Ritchie Hays (left) Combat for Compassion • Danny Jackson (right) Vietnam Veteran
Combat for Compassion at Biscuits ’n’ Tips
We welcomed Ritchie Hays, President of Combat for Compassion, who shared the mission and heart behind an organization dedicated to supporting children of veterans lost to suicide.
Biscuits ’n’ Tips exists to bring people together around meaningful stories, education, and shared responsibility. This morning reminded us that our hall is not just a place to gather, it is a place where real needs are seen and met through community.
How Combat for Compassion Began
Combat for Compassion began when Ritchie and others saw a gap that could not be ignored. After the suicide of a fellow service member, two children were left behind with little support and no clear benefits available to them.
While many organizations rightly focus on veterans and mental health, there were very few resources specifically designed for the children left to carry the loss.
What started as a few local fundraisers to help those two kids quickly revealed a larger reality. There were more families, more children, and more stories just like theirs. That moment became the foundation for Combat for Compassion, an organization now in its sixth year and growing every year because the need continues.
Why Supporting Children of Veterans Lost to Suicide Matters
Ritchie spoke openly about how often children are overlooked after a tragedy like this. We talk about service. We talk about sacrifice. We sometimes talk about spouses. But children often grieve quietly, carrying trauma, confusion, and loss into adulthood.
Some of the children supported by Combat for Compassion are as young as four years old. Some witnessed the loss firsthand. Others woke up one morning to a life that would never be the same. These are burdens no child should carry alone, and yet many do.
Supporting children of veterans lost to suicide means recognizing that the impact does not end with the loss of one life. It ripples through families for decades. Combat for Compassion exists to step into that space with consistency, care, and long‑term support.
How Combat for Compassion Supports These Kids
When Combat for Compassion learns about a child in need, one of the first things they do is establish a trust fund in that child’s name. Each trust fund starts with an initial deposit and grows over time as funds allow. These funds are designed to help when the child reaches adulthood, whether that support is needed for education, housing, or simply starting life on more stable footing.
Beyond the trust funds, the organization provides ongoing, personal support throughout the year. Children receive birthday checks, Christmas support, and help with back‑to‑school shopping. These moments are intentional. They are meant to remind each child that someone remembers them and cares about their future.
Combat for Compassion also works to connect families with counseling resources when needed, helping guide them toward support that can be difficult to find or afford.
Transparency and Community Support
One of the most important things Ritchie shared is how Combat for Compassion operates. One hundred percent of the money raised goes directly to supporting the children. No one in the organization is paid. Ritchie is retired and volunteers his time, along with a board made up of working professionals who believe deeply in this mission.
The organization maintains a modest reserve so they can respond quickly when new families are identified. Sometimes a household includes multiple children, and the need can be immediate. This approach allows them to act without delay when support is needed most.
Fundraisers That Bring People Together
Supporting children of veterans lost to suicide takes a community, and Combat for Compassion builds that community through events and fundraisers throughout the year. Their annual rodeo has historically been their largest fundraiser, drawing hundreds of people and raising significant funds to support the kids.
They also host shooting events, raffles, community meals, and school‑supported fundraisers. Local schools have raised money all year long and invited Combat for Compassion to participate in Veterans Day programs. These partnerships matter, not just for fundraising, but for awareness and connection.
Each event is about more than dollars raised. It is about bringing people together around a shared purpose and reminding families they are not alone.
Find out more about their upcoming events by visiting combat4compassion.org.
Stories That Stay With You
During the gathering, another attendee shared a personal story of suicide and the long‑term impact it had on their family. They spoke about frozen accounts, lost benefits, financial strain, and the emotional toll placed on children trying to grow up amid chaos and grief.
That story reinforced exactly why supporting children of veterans lost to suicide matters. In many cases, benefits stop immediately. Families are left without resources during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Combat for Compassion was created to help fill that gap with stability, compassion, and presence.
How You Can Get Involved
You do not have to be a veteran to support Combat for Compassion. You simply have to care about children, families, and community. The organization welcomes volunteers, sponsors, and partners. Businesses and individuals can sponsor events, support fundraisers, or help spread the word.
Following Combat for Compassion on Facebook, attending an event, or sharing their mission with others all help strengthen the support system around these kids.
We are grateful to Ritchie Hays for sharing the mission of Combat for Compassion and for the work being done every day to support children of veterans lost to suicide.