Gary Sinise is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor who is known for his television role as Mac Taylor on the “CSI” franchise, but he is probably best known for his role as Sergeant Dan in the box office hit movie, “Forrest Gump.”
That role and Gary’s love for his country sent him on a journey to help make a difference in the lives of veterans through his foundation and specifically through the RISE program.
RISE stands for “Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment.” It is a project born out of his own personal journey as he shifted his focus from himself to serving those around him. Sinise describes that journey in his New York Times bestseller, “Grateful American.”
When Sinise heard of Green Beret Sergeant Caleb Brewer, an Afghani vet who lost both legs in an IED explosion on his 31st birthday, it moved him.
Brewer suffered catastrophic injuries and complications, including blood clots, infections, and traumatic brain injury. The transition home challenge many soldiers but coming home so drastically different than when he deployed left him at a loss. Nothing was “normal” anymore.
Gary Sinise reached out to the wounded warrior and encouraged him to apply to the RISE program, which builds specially-adapted smart homes mortgage-free.
Once the application was approved, the community, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and its corporate partners went to work.
The resulting home is tailor-made for the vet and his family. The work Sinise does to help our heroes once they are home is incredible, and we are so grateful for his big heart!
