Heal. Support. Empower.
We Support Disabled Veterans, Children facing mental and physical challenges, and children facing cancer.
Who We Are
Our Mission
Project Healing Tides Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization proudly serving the Hampton Roads community. Our mission is to provide meaningful, healing experiences on the water for veterans, individuals with disabilities, children facing challenges, and their families.
Our captain is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed 50-Ton Master Captain, a local Sea Tow captain, and a substitute teacher within our local school division. As a retired United States Marine, he understands the unique experiences and challenges faced by our military community and veterans. He also brings extensive experience working with children and adults with special needs, creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all participants.
At Project Healing Tides Foundation, we believe that time on the water can promote healing, build confidence, create lasting memories, and provide a sense of peace and connection. Through our programs, we strive to make these opportunities accessible to those who can benefit from them most.
Why Project Healing Tides Foundation Matters
Life can present challenges that affect individuals and families in ways that are often difficult to overcome alone. Veterans, children with disabilities, individuals facing serious illnesses, and their caregivers frequently experience physical, emotional, and mental stress. Project Healing Tides Foundation exists to provide an opportunity for respite, healing, and connection through meaningful experiences on the water.
The therapeutic benefits of being outdoors, spending time on the water, and participating in recreational fishing have been shown to reduce stress, improve mental well-being, build confidence, and strengthen relationships. For many of our participants, a day on the water offers more than just recreation—it provides hope, encouragement, and a chance to create lasting memories with loved ones.
By removing financial barriers and offering these experiences at no cost to eligible participants, Project Healing Tides Foundation ensures that healing opportunities are accessible to those who need them most. Our mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves moments of peace, joy, and connection, and that the simple act of getting on the water can make a lasting impact on a person's life.
Through the generosity of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, we are able to turn meaningful experiences into powerful moments of healing, one trip at a time.
Why Work With Us
Veteran Suicide Awareness
Every day, far too many veterans struggle with invisible wounds that often go unseen. The challenges of military service, combat exposure, physical injuries, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and the difficult transition to civilian life can leave many feeling isolated and hopeless.
At Project Healing Tides Foundation, we believe that healing begins with connection. While a day on the water cannot erase life's struggles, it can provide something many veterans desperately need—peace, purpose, camaraderie, and hope.
Our fishing and boating experiences are designed to create a supportive environment where veterans can reconnect with nature, build meaningful relationships, and enjoy time away from the stresses of everyday life. Sharing stories, laughter, and quiet moments on the water reminds our heroes that they are not alone.
Veteran suicide awareness is about more than statistics—it's about recognizing the value of every life, encouraging conversations about mental health, and ensuring that no veteran feels forgotten. Together, as a community, we can help reduce stigma, offer support, and create opportunities for healing.
If you are a veteran who is struggling, please know that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There is hope, and there are people who care.
Together, we can make waves of hope and healing—one veteran, one family, and one fishing trip at a time.
Our Team
President: Jennifer Woody
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Contact us : projecthealingtides@gmail.com
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Treasurer: Lisa Hofstra
Vice President: Melissa Sadler
Secretary: Lindsey Caccavale