The City of Morgan Hill remains one of the only two cities in the San Francisco Bay Area that continues to have our all-day events surrounding the Fourth of July. Our independence Day Celebration includes a parade, family festival, fireworks and entertainment show, patriotic sing and other activities. In 2014, the events drew over 150,000 people and the parade itself is the largest privately organized parade in all of Northern California and the official parade of Santa Clara County. The run’s profits are used to support Morgan Hill’s Independence Day Celebration.

Our chapters and communities deliver consistent, local opportunities for veterans and the community to connect through physical and social activity. And it is so much more than running. They host regular fitness activities, social gatherings, and participate in local races and events together. Veterans can also develop their leadership skills by serving as a volunteer leader in their local chapter. These programs are at the core of Team RWB’s mission.

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001 and their families. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment.

With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, WWP is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. Offering a variety of programs and services, WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war.

DreamPower Horsemanship is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that has been serving children, teens and adults in the South Bay Area since 2002. Since its beginning in 2009, DreamPower Horses for Warriors has provided equine facilitated psychotherapy and support services to more than 1,000 U.S. military veterans and their families. Horses for Warriors offers weekly groups for Pre-9/11 veterans, Post-9/11 veterans, women veterans and a bi-weekly Combat Vet Family Support Group. DreamPower staff also offer individual psychotherapy for the treatment of trauma (including EMDR) and moral injury, as well couple and family therapy, and Horses for Warriors Family Day at the Ranch. Veterans are able to ride horseback, groom horses, and learn carriage driving, as well as enjoy the beautiful, safe and peaceful ranch environment with other veterans. All services to veterans are offered at no cost to the veteran because all veterans’ services are supported by donations and grants from a community that cares.

Founded in January 2010, Operation Freedom Paws is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that matches dogs with individuals who have Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Complex-Post Traumatic Stress (CPTS) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms, or other physical, neurological, psychological or mobility needs.

We train the individual to train their own dog, and then certify them together as a service dog team in a 48-week program. Most of the dogs come from rescue shelters. This unique opportunity enables our clients to feel safe and secure, and to manage their day-to-day lives. The very special therapeutic canine-human relationship helps them get back out in their communities and begin to view their future with renewed hope.