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WORKING FOR YOU

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Help Us Empower Our Heroes

How it all started

David D. Haddad founded Friends of Freedom (FOF) from a simple premise, to serve those who protect our freedoms. David’s Flagship program, Freedom/Sticks for Soldiers in 2003 provided cigars to deployed service members through Blue Star Moms “Packages from Home” care packs. Fumar Cigars, David’s professional enterprise, donated over 100,000 cigars to troops in the first 4 years with the licensed logos of each of the military branch mascots. Through 2015 June, Friends of Freedom delivered over 750,000 cigars into war zones supplying personally founded cigar clubs unique to USO Victory base, Baghdad, Iraq and The Tillman Center in Bagram, Afghanistan. Locally, Friends of Freedom continues to host cigar socials for our military members and veterans.

Friends of Freedom sought to assist our military and veterans locally by assisting them with rent, utilities, car repairs, military transition (employment search, building resumes, and purchase of job-required equipment to include suits), and even donated cars. On a national level, we have strategically partnered since 2009 with American Airlines, Gary Sinise Foundation, USO, Chef Irvine Foundation, and Tribute To Valor Foundation. Through these partnerships “Friends of Freedom”, helped facilitate programs such as Salute To The Troops, Snow Ball Express, Choosing to See, Canyon Rising, and others.

Currently, we have adopted Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Emergency Medical Personnel in our outreach. These heroes also cope with like barriers that our military and veterans do. We believe that all these HEROES deserve the best services available.
Thus, our Vision “Empowering our HEROES to develop the quality of life they deserve.”

man reading names off Vietnam war memorial

Help Us Empower Our Heroes

How it all started

David D. Haddad founded Friends of Freedom (FOF) from a simple premise, to serve those who protect our freedoms. David’s Flagship program, Freedom/Sticks for Soldiers in 2003 provided cigars to deployed service members through Blue Star Moms “Packages from Home” care packs. Fumar Cigars, David’s professional enterprise, donated over 100,000 cigars to troops in the first 4 years with the licensed logos of each of the military branch mascots. Through 2015 June, Friends of Freedom delivered over 750,000 cigars into war zones supplying personally founded cigar clubs unique to USO Victory base, Baghdad, Iraq and The Tillman Center in Bagram, Afghanistan. Locally, Friends of Freedom continues to host cigar socials for our military members and veterans.

Friends of Freedom sought to assist our military and veterans locally by assisting them with rent, utilities, car repairs, military transition (employment search, building resumes, and purchase of job-required equipment to include suits), and even donated cars. On a national level, we have strategically partnered since 2009 with American Airlines, Gary Sinise Foundation, USO, Chef Irvine Foundation, and Tribute To Valor Foundation. Through these partnerships “Friends of Freedom”, helped facilitate programs such as Salute To The Troops, Snow Ball Express, Choosing to See, Canyon Rising, and others.

Currently, we have adopted Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Emergency Medical Personnel in our outreach. These heroes also cope with like barriers that our military and veterans do. We believe that all these HEROES deserve the best services available.
Thus, our Vision “Empowering our HEROES to develop the quality of life they deserve.”

Man reads names on a memorial in front of the Washington National Monument in DC
about

Vision

“Empowering our HEROES to develop the quality of life they deserve”.

Friends of Freedom (FoF) believes that America’s HEROES: Military (Active, Retired, and Veterans) First Responders, Law Enforcement, and their families, deserve the full measure of care and assistance they need to live a resilient, purposeful, and high quality of life.
We believe that our HEROES deserve a high quality of life. Supporting organizations that facilitate programming that align with our vision.

Mission

Our Mission is to bridge the gap in current services that empower “America’s Heroes”, addressing the ever-changing needs our HEROES and their families need.

Values

Our Four Pillars:

Mind / Family / Financial / Morale

All of which impact the overall quality of life of our HEROES.

Vision

“Empowering our HEROES to develop the quality of life they deserve”.
Friends of Freedom (FoF) believes that America’s HEROES: Military (Active, Retired, and Veterans) First Responders, Law Enforcement, and their families, deserve the full measure of care and assistance they need to live a resilient, purposeful, and high quality of life.
We believe that our HEROES deserve a high quality of life. Supporting organizations that facilitate programming that align with our vision.

Mission

Our Mission is to bridge the gap in current services that empower “America’s Heroes”, addressing the ever-changing needs our HEROES and their families need.

Values

Our Four Pillars:

  • Mind
  • Family
  • Financial
  • Morale

All of which impact the overall quality of life of our HEROES.

