Fishing With Purpose
Healing Waters for Those Who Have Served
Emergency Cases
Personalized attention, and continuous support for every patient.
24/7 Online
555-278-4364
Our Value Proposition
Proud Supporters
The Story That Started It All
For Captain Rick Roberts, the water has always been home.
He grew up fishing the inland waters of Central Florida alongside his Father, a retired Navy Commander and his greatest mentor. Those early days taught him not just how to cast a line or read the tides, but how the water itself can heal. It became their sacred space: a place of connection, peace, and presence.
When his father passed away, Rick carried on both the love of fishing and his Father’s legacy of service. With over 40 years of inshore fishing experience, he built a charter business, guiding families and friends to create unforgettable memories on the water. Every trip mattered. Every laugh, every catch, every story shared – Rick treated it as sacred.
But something inside him kept tugging. As he guided charters, he felt called to give back to those who had given so much: our veterans and first responders.
He began offering free fishing trips to them, knowing many could never afford a charter of their own.
The response was overwhelming. Each time he posted an opening, hundreds of veterans and first responders applied. Men and women battling PTSD, families longing for joy, heroes who hadn’t smiled in years – all hoping for just one day of peace on the water.
Rick could only take out four at a time. Reading through 200-300 requests and having to say no to so many broke his heart. And worse, when wheelchair-bound veterans reached out, Rick’s boat couldn’t safely support them. The thought of these heroes being excluded from the very healing he knew they deserved became unbearable.
“What started as a boy fishing with his dad became a movement to honor those who’ve sacrificed for us.”
Rick knew he had to do more.
“And so, Those Who Served Foundation was born.”
This nonprofit is the legacy of his Father, his decades on the water, and his devotion to those who have carried us all. Its mission: expand the fleet, create wheelchair-accessible vessels, and open the waterways to every veteran and first responder who longs for healing, joy, and connection
The Ripple Effect
When a veteran feels peace again, a family heals.
When a first responder remembers peace, their community is strengthened.
Every single trip extends far beyond the water – it ripples outward, touching lives we may never see.
When One Hero Heals, The Ripple Reaches Us All
- 4 lives touched on every fishing charter.
- Hundreds of families strengthened each year.
- Countless ripples of healing flowing through our communities.
- “When one hero heals, an entire family heals.”
Mission Statement
At Those Who Served Foundation, our mission is to honor and support Veterans and First Responders by providing healing, connection, and hope through the power of fishing. We believe that time on the water restores the mind, strengthens the spirit, and builds lasting bonds.
By creating opportunities to fish, learn, and share in the outdoors, we help those who served rediscover peace, resilience, and community.
Casting lines. Building bonds, Honoring service
Have Questions?
Your questions matter to us. If you’d like to know more about our fishing trips, volunteering, or how to support Those Who Served Foundation, fill out the form below — our team will be glad to help.
