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MISSION

Warrior Wellness Solutions (WWS) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization providing personalized Functional Medicine Health Coaching, Rehabilitative and Adaptive Exercise, Mindfulness, Stress Management, Resiliency training, and wellness education to Wounded, Ill and Injured Warriors, their families and caregivers.  Our programs are tailored to veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illnesses or wound co-incident to their military service.

WHO WE ARE

Warrior Wellness Solutions (WWS) is a Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill, North Carolina based GuideStar Platinum rated 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and maintains fiduciary transparency with third party auditing.  WWS has received Letters of Support validating our programming from the Institute of Functional Medicine and the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy.  WWS has achieved recognition as an America’s Warrior Partnership Four Star Alliance Program of Excellence, and as a Great Nonprofits “Top-Rated Nonprofit”.   WWS has provided integrative health and wellness education and training to thousands of Wounded, Ill, and Injured military service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, medical and support staff, and was recognized with an award for their service with the US Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment.  Warrior Wellness Solutions received the 2020 Newman’s Own Award for being an instrumental organization in the fight to support our nation’s military and veteran communities.  The WWS team was recognized in a private ceremony by General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Fisher House Foundation , Military Times, Newman's Own, and Newman's Own Foundation.  Given our nationwide wellness industry connections and relationships, we are able to scale our work to any level we are able to obtain funding and support for.  

"A Functional Medicine–trained health coach is an extremely valuable member of a collaborative care team who help patients make lasting lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, stress reduction, sleep, and other modifiable lifestyle factors.  Health coaches makes the clinician’s treatment protocol more effective and improves patient compliance and outcomes by providing individualized support.

credit The Functional Medicine Coaching Academy 

"The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, evidence-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes." 

credit The Institute for Functional Medicine

There are 700,000 combat veterans in the United States.  Many of our nation’s wounded, ill and injured (WII) warriors struggle physically, emotionally and socially to find viable support to help them redefine a life of mission and purpose and to achieve optimal health and wellness. The Veterans Administration and Department of Defense offer training and education however, services that address chronic disease, lifestyle, overall health and wellness and restore a sense of purpose are lacking.

Warrior Wellness Solutions (WWS), at no cost to the client, fills this void through:

  • Improvement of physical and mental health, reducing dependency on medications, ultimately mitigating risk of suicide

  • Rehabilitative exercise programs to reduce chronic pain and inflammation, improve tissue repair and restore functional movement

  • Reduce and mitigate the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS), blast overpressure, heavy metals toxicity, chronic stress, environmental exposures and sleep deprivation

“For Warriors and Families, By Warriors and Families”

Executive Director

Elijah Sacra

Mission

OUR SERVICES*
*Only Available to those currently enrolled in our Initial 6-month Program or Alumni of our Program

Your donations to our programs

honor the fallen and empower

the wounded.

90% of your donation goes to providing services to a Wounded, Ill, or Injured Warrior

Each Warrior and Caregiver is assigned to a WWS trainer, health and life coach.

They receive between six weeks to six months of rehabilitative services with perpetual ongoing support.

By the Numbers since November 10, 2009*

*as of December 31, 2018

Our Services

"Honor the Fallen, Empower the Wounded.

Always Faithful to those who have paid the most.

Non sibi sed patriae,

Semper Fidelis"

CONTACT US

MEET THE WARRIORS

My name is "Anonymous", and I am a United States Marine. I was medically retired from Wounded Warrior Battalion East on XX XX, 20XX, after just under seven years of service.  The reason for this acknowledgment is simple, yet it is of the utmost urgency for many veterans; a true matter of life and death. Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide due to the long-suffering battle with post-traumatic stress. For every one serviceman killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are three mortally wounded: loss of limb, permanent function of appendages, eyesight, and so forth. As a whole, many of the veteran community feel lost or forgotten, definitely alone. Many veterans are turning to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with the trauma they endured.

 

I speak now on behalf of an organization that literally changed my life personally. When I met Elijah Sacra, the founder of Warrior Wellness Solutions, he offered a hand into my darkness, the battle I could not leave behind, and said that he would be there and I would not be alone. Since that time, he has become like a brother to me. This friendship had brought to my heart an epiphany that I could start to recover, I could heal, and, though my life would never be the same again, I could find some semblance of

peace.

Clarissa Kussin, the Director of Operations for Warrior Wellness Solutions, taught me that what I eat would have a profound impact on my recovery process. They took time away from their families and own lives to give me months of personal one-on-one time. Elijah used to work with me by Skype, because I rarely left home. With the help of Elijah, Clarissa, Alvaro Matta, and Clay Burwell, I can say I changed my recovery and my life.

No other non-profit would drive three hours and sit with a Marine at his house to help him understand how to train his body slowly in order to heal like Elijah did. When I first came to get help from Warrior Wellness Solutions I could barely stand on one leg. Today I’m a registered yoga teacher, and have lost 30 pounds. When I was in the Marines, I was on upwards of 16 different medications. Today, with proper guidance from Clarissa on detoxification and nutrition and good communication with my medical support, I can say I’m on a fraction of what I was. My blood pressure is down tremendously, and my cholesterol is nearly perfect. Most importantly, through my diet and ability to train my body in a way I never imagined, I can handle the rigors of school again.

