Last friday I was in Milwaukee. for my husband’s triathlon  a city I have never been too before. In addition to wanting to check out the sights, some breweries, and of course, some inspiring people making a difference. My search lead me to an amazing lady named Patricia Clausson and the non-profit she founded, The Starfish Foundation.

Patricia grew up in a military family as a Sergeant Major’s daughter. So she already had an innate understanding as to the inner working of military families. At an impressionable age she  lost a close friend to suicide in Vietnam and then shortly after her boyfriend to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when he returned from Vietnam as well.  Her life course was already set from these tragedies and rather than having them define her, she defined them.

In 1998 Patricia began the Starfish Center to help all individuals with emotional healing and in time the center became the non-profit, called The Starfish Foundation. Its mission is to support veterans programs that heal the emotional, moral and spiritual wounds of combat. They work together to guide the wounded to the peace that heals and strengthens their hearts.

Whether you are in LA, New York or anywhere in between people are good. Time and again I see those who take their pain and turn it into fuel to help others. That is a beautiful thing wherever you may be. Milwaukee was a great city and full of truly great people.

Charity Matters.

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