By: Christopher Stout, U.S. Army Veteran

Whether you support non-profits through donations or provide in-kind products and services, you build your reputation as a trusted community partner. Investing in local programs and non-profit organizations builds a company’s reputation, and reputation is currency.

At Wreaths Across America, we believe patriotism is more than a value—it’s a shared responsibility. One of the most meaningful ways a company can embrace that responsibility is by honoring veterans’ service, especially those within its own workforce.

Today’s customers care about what companies stand for, not just their product. When companies invest in their community and operate by values, people take notice. To earn trust and loyalty, companies must have a purpose beyond profit and make an authentic effort to show up for their community. According to a 2025 special report from the Edelman Trust Barometer, 68% of people said, “It’s very or extremely important for brands to help me feel good: happy, confident, inspired, safe, and calm.”

Employees (especially younger generations) want to work for companies that care about more than just the bottom line. Now, more than ever, employees seek purpose in their work and expect employers to do the same. Giving back to your community gives your team a reason to feel proud of the company they work for, promoting higher and longer retention rates. When we support causes that matter to our employees, we help provide a sense of purpose and promote a service-oriented employee culture.

Sponsoring remembrance wreaths is a meaningful way for veterans, employees, volunteers, and community partners who support Wreaths Across America to connect patriotism with community and compassion.

While many companies choose to honor veterans on national holidays, there’s also great value in making that recognition part of an ongoing commitment. Wreaths Across America offers a variety of year-round programs that make it easy to show support in lasting and impactful ways. Whether it’s through our TEACH program, which provides free, values-based lesson plans for K–12 students, our Mobile Education Exhibit welcoming Vietnam veterans home, or Wreaths Across America Radio amplifying the voices of the military and veteran community, there are countless ways to turn appreciation into action throughout the year.

This July, you can help honor our nation’s veterans by supporting Wreaths Across America’s Giving in July campaign. Each $17 sponsorship places a live balsam wreath on the headstone of a U.S. servicemember, offering a powerful tribute to their service, a reminder to families that their loved ones are not forgotten, and a lasting lesson to future generations about the cost of freedom. Wreaths will be laid at participating locations nationwide on National Wreaths Across America Day, this year on Saturday, December 13. Help us ensure that no veteran is forgotten and that every story of service is honored with dignity and respect.

Your sponsorship can make an even greater impact through our $5 Back Program. For every wreath sponsored through a participating Sponsorship Group, Wreaths Across America gives $5 back to that organization, amplifying your support by reinvesting in local programs that are doing good in their communities. Whether it’s a nonprofit you already partner with or a grassroots effort in your area, this program offers a unique way to do good twice: by honoring veterans and strengthening the communities they call home. Join us this July to help ensure no veteran is ever forgotten.

Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to learn more about Wreaths Across America’s mission to Remember, Honor, Teach and the year-round programs it offers to support veterans and their families. To sponsor a live balsam wreath to be placed in remembrance on the headstone of an American hero, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Christopher Stout is the assistant director of corporate partnerships for the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America. Stout has received numerous awards for his non-profit work since serving as a paratrooper in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division, including the Rosa Parks Spirit Award, Vetty Award, and Architecture International Award. In 2018, Christopher was recognized nationally as a “CNN Heroes Top 10 Heroes” for his efforts as Founder and CEO of the Veterans Community Project (building tiny homes for homeless veterans). In 2019, he participated as a scholar in the George W. Bush Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. These awards are just a small sampling of his exemplary work for veteran service organizations.