Executive Board

Meet the men and women of the Friends of Freedom Board and Advisory Council.
We are fortunate to have these champions steward the mission of Friends of Freedom — Empowering Veterans and First Responders Transitioning From Service to Civilian Life Successfully.

Michael LaHaye.
Michael La'Haye
President
Steven Bowlds.
Stephen Bowlds
Vice President
Claire Hill.
Claire Hill
Treasurer
Derrick M Sainz.
Derrick Sainz
Secretary
David Haddad
David Haddad
Founder
Michael LaHaye.
Michael La'Haye
President
Steven Bowlds.
Stephen Bowlds
Vice President
Claire Hill.
Claire Hill
Treasurer
Derrick M Sainz.
Derrick Sainz
Secretary
David Haddad
David Haddad
Founder

Empowering our HEROES to develop the quality of life they deserve.

Michael La'Haye

President

Michael LaHaye.

After 26 years serving our country, US Army Ret. Michael M La’Haye BA, MBA, MSL Ed.D (ABD) and Friends of Freedom USA Board Member as President continues his personal mission of looking after soldiers and their wellbeing through his efforts with Friends of Freedom programming. His first-hand experiences formally and informally counseling soldiers through the transition from service to civilian life affords Friends of Freedom USA his unique perspective of the problems and challenges soldier’s face when transitioning to non-military life. Michael’s insight helps guide other board members to make informed and effective decisions when deploying the resources of the organization.

Steven Bowlds

Vice President

Steven Bowlds.

Steven proudly served the United States Marine Corps as a member of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. Using the skills and knowledge he obtained from the Marine Corps, he went on to protect high profile targets who were visiting Iraq. Notable mentions are the late Sen. John McCain, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Barney Frank, and Hillary Clinton.

Choosing to use brains over brawn, Steven graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s in construction engineering. After graduation he began his career with Hunter Contracting and works in the water/wastewater industry. He parlays those leadership qualities as Vice President of Friends of Freedom. Steven is a great example of what translating skills learned during service, to civilian life successfully can mean for an individual or family.

Claire Hill

Treasurer

Claire Hill.

Claire Hill brings real-world experience in dealing with veterans and first responders in the field to her appointment as Treasurer
Experience as a first responder in South Africa, and a military contractor deployed in high conflict zones for Allied Forces, Claire has firsthand experience of battlefield trauma and intimately understands how that can carry forward and stifle growth and reengagement after service.

Dissociation to get through the immediate trauma of the war zone and maintain the goals of the mission is required. Handling the aftermath of what happens once one returns from combat is where many conflicts and challenges begin to arise for the serviceperson and their families.

Paying it forward to help others transition from service to civilian life successfully is what brings Claire and her experiences to the Friends of Freedom USA board. Connecting with and assisting individuals who have valiantly done what others are unwilling or unable to do to complete the mission and serve others is what motivates her to serve in this new capacity.

She is familiar with the personal work that goes into addressing and moving past the psychological and physical traumas of war zones. What do you do when you are no longer able to be deployed and able to serve your community or country? Claire brings her skills in diverse areas to the forefront of helping Friends of Freedom USA achieve their mission helping veterans and first responders transition from service to civilian life successfully.

Derrick M. Sainz

Secretary

Derrick M Sainz.

Derrick proudly served in the United States Marine Corps where he earned the rank of Sergeant. During his time in the Marine Corps, he had the privilege of working with some of America’s finest men and women in multiple deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his time in the Marine Corps, Derrick spent the next 9 years as a professional EMT in the Phoenix area, working with valley fire departments in emergency services. While working as an EMT Derrick graduated from Arizona State University allowing him to start a career in education. For the past 8 years, Derrick has been working in public education as a Counselor, Teacher, and Coach.

Having been an active military member, professional first responder, and educator, Derrick brings a vast array of knowledge and passion for helping others. He has lived his life in service of others and continues to do so with Friends of Freedom. Derrick has been a board member of Friends of Freedom since 2017 serving on multiple boards, fundraising committees, and outreach projects. He is proud to have been elected to the executive board as Secretary and is eager to continue to help veterans, public safety personnel, and first responders.

David Haddad

Founder

David Haddad

David D. Haddad founded Friends of Freedom (FOF) from a simple premise, to serve those who protect our freedoms during and after service. From David’s Flagship program, Freedom/Sticks for Soldiers in 2003 providing cigars to deployed service members through Blue Star Moms “Packages from Home” care packs to Fumar Cigars, David’s professional enterprise, donating over 100,000 cigars to troops in the first 4 years with the licensed logos of each of the military branch mascots. David engenders a spirit of gratitude and hope for those who may need some assistance transitioning from service to civilian life.