The First Nation Group Foundation was thrilled to reel in the new year with our Q1 Quaterly Cause Connection (QCC) featuring our friends, Project Healing Waters – an organization whose mission and impact left a lasting impression on all who attended.

Founded in 2005, Project Healing Waters uses fly fishing as a therapeutic intervention to support the recovery and well-being of Veterans and active-duty military members. During the foundation’s Q1 QCC, attendees learned how the organization’s programs foster resilience, community, and meaningful connection for service members on their healing journeys.

Matt Cather, Vice President of Development at Project Healing Waters, shared powerful insight into how the organization was built with our nation’s heroes at the center. He reflected on how Project Healing Waters was born from a simple yet profound idea – bringing injured service members outdoors to experience the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing. What began as a small initiative has since grown into a robust national organization, fostering a sense of belonging and providing a supportive environment where participants can heal naturally through shared experience and time spent on the water.

“Getting out there on the water has helped me a lot. It’s brought a lot of peace to me, peace to my mind, and I’m able to share it with my kiddo. Just being able to find something that makes me happy again is helping me stay afloat from the depression and going back to where I was before I started fly fishing.”

Veteran Participant

Project Healing Waters

The impact of Project Healing Waters extends far beyond fly fishing. Through guided experiences, education, and peer connection, the program creates a supportive space where Veterans can slow down and carry moments of calm into everyday life, often finding renewed purpose and confidence along the way.

Through the Suicide Prevention + Mental Health key impact area, The First Nation Group Foundation is proud to support organizations like Project Healing Waters that prioritize the mental health and well-being of our nation’s heroes – ensuring our Veterans and active-duty military members feel supported, seen, and never alone on their journey.

“This journey has been a transformative one for me, especially in dealing with my PTSD as a disabled Veteran.

The process of crafting a bamboo rod, the tranquility of fly fishing, and the victories in each catch are my own forms of therapy, healing me in ways traditional medicine couldn’t. It is a respite from my typical solitary existence and a welcome diversion that offers not just a physical activity but also an engaging and rewarding mental exercise.“

– Mikael Madsen, U.S. Army Veteran

The First Nation Group Foundation is honored to spotlight organizations like Project Healing Waters through our QCC series and to help amplify programs that create real, lasting impact. We look forward to continuing these meaningful conversations throughout the year as we work #TOGETHERSTRONG to foster understanding, connection, and community.

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The First Nation Group Foundation’s Quarterly Cause Connection (QCC) is a virtual lunch-and-learn series designed to educate, inspire, and connect employees, partners, and community members with nonprofit organizations making a meaningful impact for Veterans, active-duty military members, and underserved communities. As part of each session, the foundation is proud to support the featured nonprofit with a $250 donation on behalf of every attendee.