For the last year, Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) has been moving forward as one organization after acquiring The Mission Continues (TMC). From the beginning, the goal has been to broaden our reach and increase our impact on veterans, families of the fallen, youth and inspired civilians across the country. 

THE MISSION GOES ON

Aside from merging systems and structures, this past year has been about proving, through action, that two organizations can become one without losing sight of the mission. Mass Deployment 2026 that took place in Philadelphia, PA is a tangible example of the impact this integration has had. The community service event took place over the course of three days, bringing together over 300 volunteers, making a lasting impact on the local community. This was the first time many volunteers were able to meet and work side by side on a large scale, and the feedback from all involved was overwhelmingly positive.

Trifrena Jones, Army Veteran and Philadelphia Service Platoon Leader, found the experience to be reassuring and revitalizing. “Without missing a beat, the mission goes on,” she said of Mass Deployment 2026. “We keep serving, we keep going.” 

Trifrena joined TMC after retiring from the military and experiencing a devastating personal loss. “I was really lost, and didn’t know how sick I was until I was home all the time,” she says. She was being treated for post-traumatic stress (PTS) but struggling to find purpose when a friend she had served with encouraged her to get involved with TMC.

“I loved it,” she says. “I went out into other underserved communities, I was able to feed the homeless, I was able to beautify neighborhoods, I was able to talk with young adults in high schools and elementary schools. We worked side by side with the kids, painting and beautifying their schools. It helped me help myself, to get back mentally, physically, just wholeheartedly. It helped me live. It gave me purpose in life,” Trifrena said. 

Trifrena admits to feeling some uncertainty when TMF first acquired TMC. “At one point you think, ‘We’re merging, what’s going to happen?’ But communication goes a long way,” she says. Knowing any questions she had about the integration would be quickly answered helped her navigate the transition and envision the greater impact TMF will have going forward. “It’s all coming together,” she says. “We’re going to do projects together, we’re going to build together. It’s going to be awesome.” 

WHAT’S AHEAD

Joining the “If Not Me, Then Who…” movement is easy. With more than 55 TMF Chapters across the country, and six annual National Service Campaigns, coming together to strengthen communities, foster meaningful connections, and inspire character and leadership in future generations is as simple as joining the mission. From there, veterans, families of the fallen, and inspired civilians can participate in Operation Legacy Service Projects, various programs like Character Does Matter (CDM) powered by Under Armour Freedom, and athletic events, bettering both the local community and themselves. 

Ready to join the mission? Start here or explore opportunities to get involved.