Six nonprofit organizations will receive a combined $150,000 from New York to expand outdoor recreational therapy programs for veterans, the state Department of Veterans’ Services announced on Veterans Day.
Each organization will receive $25,000 through the Veterans Outdoor Recreational Therapy Grant Program. The funding is intended to help nonprofits establish, expand or strengthen outdoor programs, including opportunities for veterans who face barriers to traditional recreation and wellness services.
The recipients are Battlefish Academy; Rockland Independent Living Center, known as BRiDGES; Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families; Guardian Revival; Veterans Rebuilding Life; and WNY Heroes.
The department said the programs will combine outdoor recreation with peer engagement and activities supporting physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Building access and connections
Commissioner Virans’ physical, emotional, mental and social needs. She described outdoor activities as opportunities to reconnect with others, rediscover a sense of purpose and build relationships beyond traditional service settings
Executive Deputy Commissioner Mark Sollohub said the six organizations bring experience working with the communities they serve and can help make outdoor recreation more accessible.
Deputy Counsel Benjamin Pomerance said shared activities and time with fellow veterans can help build trust and create connections to support. He said the grants are intended to help organizations reduce barriers and reach more people.
The nonprofit leaders described similar priorities. Battlefish Academy founder and director Andrew Beaudoin said the award would help sustain opportunities for veterans to relax, recharge and spend time outdoors.
Carlos Martinez, CEO and executive director of BRiDGES, emphasized access for veterans with different abilities and backgrounds. Dwyer Coalition Executive Director Gavin Walters said outdoor experiences can help veterans and their families build a sense of community and connection.
Guardian Revival CEO Kim Haight said the activities offer opportunities for personal growth as well as a change of scenery. Veterans Rebuilding Life co-founder and executive director Dre Popow pointed to isolation after military service and the value of bringing veterans together around a shared purpose.
WNY Heroes President and CEO Christopher Kreiger Sr. said the award would support the organization’s continuing work with the veterans it serves.
Outdoor Rx law shaped the grant program
The awards build on New York’s Outdoor Rx Act, enacted on Veterans Day in 2020. The law created a framework for examining veterans’ access to state parks, public lands and nature-based therapeutic opportunities.
After the law took effect, the department convened an Outdoor Rx Committee of public- and private-sector experts. Its 2021 report identified opportunities to strengthen partnerships, reduce participation barriers and expand programs, particularly for veterans with disabilities and people from underserved or historically marginalized communities.
The department said the grants put those recommendations into practice by directing money to organizations able to offer accessible outdoor experiences.
The state also has brought providers and advocates together through recreational therapy summits. Its first summit, held in June 2025 at the Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake, drew more than 120 people representing 42 organizations and agencies. A second summit in June 2026 expanded that collaboration among nonprofits, government agencies, health professionals and recreation providers.
Other support for veterans and families
The department placed the awards within a broader set of state investments in veterans’ services. It cited approximately $4.6 million awarded to 73 veterans organizations through three rounds of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program and expanded educational opportunities through the Veterans Tuition Award.
Other investments identified by the department include $350,000 for the Military Family Relief Fund in the 2025-26 state budget, $1.1 million in state suicide-prevention funding, and approximately $1 million in Justice for Heroes grants and multiyear commitments over the past five years. Justice for Heroes supports free legal help through New York law schools for justice-involved veterans, service members and military families.
The department also reported submitting 24,766 veterans’ claims and assisting 12,243 veterans in 2025, helping secure more than $3.19 million in retroactive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs payments.
Veterans, service members and military families can contact the Department of Veterans’ Services at 888-838-7697 or visit veterans.ny.gov to arrange an in-person or virtual meeting with an accredited benefits adviser. The department’s claims advocacy and benefits assistance are free.
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