COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Our Community Program builds peer support networks for our heroes and their families to uplift one another. New friendships and lasting memories are made through bonding experiences and resiliency-building events.

RESILIENCE EXPERIENCES

The life experiences of service members, veterans, Gold Star Families, first responders, and their loved ones can only be deeply understood by one another. We bring these heroes together for resiliency-building events that provide an opportunity to share and bond. Our heroes may arrive feeling alone, but they walk away with a renewed sense of family.

BASE VISITS

When Robert visits the military, he brings a sense of home. He knows from serving in the Royal Navy that bases are a tight-knit community. Beyond having fun, Robert always makes time for important dialogues about what it means to serve, sharing his insights on food, nutrition, and fitness.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Fewer than 1 in 10 Americans serve in the military. We’re raising awareness about the ever-changing needs of those who protect our nation and their families by bringing local communities together for special events that inform and inspire.

ROBERT’S AMBASSADORS

We’re creating an outstanding team of veterans, military families, and caregivers to raise awareness about the Robert Irvine Foundation. These friends volunteer their time to help Robert spread his vision. As Foundation representatives, they provide program updates and share their stories at speaking engagements and events.

Meet Our Ambassadors

SFC (Ret) Michael Schlitz

Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz served in the US Army for 14 years before medically retiring in March of 2010. Throughout his military career, he served in several positions from Rifleman to Platoon Sergeant and received numerous Awards and Decorations. A true reflection of his proud service to our country.

In February of 2007, Schlitz and his platoon were in Southern Baghdad performing a basic road-clearing mission to identify Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) when two artillery shells attached to a propane tank exploded. Though Schlitz was thrown from the vehicle and survived, the blast killed his driver, gunner, and medic. Schlitz not only lost his platoon brothers that day, but he also sustained burns on 85% of his body and lost the vision in his left eye and both of his hands. In the years following that life-altering moment, Schlitz has personally committed to “live a better life for the friends he lost that day; a life they would be proud of.”

Michael Schlitz now finds it his mission to give back to the Veteran and First Responder Communities. Schlitz regularly travels the country for speaking engagements and events. Since the injury, he has returned to Iraq three times to mentor wounded and non-wounded veterans, supported the establishment of multiple new non-profit organizations and had the honor of speaking in front of Congress on issues facing Veterans today. Micheal Schlitz is a proud Robert Irvine Foundation Ambassador, he shares the vision, values, and passion to give back to the Military and First Responders who have given so much for our Great Nation.

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Chris Kaag, USMC
Founder & CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation and Corps Fitness

You may hear Chris Kaag’s booming voice before you see him roll around the corner to greet you with a huge smile and an even bigger handshake. Like many influencers in the community, Chris Kaag wears numerous hats as the founder and CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation, founder of Corps Fitness, adaptive athlete, public speaker, and relentless advocate for the adaptive community.

Shortly after graduating High School, Kaag served his country in the United States Marine Corps for almost five years. He still remembers the words of his Drill Instructor, “Don’t quit on me, Kaag” which would serve as a beacon of hope and reassurance in the upcoming years. At the age of 21 and in the prime of his military career, Kaag was diagnosed with adrenomyeloneuropathy, a rare degenerative condition affecting the myelin sheath of his nerve cells, and was discharged from the Marine Corps. He began to walk with a cane, then two canes. With a new direction and a “don’t quit on me” attitude, Kaag earned a business degree from Penn State Berks and began using his military-style fitness regimen to train small and large groups. These training sessions and Kaag’s passion for improving the quality of life for those around him through physical fitness, evolved into Corps Fitness in 2004, headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, his condition continued to worsen, and he soon transitioned to a wheelchair. Kaag persisted with strength and resiliency and began competing in races and raising funds for medical research which gave way to the new-found pursuit to assist other veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In 2007, he launched the IM ABLE Foundation, with the mission to remove obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from being physically active by providing grants, resources, fitness opportunities, and motivation. His motto was simply, “Get Up and Move!”. He has developed programs like IM FIT, a free fitness class for all adaptive children and young adults to practice the fundamentals of exercise together in a supportive and motivational environment, Operation Lead From the Front, a mentorship program that matches adaptive athletes with veterans in a relationship fostered around physical fitness and fun, and Rally Point, geared around his passion for the trails, which joins the adaptive and able-bodied community on various level bike rides through the Berks county trails and beyond. The IM ABLE Foundation has also awarded hundreds of equipment grants to motivated and deserving individuals in the adaptive community.

