As part of his participation in Travis Manion Foundation’s Spartan Leadership Program, retired Marine Corps Veteran and federal agent Carroll Harris created and executed the first Manion WOD to take place in Arlington, VA at the US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial). Participants included Ryan Manion, CEO of Travis Manion Foundation, and SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz, 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, honoring the life and legacy of Marine Corps 1stLt Travis Manion.

Over the course of three days in April, more than 150 of Travis Manion Foundation’s most engaged volunteers gathered for the 2026 Spartan Leadership Summit (SLS). This annual invitation-only event took place at Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, offering Veteran Mentors, TMF Chapter and Service Platoon Leaders, athletic event directors, and program alumni a unique and immersive opportunity to focus on personal development and connecting with each other.

Before his final deployment to Iraq, Travis left us with a simple but powerful ethos: "If Not Me, Then Who…" It describes the sense of duty felt by service members and their families — a constant reminder for all of us to live with character and put the interests of others before our own. 

Every April, communities across the country pause to reflect on our relationship with the environment and explore ways to take meaningful action. Earth Month is a time to roll up our sleeves and make a tangible difference in the places we call home. At Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), we believe service is the most powerful expression of that commitment.

Gold Star spouse Deanna Phillips became a widow on March 5, 2010, when her beloved husband, Michael Phillips, a US Air Force veteran, lost his battle with service-connected cancer. The grief that followed was nearly paralyzing. She feared she’d always be alone. 

As a child, David Veros watched his father put on a Marine Corps uniform every day. “He had such a sense of pride, and a sense of service,” David says. “He understood that our lives have a bigger purpose. I wanted to be just like him. That’s what led me to the military.” 

Kira Sonnee spent most of her childhood feeling unworthy of anything good. Her mom was a business owner and often unavailable; her dad was unreliable and difficult to deal with. Kira, an only child, felt alone and misunderstood. “I didn’t feel like I truly belonged anywhere,” she says. By the time she started 8th grade, anxiety, depression, and the death of her beloved dog made Kira feel like she didn’t want to be alive anymore. 

This Veterans Day, Travis Manion Foundation, FOX Sports, and Navy Federal Credit Union empowered veterans to lead and strengthen their communities through more than 45 Operation Legacy service projects.

Marine Corps veteran Lee Him found renewed purpose and belonging through Travis Manion Foundation’s Spartan Leadership Program after decades of searching for connection beyond his military service. Lee’s story highlights how SLP empowers veterans to lead with vulnerability, purpose, and service in every part of their lives.

Travis Manion Foundation celebrates Army veteran and TMF Spartan Rebecca “Becca” Tutela, selected by the Bob Woodruff Foundation to attend the Super Bowl with her family. Becca’s story highlights her continued service through TMF’s Character Does Matter program and Spartan Leadership Program, demonstrating how TMF and BWF empower veterans to lead, grow, and thrive long after the uniform comes off.