The Invisible Heroes® is a campaign of the Invisible Disabilities® Association. An Invisible Hero is a Veteran or first responder such as a Firefighter, EMT or Police Officer who is battling invisible wounds such as PTSD, TBI, injuries and/or other invisible disabilities or someone who is actively supporting them.
By helping support the Invisible Heroes and the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) with your donation, your gift will allow IDA to continue to be a voice for all people living daily with illness, pain and disability including veterans and first responders. IDA strives to encourage, educate and connect friends, family, co-workers, medical personnel and businesses with articles, publications, resources, radio, television, podcasts, seminars and more.
In 2011, IDA launched the Invisible Heroes campaign and presented the first Invisible Heroes Award at the Annual Awards Celebration. The IH Award provides visibility to amazing heroes for their sacrifice, perseverance and passion for their cause.
INVISIBLE HEROES AWARD RECIPIENTS
Eric Beach
Co-founder
Project Echelon
2023 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Eric Beach has been selected to be the 2023 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. He has been chosen based upon his incredible leadership, passion and positive impact on the lives of veterans as the Co-founder of Project Echelon and as a veteran himself. Operating as both a professional cycling team and non-profit, Project Echelon removes the barriers to healing by fostering relationships between veterans, their communities, and professional athletes through mentorship, structure, and the promotion of long term health and wellbeing through the endurance sport of cycling.
Steve Schwab
CEO
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation
2022 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Steve Schwab has been selected to be the 2022 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Steve has been chosen based upon his incredible leadership and passion as the CEO of The Elizabeth Dole Foundation. He has focused his expertise and background in government, education and non-profit management to help empower, support, and honor our nation’s military caregivers; the spouses, parents, family members and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured veterans through The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Steve also provides educational guidance as the Board Chair of PsychAmor.
Stephen “Shanghai Six” Machuga
Founder & CEO
Stack Up
2021 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Stephen “Shanghai Six” Machuga has been selected to be the 2021 recipient of IDA’s Invisible Heroes Award. Stephen has been chosen based upon his incredible positive impact on the lives of veterans as the Founder and CEO of Stack Up, a non-profit focused on using the love of gaming to help with PTSD, depression and emotional distress and to hopefully, stem the tide of suicides. Steve has used his personal experience as a veteran and a gamer, who has experienced the trauma of service first hand, to bring healing and hope to so many who have become invisible, abandoned and forgotten.
Major Bonnie Carroll, Ret.
President and Founder
TAPS – Tragedy Assistance
Program for Survivors
2020 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Major Bonnie Carroll (Ret) has been selected to be the 2020 recipient of IDA’s Invisible Heroes Award. Bonnie has been chosen based upon her incredible leadership and personal vulnerability as the President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). As a veteran herself and a surviving spouse of a veteran, through her great loss and because of her great compassion, Bonnie has created an amazing organization providing comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one.
Colonel Mikel Burroughs, Ret.
VP RIP Medical Debt
Chairman Victory for Veterans
2019 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Colonel Mikel Burroughs – Retired has been selected to be the 2019 recipient of IDA’s Invisible Heroes Award. Mikel has been chosen based upon his incredible leadership as the Vice-President of Military Debt Acquisition & Relief for RIP Medical Debt; the Chairman of the Board of Victory for Veterans and a Board of Directors Member for the National Veterans Transition Services aka REBOOT. As a veteran himself, Mikel served for over 37 years and retired as a full Colonel. Mikel continues to provide support and hope for countless retired military and active duty personnel living daily with PTSD, TBI, chronic pain and other invisible disabilities.
Tom Spooner, Delta Force, Ret.
US Army Special Forces
Co-Founder Warriors
Heart Treatment Center
2018 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Tom Spooner has been selected to be the 2018 recipient of IDA’s Invisible Heroes Award. Tom has been chosen based upon his incredible positive impact on the lives of first responders and veterans as the Co-founder of Warriors Heart, a PTSD, addiction and chemical dependency treatment facility. Tom has used his personal experience as a veteran and someone who has experienced PTSD first hand to bring healing and hope to so many who have become invisible, abandoned and forgotten.
Maj Gen Gale Pollock, Ret.
Fmr Commander,
US Army Medical Command
Fmr Acting Surgeon General of the Army
2017 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Major General (Ret) Gale Pollock CRNA FACHE FAAN has been selected to be 2017 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. She has been chosen based upon your positive impact on the lives of veterans currently as a Medical Adviser on numerous frontline health organizations such as CereScan and The Coming Home Project and as a veteran and nurse yourself. In addition, General Pollock’s great work as the former Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command, former Acting Surgeon General of the Army, and former associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine and Nursing have helped bring much needed visibility and support to veterans living with PTSD, TBI and other invisible wounds.
Stephan Tubbs
Talk Show Host
Documentary Film Maker
2016 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Steffan Tubbs has been selected to be the 2016 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Steffan has been chosen based upon his positive impact on the lives of veterans as a Radio Personality, Author, and Film Maker. His great work is helping bring much needed visibility and support to veterans living with PTSD and TBI, allowing them to connect, heal, learn, and grow.
Josh Rizzo
Co-founder
Executive Director
PTSD United
2015 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Josh Rizzo has been selected to be the 2015 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Josh has been chosen based upon his positive impact on the lives of veterans as the founder of PTSD United. Josh’s great work as a veteran himself through PTSD United is helping people living with PTSD to connect, learn, heal, grow and inspire others.
Heather Ehle
CEO and Founder
Project Sanctuary
2014 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Heather Ehle is the 2014 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Heather has been chosen for her leadership as Founder and CEO of Project Sanctuary. Thank you Heather for providing therapeutic retreats, enabling military families to reconnect and reintegrate into their communities through education, innovative services and supportive follow through.
Jennifer Brusstar
President & CEO,
Tug McGraw Foundation
2013 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Jennifer Brusstar is the 2013 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Jennifer is the President and CEO of Tug McGraw Foundation (TMF), which she co-founded with Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher, Tug McGraw, before his death in 2004. In her role, Jennifer has defined the foundation’s mission of raising funds to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors and their families.
Anna Bigham
Executive Director,
Hidden Wounds
2012 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Anna Bigham is the 2012 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Anna was chosen based upon her founding of the Hidden Wounds after enduring the tragic loss of her brother. Anna has dedicated her life as executive director to serve military personnel living with invisible disabilities by bringing them hope and inspiration.
Luis Carlos Montalvan
Author, Speaker,
Disability Advocate
2011 INVISIBLE HEROES® AWARD
Luis Carlos Montalván is the 2011 recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Heroes Award. Luis is a 17-year veteran and former Captain in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. Luis is the author of “Until Tuesday” which debuted 18 on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Nonfiction Books and remained on the list for 5 weeks.
Luis shares his amazing story of the “war after the war” with invisible disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how his service dog, Tuesday, has given him hope and healing. Before Tuesday came into Luis’ life, he was overwhelmed by his debilitating injuries, memories and could barely leave the house due to Agoraphobia.
With a very sorrowful heart, in 2016 we said goodbye to Former Captain, Luis Carlos Montalván. Thank you, Luis and Tuesday, for giving hope to so many around the world! Your message lives on!
Learn from top veterans and veteran organization leaders, Major Bonnie Carroll Ret. – TAPS, Colonel Mikel Burroughs Ret. – Victory for Veterans, Tom Spooner Special Forces Ret. – Warriors Heart, Heather Ehle RN – Project Sanctuary and W Craig Reed – US4 Warriors Foundation, as they discuss strategies to combat the devastation of isolation and stress on veteran relationships during this unprecedented time of turmoil and chaos.
MAJ BONNIE CARROLL RET.
COL MIKEL BURROUGHS RET.
TOM SPOONER DELTA FORCE RET.
HEATHER EHLE RN
W CRAIG REED FMR US NAVY
