where you'll be like how can we help the family? Well, go to callonmefoundationcom and you have a chance, a resource we'll call it a resource for at least advice or a way out to help a family member, but I think it's really important.

James Jackson:

So take note of that if you're listening.

Scott McLean:

And yeah, so fundraisers, I suppose, are they done?

James Jackson:

on an event like on a situation by situation.

Scott McLean:

Do you have them X amount times like? Three a year, or you know then kind of bank roll, the future, or how do you do that?

James Jackson:

So obviously we're always pushing, you know, raising money, because that's the prime driver for our foundation the families that we've helped we create campaigns for, and then we also have events throughout the year. So we're kind of trying to lock down a cycle for the year. The seaport, I think, is one that's going to be recurring, so each September we're probably going to be doing that. I'm pretty sure we're going to be doing it in 2025. We really loved it. Cisco Brewery was great. They were very helpful. It was a great venue.

James Jackson:

We are doing our reunion event again in April. So so that was our first event, our kickoff event that we did, uh, and this is going to be the second one, uh, so the air show is also that weekend and we got a table at the air show as well. So, uh, so we're going to be trying to spread the word at the air show, uh, and then we're also going to have our reunion on that that friday, right, uh, before the air show. And, uh, we did do a murph event, uh, for memorial day. Uh, it's a small event, uh, but we did get uh a gym to do a virtual event for us as well to help raise some money. So that could be a possibility we're still trying to figure out if that's what's a MRF.

James Jackson:

So it's the Lieutenant Michael Murphy, the Navy SEAL, that passed. They do a fitness event called the MRF, so it's like a run push-ups, pull-ups. It's just an exercise event so we got some people together at a park in Greenacres and also had a virtual so is there?

Scott McLean:

I suppose there is a spot on your website for people to donate. There is, yeah, there is.

James Jackson:

Right on the main page there's a donate button and we also do have a recurring donation program called the Support Battalion that we're trying to push. It just helps the donations flow through that can help with these families and everything that comes through goes towards these families. We just finished assisting our third family recently, and you know I say finished but that's, you know, sending money to them. But it's never finished. We keep them, we keep in touch with them. You know we try and include them in future events and then you know constantly see, you know what else we can do to help out and just be there.

Scott McLean:

Yeah, yeah, know what else we can do to help out? Um, and just just be there, yeah, yeah, um, I see, you have a a resource kind of section on your website? Yes, right, um, I would love if you put my podcast on, because my podcast. My website is really a big resource page, absolutely Absolutely.

Scott McLean:

I'd love to do that, you know I'd love to just say, hey, take it, put it out there, because everybody that comes on here gets an episode and then their logo and the website, so it's kind of a unique resource page.

James Jackson:

Yeah that would be great.

Scott McLean:

Whereas people can listen to you before they, you know. Then when they go to your website they're like oh, now I know kind of get an idea of what it's about.

James Jackson:

Sure, you know.

Scott McLean:

So yeah, I would be glad on it if you could put it on there.

James Jackson:

Okay, yeah, for sure so other people can reach out you know, Absolutely yeah and I did notice on your website that you guys had a connection with Haven for Heroes.

Scott McLean:

Yeah, yeah.

James Jackson:

So, yeah, we connected with them. Johnny Shway, I worked with a couple different people and they, you know, wanted us to put their logo on and help us out with one of our events, sure, and we've been trying to see what else we can do in the future.

James Jackson:

And then you know, I mentioned Tunnels to Towers. And we have a few others, like Reviven, who donated laptops to us which we've forwarded on to some of our veteran families to help them out, because some of them have kids, they're in school and whatnot. And we also have Idaho Asphalt Supply and Spolly Specialized Products and Logistics, who have helped us out with stuff for events, like either merchandise or equipment that we needed for some of those events. And then Warrior Reunion Foundation. We're trying to work with them on our future April events for the reunion. So what they do is they sponsor reunions for veterans. What they do is they sponsor reunions for veterans. So whether it be a hike, you know a brewery or you know some other kind of activity, they help put it together and sponsor that.

Scott McLean:

Wow, okay, all right. Well, if you know any of them that might want to come on the podcast, let them know, give them my number, for sure. I think the more people that come on on, the more people will know about this. So let me ask you about this. So now we're going to get to like a foundation thing, like and we kind of touched on this before the episode the ask right?

James Jackson:

the ask what?

Scott McLean:

what was your initial take on being, you know, the foundation and asking for donations, as opposed to where you are now?

James Jackson:

is it?

Scott McLean:

is it any easier, is it?

James Jackson:

um, it's kind of uh I guess, uh, not, you know it's.

James Jackson:

um, it is depending on the person, I guess, depending on who you're asking, you know, especially if they understand your take on it and you know what we're all about, that's definitely easier. But as far as trying to sell what we're doing and helping some people understand that you know what they donate is going to make a difference, that's still somewhat of a challenge. A lot of people are fully on board, but then it's trying to get into and figure out how we can get there just because of you know, little donations help, of course, and that gets us rolling. But you know, if we can get bigger eyes and ears on what we're doing, then that'll help us continue our mission.