He has been able to accomplish great things with the support of his resilient and ever-supportive wife and fellow trainer, Gretchen Kaag. Their rambunctious and lovable son, Carter, is a testament to the Kaag culture.

Chris Kaag is an inspiration to everyone, able-bodied and adaptive, that he encounters, and he encourages them to celebrate the abilities they have, rather than focus on those they don’t. Chris, his family, his team, and his community believe that an active lifestyle is achievable for all, regardless of their abilities. Chris is a Robert Irvine Foundation IBOT recipient and is honored to be a part of Robert’s Ambassadors.

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Kenneth Keitt
US Marine Corps Veteran

Kenneth has uncovered his purpose through his biggest obstacles, and he’s dedicated to helping others do the same. His goal is to help integrate people back into society and become the best version of themselves, whatever that looks like for them. Kenneth enlisted in the United States Marine Corps shortly after graduating high school in 2007. Once he got to his unit in 2008, he was assigned to a nine-month combat tour in Iraq with the 1st Marine Logistics Group (MLG).


After coming off active duty, Kenneth was involved in a tragic rollover vehicle accident that left him paralyzed and triggered a battle against PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Once Kenneth left rehab, he realized that the fitness industry lacked useful resources for people with mobility impairments. Referencing his knowledge from military training, Kenneth understood the impact fitness had on a person’s physical and mental wellness.


Kenneth founded ParaPer4mance Inc. with the mission to improve the quality of life for all individuals with mobility impairments. After graduating college with multiple awards and decorations in 2019, Kenneth was able to organically grow his startup into an actual company, Kenneth graduated from Penn State Lehigh Valley with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and currently serves on the advisory board for diversity, equity, and inclusion.


Kenneth’s goal has always been serving people globally, and he believes everyone deserves to become the best version of themselves. Considering the significant barriers to independence in society.
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Col. (Ret) Gregory D. Gadson
US Army

Colonel (Retired) Gregory D. Gadson, a Chesapeake, Va., native, served our nation in the United States Army for more than 26 years. Col. Gadson’s service culminated as the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, where he oversaw the daily operations of the post, a strategic sustaining base where more than 50,000 military personnel and employees provide logistical, intelligence, medical, and administrative support, and command and control for a mix of more than 140 commands and agencies for the Department of Defense.


A 25-year career Army officer, Col. Gadson’s life is a portrait of courage in the face of great adversity. In May 2007, as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Col. Gadson’s greatest challenge came in Iraq, where an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack cost him both legs above the knees and normal use of his right arm and hand. Despite this, Col. Gadson remained on active duty in the Army and continued to inspire many with his message of courage, perseverance, determination, and teamwork. Refusing to be defined by his severe and permanent injuries, he has continued to draw upon the lessons of Pride, Poise, and Team, learned as a West Point linebacker, and apply them to his life, career, and family.

He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant of Field Artillery in 1989 from West Point. He has served in every major conflict of the past two decades, including Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Kuwait; Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He announced his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2014. Col. Gadson has served in various assignments throughout the world, dedicating himself to leading the Soldiers, civilian employees, and family members in living the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. He is a passionate advocate for wounded warriors, veterans, and those with disabilities; on several occasions, testifying before Congress on issues related to these groups.

