Become a Partner
About / 01 · Program A Heart & Armor Initiative

Going deeper than
"thank you for your service."

An athlete-powered, veteran-centered program. Interactions, engagements, and activities that inspire players, educate civilians, and honor veterans.

The story

In 2001, we came together for a moment.

Baseball was one of the first places we returned to, together. Veterans carried the burden of what came next.

In many aspects of our country, deep divisions take center stage. But baseball and military communities both demonstrate the same competitive advantage: unified efforts versus a set of fragmented agendas.

In 2026, we have the opportunity to turn remembrance into action, and to elevate veterans. The Home Team Initiative provides the platform.

Professional athletes and teams consistently want to support veterans in a meaningful and contemporary way. The Home Team Initiative embraces the model set by the veteran community: collaboration, strength, gratitude, history, humor, and progress.

02 / The Five Pillars

Every partnership
activates across five aspects.

Remember

Veteran-led storytelling, education, and reflection that honors service and sacrifice. Anchored to the public moments that matter: Memorial Day, 9/11, Veterans Day, but extending year-round.

Connect

Breaking barriers by sharing both challenging and inspiring experiences. Athletes and veterans, side by side, in spaces designed for honest dialogue.

Educate

Dispelling myths and stigma; centering the real needs of the post-9/11 generation. Built on Heart & Armor's evidence base and translated for the public square.

Serve

Veterans and athletes leading civilians in meaningful service in their communities. Service is the language; the field is the gathering point.

Heal

Joining together to ensure a healthy and thriving veteran population, through programming, partnerships, and the long-term scientific work of Heart & Armor.

Each activation is tailored. Not every pillar is required, and every engagement is designed to maximize impact and visibility.

Trusted voices

What athletes and veterans share.

The same foundations forge a unique bond, creating safe and empathetic spaces for vulnerable conversations about mental health, identity, and the weight of a uniform.

i.

Discipline and dedication

ii.

High-pressure environments

iii.

The bonds of teamwork

iv.

Mental health

v.

Family challenges

vi.

The weight of a uniform

vii.

Vulnerability and strength

viii.

Identity and retirement

ix.

Purpose after the uniform

03 / The Parent Organization

Heart & Armor incubates initiatives that last.

Founded in 2019, Heart & Armor Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of veterans through science, storytelling, and community. The Home Team Initiative is this model in action.

IMG · H&A 01 Foundation portrait
2019 Established by musician John Mayer.
100% Impact, no overhead. Donations go directly to programs.
Macro + micro programs that move the needle on veterans' health.
Pubs. Evidence-based results, in scientific journals and mass media.
Reach Strategic use of high-profile media to spotlight veterans and the issues they face.