Spurred by the events of 9/11 and inspired by the activities of Jay Smith and U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, founder Jim Hake sought to encourage and empower Americans serving abroad who wanted to take the initiative to help the communities where they serve. Smith met a small need that made a big impact by donating baseball equipment to local children in Orgun-e, Afghanistan which improved the villager’s quality of life and relations with the American soldiers serving there. It became clear to Hake “that expanding positive interactions on the front lines could both assist those in need and help America further reflect and perpetuate the ideals for which it stands.”

Spirit of America helps American military and civilian personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as people who call to Americans for help in their struggle for freedom and democracy. We fulfill requests from American military personnel for goods that improve the lives of local people and thus help advance freedom and peace. For those striving for political and cultural freedom, we provide the resources to successfuly attain the dream of democracy.

We have provided school and medical supplies, sewing machines, hand tools, watches, water barrels, clothing, soccer gear and toys in response to needs identified by American personnel. We contributed equipment to Iraqi-owned television stations to establish a better alternative to Al Jazeera. We helped Iraqi men whose arms were amputated by Saddam Hussein get a new start on life. We provided support to the pro-democracy protestors in Beirut, Lebanon in their march toward democracy and are working through a school partner program to put American and Iraqi children in communication. The project undertaken by Spirit of America are many and diverse, yet, ultimately, are all designed to have a direct and positive impact on the lives of the people working towards peace and freedom.

We provide timely and effective assistance where it is needed most on the front lines. The Wall Street Journal says, “Spirit of America’s organizational insight is to deploy the best practices of the modern U.S. economy - efficiency and speed - around the margins of the Iraq war effort.” The Journal adds, “Spirit of America and the Marines are a coalition of the can-do.”

American soldiers tell us our work “literally saves lives.” LtCol David Couvillon says, “They say there aren’t any ‘silver bullets’ for improving things in Iraq. I don’t know. Spirit of America just might be a silver bullet.” And, Major General James Mattis of the Marines says, “the initiative and focused support provided by Spirit of America is beyond anything we have experienced.”

Through Spirit of America every American can make a difference in the world’s most troubled regions.