In 2007, Tom Coughlin, New York Giants head coach, asked Col. Gadson to meet with the then-struggling team. Col. Gadson talked to the players about service, teamwork, duty, perseverance, and adversity. Although he refuses to take any credit, the Giants players and coaches have heralded the key inspirational role he played in their unprecedented season, culminating as victors of the 2008 Super Bowl. Col. Gadson currently maintains his mentoring relationship with the Giants. In addition, Col. Gadson has delivered his inspirational message and leadership counsel to numerous sports teams, corporate and non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

Col. Gadson also established himself as an actor, acting in several movies and appearing in many TV shows. In 2012, he starred in the American military science fiction action war film Battleship, portraying the role of Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales. He is also an avid photographer. In 2023, he wrote a book called Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Toward Peace and Purpose. Col. Gadson is looking forward to sharing his story and spreading the Robert Irvine Foundation’s mission as an Ambassador.

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Tracie Stucke

Tracie Stucke, 62, was born and raised in Erie, PA, the youngest of seven children in a family deeply rooted in public service. Her grandfather was a firefighter, and her father and two brothers retired as Chiefs in the City of Erie Police Department. Following this tradition, Tracie began her career with the Erie Police in 1986, working in the 4th Platoon, a specialized unit focused on high-crime areas, and later serving in the K9 Unit.

In 1995, an automobile accident resulted in a spinal cord injury, ending her career as a K9 Officer. However, she continued her service as a civilian dispatcher and later as an Investigative Analyst in the Narcotics Unit until her retirement in 2017.

Tracie is also the proud mother of a son who served for four years in the Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Sergeant, and was stationed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After being honorably discharged, he joined the Erie County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy and later became a Sergeant with the Erie Police Department, where he has served since 2009. On July 30th, 2023, he was shot in the line of duty and is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in that incident.

Since her retirement, Tracie has remained active with her family, particularly enjoying time with her four granddaughters. In 2023, the Robert Irvine Foundation provided her with an IBot wheelchair, which has allowed her to enjoy outdoor activities and family events more independently, enhancing her quality of life.

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Joy Lazarus

Joy has always dreamed of making a change in the world. Joy and her family have been volunteering and participating in community outreach programs throughout the country. Her motto is “Let us all be kind to each other”. She has recently started working alongside members of the FBI, to develop programs in her State of Delaware to foster a sense of acceptance and belonging for underserved communities.

Her spouse Phillip is a 20 year retired United States Navy Veteran and her son Gabe is pursuing a career in the Air Force, as Special Missions Aviator.
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Claudia Avila 

Photo & bio coming soon

 

U.S. Army Captain Luis Avila 

Photo & bio coming soon

 

Luis Avila Jr.

Photo & bio coming soon

CONTACT US

Thank you for reaching out to the Robert Irvine Foundation. We have recently experienced an increase in requests and appreciate your patience if there is a delay in response. Our team reviews every inquiry personally and we consider each request thoughtfully. We wish we could help every person and organization in need of support, but regrettably, we are unable to do so at this time. If it is an emergency, please reference our resource page and reach out to a 24/7 hotline that is able to assist you further. Thank you again for your understanding and we wish you the best of luck.

Thank you for your message to the Robert Irvine Foundation. Your inquiry is important to us. Our team reads through every email with care. However, due to the high volume of inquiries we're experiencing, there are longer than usual response times. Our team will review your message and respond as soon as possible. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated.
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OFFICIAL AIRLINE PARTNER

THE ROBERT IRVINE BRAND FAMILY

Veterans in Crisis
1-800-273-8255
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 then PRESS 1. Use the Veterans Crisis Line to speak with a specialist 24/7/365. For Veterans & Supporters. Available 24/7. 100% Confidential. Free Support. Call, Text, or Chat.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
1-800-959-TAPS
Whether you are in emotional crisis, need to connect with TAPS resources and programs, or just want to remind yourself that you are a part of a loving, supporting family.

Marine Corps Distress Line
1-877-476-7734
24×7 anonymous phone, chat and referral service using a ‘Marine to Marine’ approach.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988
The resources and information provided information on understanding the background, history, funding opportunities, and implementation resources for strengthening suicide prevention and mental health crisis services. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.

Robert Irvine Foundation
Robert Irvine Foundation A tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #46-5420676). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.