Freedom Station
 | |
| Formation | 2006, San Diego, California |
|---|---|
| Type | non-profit 501c charitable organization |
| Location |
|
Key people | Sandy Lehmkuhler, President, Glenna Schmidt, Vice President |
| Website | www.freedomstation.org |
Freedom Station is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in San Diego, California whose mission is to assist recovering injured military service members who are awaiting their retirement or discharge from their respective branch of the United States military service.[1][2]
Freedom Station provides transitional housing along with career and educational guidance to medically retired or discharged military service members who have been injured or disabled during their service to the United States of America. Freedom Station is supported by volunteers and professionals who help these injured military service members with their transition to civilian life.[3][4][5]
In July 2008 the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station has been listed as tax-exempt.[1]
Freedom Station officially opened and welcomed its first military service members in May, 2011.
Since 2013, an annual holiday Give-A-Thon or Radiothon is held to raise funds to assists ill and injured service members to be flown home for the holidays. In 2020, more than $1.5 million was raised. Over $7 million has been raised by the Armstrong & Getty Radiothon since 2013.[6]
On August 8, 2022, the organization formally announced the acquisition of a third property designated for transitional housing, which was named Freedom Station III.[2] The donation of labor and materials resulted in the implementation of roof installations for cottages at Freedom Station III, thereby generating a savings of more than $100,000 for the nonprofit.[7][8] The North Park facility, which is made up of 12 units, was purchased for a little less than $5 million and opened on 22 January 2025.[9][10]
Finances
The Warrior Foundation Freedom Station reported total revenue of $5,871,477, total expenses of $2,504,754, and total assets of $24,744,852 for the fiscal year ending September 2024.[1] In 2025, its total revenue was $3,587,268 expenses for that year were $2,770,384, and total assets were $25,740,003.[1]
Awards
Freedom station was designated "charity of choice" for the 2011 Holiday Bowl with $1 of every game ticket sold, designated directly to the charity.[11][12]
Freedom Station was also the co-winner of the 2011 "San Diego County Non-Profit of the Year" by the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center. [13]
Charity Navigator lists Warrior Foundation Freedom Station as a Four-Star Charity (99% overall score).[2][14]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Warrior Foundation Freedom Station - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - 1 2 3 "Charity Navigator - Rating for Warrior Foundation Freedom Station". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ Brown, Dwayne (March 2, 2012). "Freedom Station Gives Injured Military Vets A Place To Call Home In San Diego". KPBS (TV).
- ↑ Yee, Promise (March 23, 2012). "Freedom Station helps injured troops". The Coast News.
- ↑ Steele, Jeanette (May 26, 2012). "Next stop for wounded vets: Freedom Station". San Diego Union Tribune.
- ↑ "Warrior Foundation Freedom Station Raises $1.5M to Bring Service Members Home for the Holidays". San Diego Magazine. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- ↑ "Freedom Station III Monthly Donors". CommitChange. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Transitional Housing for Wounded Veterans: Our Support for Warrior Foundation | North Coast Medical". www.ncmedical.com. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, Grand Opening of Freedom Station III | San Diego Veterans Magazine". Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- ↑ "Warrior Foundation Freedom Station one step closer to housing more warriors in San Diego". 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- ↑ "Freedom Station Announced as 2011 Bowl Game Beneficiary". Holiday Bowl. June 29, 2011.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Shari (December 29, 2011). "Bridgepoint Education Donates $59,000 to Freedom Station". Bridgepoint Education.
- ↑ "2011 San Diego County Non-Profit of the Year". Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.
- ↑ "Join KOGO TODAY for the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station Give-A-Thon! | Newsradio 600 KOGO". KOGO News. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
External links
- Official site Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine