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A Letter From Our Founder​

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Service has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was born in a U.S. military hospital in West Germany to two U.S. Army officers. My father served as an Army Captain, and my mother retired as a Major after a distinguished 20-year military career. Growing up in a military family, I learned early that service is more than a profession—it is a commitment to something greater than yourself. The values of service, discipline, leadership, and sacrifice my parents instilled in me remain the foundation of who I am and the work I continue to pursue today.

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Football became another important part of that journey. At Hampton University, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Management while competing as a student-athlete. I was a four-year starter, a three-time MEAC All-Academic honoree, and part of a nationally ranked football program that won three MEAC Conference Championships and three National Black College Football Championships. Those years taught me the importance of preparation, teamwork, accountability, perseverance, and what people can accomplish when they come together around a common purpose.

 

In 2007, I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue my dream of playing professional football, beginning my career as a priority free-agent rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles and later continuing my career with other professional football organizations. While football gave me an incredible platform, some of the most important lessons from my athletic career had very little to do with what happened on the field. The relationships, mentorship, leadership, adversity, and transitions I experienced helped shape how I view success and reinforced my belief that our opportunities mean more when we use them to create opportunities for others.

 

That belief ultimately led me to establish the Athletes for Vets Foundation in 2011. I wanted to create an organization that brought together two communities that have profoundly influenced my life: athletes and the military community. Although their experiences are very different, both understand sacrifice, teamwork, discipline, leadership, transition, and what it means to serve something greater than themselves. Athletes for Vets was created to turn those shared values into meaningful action by supporting veterans, service members, military families, and communities through education, scholarships, mentorship, outreach, and service.

 

My commitment to leadership and service has evolved alongside the organization. I earned my MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, concentrating in Strategic Marketing and Nonprofit Management, and later completed my Ph.D. in Designing Sustainable Systems at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, with a concentration in Executive Leadership and Organizational Development. My research has focused on leadership, mentorship, relationships, and career transitions among professional athletes, particularly within the NFL. I have also continued serving the football community through leadership in the NFL Players Association, including serving as Chapter President and being elected to the NFLPA Former Player Advisory Board.

 

Each chapter of my journey—from growing up in a military family, to competing on championship football teams, to professional football, higher education, nonprofit leadership, and serving my fellow former players—has strengthened one fundamental belief: leadership is not defined by the position you hold, but by the people you serve and the impact you leave behind. That principle remains at the heart of Athletes for Vets and guides our work every day.

 

As Athletes for Vets continues to grow, I invite you to join this mission. Whether you make a financial contribution, become a corporate partner, volunteer your time, provide professional resources, mentor someone, attend one of our events, or simply introduce our organization to someone who shares our commitment to service, your involvement helps us reach more people and create greater impact. Every contribution matters, and every relationship helps strengthen the community we are building.

 

To everyone who has donated, volunteered, partnered with us, attended an event, opened a door, made an introduction, or simply believed in our mission, I want to thank you personally. Your support has helped transform an idea rooted in my family's legacy of service into an organization committed to creating opportunities and improving the lives of others. We still have much more work to do, and we cannot do it alone. Together, we can continue honoring the men and women who have served our country by doing more than simply expressing our gratitude. We can serve them in return.

 

With gratitude,

Dr. Dereck Faulkner, Ph.D.

WE CAN, WE HAVE, WE WILL

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