Veteran Suicide: One Tribe Foundation Addresses Daily Losses
The Euless-based nonprofit supports veterans and first responders, having raised over half a million dollars through a viral social media campaign.
By Fatou Kim ·
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported in 2012 that 22 veterans died by suicide each day. That figure has decreased to 17 deaths per day, yet the One Tribe Foundation maintains that public awareness remains a priority for the organization.
Jacob Schick, the foundation's chief executive officer, emphasized the shared humanity of those in service. He noted that societal titles do not erase the fact that all individuals are human first. "What the world forgets is that we all have the same God-given title before all the other societal titles, which is human," Schick said.
The nonprofit was founded in 2013 by a group of U.S. Marine veterans who reacted to the 2012 suicide statistics. Originally named 22Kill, the organization launched the #22PushUpChallenge in 2016. The social media campaign went viral and generated more than half a million dollars for the cause.
The group rebranded to One Tribe Foundation in 2020 while keeping its original mission. Based in Euless, Texas, the organization currently operates nine programs. These services include addiction recovery, outdoor activities, motorcycle groups, and support for veterans' children. The foundation has also expanded its outreach to include first responders, medical frontline workers, and their families.
Ashley Schick, the marketing director and wife of Jacob Schick, described the isolation many service members feel after returning home. She stated that the idea of these individuals feeling like aliens in the communities they served is shocking and heartbreaking. The organization aims to remind those who feel alone that they are worthy of being loved.
Don Nguyen, a co-founder and senior director, lost his brother Andrew Nguyen to suicide in April. Andrew was also a Marine and a co-founder of the original 22Kill organization. Nguyen described the foundation as a support system that helped him through the loss. "As much as we do this for other people, this place also keeps me alive. These people are my family," Nguyen said.
Jacob Schick acknowledged the personal toll of working in the field, noting that he has 35 friends who died by suicide and eight who were killed in combat. He stated that the organization continues to assist individuals on their journey, asserting that the only thing worse than suffering is suffering alone.
