Special Forces Trust Welcomes Andy’s Fund to Strengthen Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Efforts for the Green Beret Community
Southern Pines, NC — August 30, 2025 — Special Forces Trust is proud to announce a formal partnership with the Marckesano Family, marking the next chapter for Andy’s Fund. Through this partnership, Andy’s Fund will now operate under the umbrella of the Special Forces Trust, ensuring its mission is supported by an organization deeply embedded within the Special Forces community, and deeply committed to mental health.
Created in honor of MSG Andrew Marckesano, a highly decorated Green Beret, Andy’s Fund exists to combat the mental health crisis within the Special Forces community — with a sharp focus on root-cause treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), post-traumatic stress (PTS), and the challenges of alcohol and drug abuse. Since Andy’s passing on July 7, 2020, the Fund has worked tirelessly to drive culture change, address stigma, and connect Green Berets to life-saving resources.
“By joining with Special Forces Trust, we are strengthening the reach, trust, and impact of Andy’s Fund,” said Kathryn Marckesano, Gold Star Mother of MSG Marckesano. “The Trust’s deep relationships with the Special Forces community and leadership make them the ideal home for this mission. Together, we can save lives.”
On August 23 at the Hope & Purpose Ball in Florida, Special Forces Trust CEO Jodi Burns reflected on the personal significance of this partnership: “Andy Marckesano’s death shook me. It was the reason I built Beyond the Battlefield, our suicide prevention and invisible wounds platform. It’s so ironic—and at the same time, so fitting—that a few years later, we would now be partnering directly with the Marckesano Family. The Trust is both honored and deeply moved to carry Andy’s name forward in this mission.”
The partnership will allow Andy’s Fund to expand its grant programs, increase access to advanced treatment options, and host annual initiatives aimed at prevention, resilience, and recovery within the Green Beret community. With the backing of Special Forces Trust, Andy’s Fund will continue its work with the urgency and precision this crisis demands.
For more information about Andy’s Fund, Special Forces Trust and its programs, visit www.sftrust.org.
Special Forces Trust
677 S Bennett Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-725-7034
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