LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners has approved a letter of support for the Greenwell Foundation’s application for a $500,000 federal grant aimed at expanding suicide prevention and wellness services for veterans throughout Southern Maryland.
The funding request is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which supports community-based organizations working to reduce veteran suicide and improve access to support services outside traditional clinical settings.
Greenwell Foundation Executive Director Maria McDonald presented the proposal to commissioners, outlining plans to significantly expand the organization’s veteran-focused programming if the grant is awarded.
Growing Demand For Veteran Support
McDonald told commissioners the foundation’s Veteran and First Responder Day Retreat Program has experienced steady growth since its launch three years ago.
The program served approximately 80 participants during its first year, more than 120 participants last year and is on pace to reach 160 participants this year. The retreats use outdoor recreation, nature-based experiences and equine-assisted activities to help veterans and first responders who have experienced trauma begin a path toward recovery and wellness.
“We work a great deal with public safety in Charles County for our veteran and first responder day retreat program,” McDonald said, noting that the initiative focuses on helping participants reconnect with healthy activities and long-term wellness practices.
Yearlong Program Planned
If awarded, the grant would allow Greenwell to expand beyond its current retreat model and create a more comprehensive yearlong support program for veterans.
According to McDonald, participants would be enrolled in ongoing activities and receive support from a case manager, project manager, wellness coach and other program staff. The program would also establish baseline measurements and track participant outcomes throughout the year to evaluate progress and effectiveness.
The proposal includes funding for five full-time staff positions and four part-time staff positions dedicated to the initiative.
The Greenwell Foundation’s application states that primary services would include outreach, peer support, case management, connections to VA and community resources, and other innovative approaches designed to improve veterans’ well-being and reduce isolation.
Serving A Large Veteran Population
Home to more than 30,000 veterans, Southern Maryland includes large military-connected communities associated with Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Naval Support Facility Indian Head and Joint Base Andrews.
The Greenwell Foundation currently partners with a number of veteran-serving organizations throughout the region, including Patuxent River Fleet and Family Services, the St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Division of Behavioral Health, the Charles County Commission for Veterans Affairs, the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and the Women’s Veterans Club of Southern Maryland.
McDonald told commissioners the organization hopes to strengthen those partnerships and develop additional connections with both Veterans Affairs resources and local service providers.
“There’s not enough VA presence down here for the amount of people that are experiencing these symptoms,” McDonald said. “We’d like to have a stronger connection to the VA.”
She said the foundation is exploring partnerships with private practices and county agencies to provide training, guidance and support for the program.
About The Federal Grant Program
The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program was created through the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act and is intended to expand suicide prevention efforts beyond traditional health care settings.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the program supports organizations that provide outreach, mental health screenings, case management, peer support, benefits assistance and other services aimed at helping veterans before they reach a crisis point.
The program specifically targets veterans who may not be connected to VA services and those living in underserved communities. Since launching in 2022, the grant program has awarded approximately $210 million to 111 organizations across 46 states, U.S. territories and Tribal lands.
For more information about the Greenwell Foundation, visit greenwellfoundation.org. View the program brochure here.
To learn more or schedule a retreat, please email info@greenwellfoundation.org or call our office at 301-373-9775.
Watch the full Charles County Board of Commissioners June 9, 2026 meeting on CCGTV.
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