I started with one class, and had to start with developmental classes in nearly every subject. While I did use disability accommodations in some cases, gradually I was able to return to class full time and earned my associate of science degree with a 4.0 GPA.  Following that I was accepted to both North Carolina State and Campbell University. I am currently attending Campbell, earning my bachelor’s in Kinesiology with a focus of Pre-Physical Therapy. I plan on applying to a graduate program for PT in the next two years. All of this is directly related to what started with Warrior Wellness Solutions.

I went from being a Marine who was emotionally and physically bankrupt, waiting to be released from the Marines, with no real plans, to potentially being a Doctor of Physical Therapy, so that one day I canreturn to my community of veterans and help them as Warrior Wellness Solutions helped me.

Sgt.  Anonymous, USMC-Ret.

Going to the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion was the best thing to ever happen to me, and the organization who impacted my life the most was Warrior Wellness Solutions.  You have saved my life and changed my entire way of thinking. You relieved all the hatred, anger, and negativity from my body and proved to me that no physical or mental injury should prevent me from living the life I want, which is to be: active, peaceful, humble, positive, healthy, strong, intelligent, and

open minded.

 

I wish I were still on active duty; I could really go far now. It's hard to accept, but that life is behind me.But I need you all to know how much of a positive impact you made on me. You folks have sacrificed something for me, and it is an appreciation I would love for everyone to understand.

 

So just know one thing, your organization has changed one person’s life, my life. And I know that counts for something. And I love you and thank you as I continue to help myself in controlling the way war and other tragedies have changed my life.

You will never, ever be forgotten. You are my heroes.

Lt. Cpl. Anthony Tambellini,

Purple Heart Recipient, USMC Combat Veteran

After being blown up in Afghanistan by an IED, I received holistic nutrition, rehabilitative exercise, andmindful yoga therapy from Warrior Wellness Solutions. These tools created a paradigm shift in my life and gave me the opportunity to reintegrate and successfully stay in the fight. There’s nothing else I’d rather do. I love being a Marine.

Cpl. Michael Politowicz, USMC

Combat-Wounded Purple Heart Recipient

MARSOC / USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion East Alumni , Camp Lejeune

Note: Cpl. Michael Politowicz is part of the rare 1% of combat-wounded service members who return to active duty.

I don’t know where I would be without the support of Warrior Wellness Solutions.  After just six months of Integrative Nutrition and Foundation Training I am now off all of my pain medications and no longer use a cane.  My mobility and over life attitude have improved dramatically and that has transferred to my family, my wife, and my three daughters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sgt. Brett Goins , USMC

USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion East, Camp Lejeune

The Training & Education programs that WWS facilitate have made a resounding impact on the

healing of Wounded Warriors in my command at Wounded Warrior Battalion East.

                                                                                                                                          Lt. Colonel, USMC

1440

Warriors attended our legacy 

Warrior Wellness Solutions Workshops on military bases

Warriors + Caregivers participated in the 1:1 Warrior Wellness Solutions Functional Medicine Coaching Program

720

96

Warriors + Caregivers attended our legacy

Healthy Cooking Classes

1800

Warriors + Caregivers particpated in ongoing

on-demand Health Coaching

1120

 Warriors participated in our legacy Yoga for Vets Program, Mindful Yoga Therapy classes, and Yoga Nidra classes

85

Warriors participated in the Warrior Life Coaching Program

75

Warriors participated in

Self Defense classes

320

Warriors and their Caregivers participated in our legacy Seasonal Detox cohorts

96

Warriors and their Caregivers participated in our legacy Functional Movement Classes

115

Active duty staff, medical providers, and resource providers for active-duty WII were educatedand trained on how to support WII and their families

67,500

 Practitioner volunteer hours donated

$5 Million +

Total Fair Market Value of Services delivered to Wounded, Ill, and Injured Warriors and their Caregivers since our inception 

IMPACT $30 Million + *

Total Estimated Health Care Savings to the VA / DOD for our Investment:

*The bottom line: Every dollar invested in our interventions yield an approximate $6 in health care savings.

The Rand Corporation examined 10-year data from Fortune 100 wellness programming.  More specifically, the Rand Wellness Programs Study examined two aspects of wellness programs: the lifestyle management component and the disease management component.  Interestingly, disease management was responsible for 86 percent of the hard health care cost- savings, generating $136 in savings per member, per month, and a 30 percent reduction in hospital admissions.

OUR TEAM

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
 

Warrior Wellness Solutions (WWS) is a team of experienced health and wellness practitioners dedicated to helping those who have risked their lives and sacrificed their health and wellbeing for our country.  Our team profoundly believes in the power of intensive education balanced with custom integrated health strategies. Our Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) approach supports the veteran’s reintegration and wellness journey back to their families and communities. By creating an intimate, one-on-one relationship, the WWS team successfully engages participants to connect and share their struggles

related to battle trauma and injuries enabling the process of emotional healing.

Elijah Sacra

Executive Director

Clarissa Kussin

Director of Operations

Practitioners
 
Board of Directors
Our Team
Success Stories
Contact Us
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