Scott McLean:

Absolutely. The ask doesn't get easier. You just get better at it. Sure, yeah, that's what I've come to that conclusion. It's never easy. You just gotta get better at it and eventually I guess it all just what's the most they can say is no right.

Scott McLean:

Absolutely. So let's go back to what we talked about earlier other foundations and collaboration, what we talked before, the show, the episode, and we're definitely you, one man, one Mike Foundation, and there's a couple others that I spoke to that we're kind of going to try to work our own coalition and help each other out organically, get to know each other, and I think more foundations should do that Absolutely. I agree, 100, I think it's.

Scott McLean:

You know, a lot of foundations have business, business and they and they, they're looking forward and they're like you know, hey, we met this place, but you know, life goes on and things happen. But I think foundations have to make a conscious effort to get to know each other. Like I love your cause, yeah, so why would I not want to be involved with that right? You know it doesn't run into mine.

Scott McLean:

It doesn't have anything to do with mine, it's just. I just think it's a better way to work in this world of nonprofits, and so I look forward to One man, one Mic Foundation, and Call on Me and a few others Warrior Golf Academy.

James Jackson:

I interviewed. Yeah, I listened to that. Jonathan, yeah, I listened to a few of them.

Scott McLean:

And I appreciate that.

James Jackson:

You know, I didn't know?

Scott McLean:

Oh, you were those three Donros I got.

James Jackson:

I did not know about a lot of them and the resources. I know there's a lot of resources out there, but I've done a lot of research and the ones that you interviewed I never even came across Right. I think it was the Herd Foundation that you're a part of Equine. Therapy. Yeah, that's amazing. I mean I'd love to be a part of that. I mean I think it's really cool and it's a really great way to help veterans out. And then the Golf Academy.

Scott McLean:

Warrior Golf Academy. Yeah, Very cool.

James Jackson:

And there were a few others that I listened to. I know one. I can't remember the name, but one of the guys owns a gym.

James Jackson:

Yeah that's Wade Waddock. Yeah, so I listened to that one. And then also the 22 Project. I listened to that one as well. Amazing, it is amazing, yes, the resources that are out there. I mean, you hear about, you know, ptsd treatments, you hear about TBI, but I really don't think that there's a huge focus on TBI, right, and you know, when I was going through my own counselings, tbi is something that's not really talked about, and I think there was some place mentioned that was on the west coast of Florida. It's like that's it, that's all you have for that condition. And then these guys are 22 project, are doing something pretty great and, uh, I think the the more of us that can spread the word and and get together, then the better for our community.

Scott McLean:

Oh, yeah, yeah, so all right. When else anything else you want to talk about, anything? That you want to get out there to the podcast universe. Uh, to the podcast universe.

James Jackson:

I mean, if you could spread the word. We really need the help, we need our voice to be heard and these families' voices to be heard, and you know there's so many families out there, just like the three that we've helped, and you know there's going to be a lot more, uh, sadly, um, you know we, we want this plague to end, but it's not. It's not losing any traction, right?

Scott McLean:

so, um, anything that you know you can contribute, or even as a share, a like on social media we're on facebook, instagram, linkedin anything helps well, I'll do my best to spread the word because, again, this is a very noble and unique foundation in what you do and I think everybody listening and I I say this if you like what they're doing, if, if you like what they're doing, if you feel what they're doing at the Call on Me Foundation is touching you, give them money. Give them money. That's what helps them, that's what helps those families and as they say every.

Scott McLean:

It used to say every penny counts. Now it has to be a dollar.

James Jackson:

Yeah, inflation.

Scott McLean:

I could get political right now, but I won't. Every dollar counts and again, this is a great cause. Help the families and go to their website, call on me, foundationcom. Give them money. Did I say that already? I think I did. I think I did Well with that. Anything else you want to? I think that's it All, right All right, and James actually for future podcast guests. James brought a couple T-shirts. He's kind of he's giving me a T-shirt, hint, hint.

Scott McLean:

I got some pretty cool hats too, and he's giving me hats. Future podcast guests. Thank you, that's so cheesy. Well, anyways, again I can't say this enough I look forward to for our foundations getting to know each other better in 2025. Any help I could ever give you reach out to me. I'll do everything I can to help you. Love the cause. And with that, I just want to say, as I usually do well, we built another bridge today. Very important, all the bridges are important. These bridges, and that's the thing about these foundations we're all islands unto ourselves sometimes. That's why I say we built another bridge, because now we just bridge two foundations.

James Jackson:

And you're gonna work on bridges right yeah, they need maintenance, which is a relationship so, uh, we're gonna make that happen and, as I say, listen to the end.

Scott McLean:

There's a good public service announcement that basically covers everything for veterans, family members of of veterans, friends of veterans, even first responders, even civilians. Listen to it. It's 30 seconds long. It's very informative. 988-211. And with that, you will hear me next week with another episode.

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