THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Warriors Wall Veterans Project in November and 12 Days of Christmas Fundraiser in December! Almost $2,000 was raised in support of Warrior Spirit peer support and education services. | | |
As we prepare to close out this year, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. When we look back on 2025, one truth stands out above everything else: this community has shown up with courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to healing.
Because of you, Warrior Spirit was able to serve more than 600 veterans, first responders, educators, individuals in recovery and youth through peer support, mental-wellness education and therapeutic services — from art and equine programs to adventure-based healing and resilience training. Every conversation, every class, every moment of breakthrough has been a reminder of why this work matters so deeply.
We are profoundly thankful for our partners in service — those who trusted us with referrals, those who welcomed referrals from us when someone needed extra care and those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to educate our communities on the critical need for mental-health support in Texas.
And to each of you who supported Warrior Spirit this year — by spreading awareness, attending events, volunteering, donation, or simply cheering us on — thank you. Your faith in our mission fuels us every single day.
Thank you for championing our dream… for believing in our people… and for helping us Grow, Give, and Love in ways that reach far beyond what we could have imagined.
From our family to yours,
Gabe & Ashley Onofre
Warrior Spirit: A Servant's Heart
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| | Warrior Spirit recently received a generous donation to expand mental wellness education for staff, boards of directors and teams within agencies serving individuals in addiction recovery and/or facing mental health challenges. These customizable, on-site trainings can be tailored to your organization and may include mental health trigger discipline, self-care, journaling, breathwork and other practical tools. Core topics offered include Mental Health First Aid, stress reduction, stigma reduction, emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, burnout recognition (including anxiety and depression), healthy boundaries, leadership’s role in fostering wellness and board-level governance for building a psychologically safe culture—all designed to strengthen teams, prevent burnout and improve client care. To learn more or schedule a class at your facility, reach out to Ashley Onofre at 979-571-2771 or ashley.onofre@warriorspirittexas.org. Classes and materials are provided free of charge, thanks to our donor. | | | | |
Warrior Spirit was honored to team up with Proper Life and Health Insurance at the Perry Family YMCA Salute to Veterans event! BIG thanks to YMCA staff for inviting us to speak about Warrior Spirit’s services for veterans in our community! We had some great conversations about mental and physical wellness — and we’re excited to share that community mental wellness classes with Warrior Spirit and the Perry YMCA are in the works! What a blessing it was to be surrounded by so many veterans and their families — to hear their stories and their encouragement for the next generation of men and women serving our country. One female Army veteran shared words of wisdom from boot camp and beyond, ending with “Always remember to live with purpose, strength and joy.” We couldn’t agree more
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A Seat at the Table (and on Deck):
Peer Support Specialists Needed
We are calling on state-certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialists to join Warrior Spirit in a special project launching in 2026. We are building a small, trusted rotation of peer supporters to walk alongside veterans and first responders in trauma-informed, compassion-centered small-group settings. These are paid opportunities requiring only a few hours at a time, with rotations scheduled once every few months beginning January 2026. If you have a heart for service and experience holding safe, grounded spaces, we would love to have you on deck as we continue serving those who serve our communities. To learn more or express interest—for yourself or someone you recommend—please contact Gabe Onofre at gabe.onofre@warriorspirittexas.org or 281-615-2702
| | | | Warrior Spirit was honored to participate in the Backing the Brave Festival in Magnolia this November, a powerful community gathering dedicated to honoring veterans and first responders. With more than 110 vendors and a full day of ceremonies, music and connection, the event was overflowing with purpose, gratitude and community spirit. We absolutely loved sharing our mental wellness services and Super Patches with everyone! So thankful to Amanda Csombok and the Backing the Brave team for creating space that strengthens relationships and opens doors to serve even more warriors across Montgomery County. | | |
Servant Spotlight:
No One Gets Left Behind: A Conversation with Amanda Csombok, Founder & CEO of Backing the Brave TX | Thin Line Force
At Warrior Spirit, we believe collaboration and shared mission are essential to supporting those who serve. Few organizations embody that belief as powerfully as Backing the Brave TX, led by Founder and CEO Amanda Csombok. Rooted in lived experience and guided by empathy, Backing the Brave TX has become a trusted source of connection, resources, and hope for military members, first responders, and their families across Texas. We recently sat down with Amanda to learn more about her journey, the heart behind the mission, and the growing impact of the Backing the Brave community
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A Calling Born from Experience
Backing the Brave TX was not created from a business plan or a distant idea - it was born from real life.
“Backing the Brave was born from lived experience,” Amanda shared. “I’ve walked alongside military members, first responders, and their families through transition, loss, uncertainty, and quiet struggle. I saw how often those who serve others are expected to carry everything alone once the uniform comes off.”
Rather than one defining moment, Amanda describes a series of experiences - seeing people fall through the cracks, including herself - that made it impossible to look away.
“Eventually, it became clear this wasn’t just something I wanted to do - it was something I was called to do.”
“No One Gets Left Behind” — More Than a Motto
The promise “No One Gets Left Behind” is the cornerstone of Backing the Brave TX. For Amanda, it is deeply personal.
“It’s not a slogan—it’s a responsibility,” she said. “It means we don’t stop showing up when things get uncomfortable, inconvenient, or complicated.”
That commitment extends beyond moments of crisis or public recognition.
“It means staying present—emotionally, practically, and consistently—long after the applause is gone.”
Leading with Empathy
Amanda’s lived experience shapes not only the mission but the way Backing the Brave operates day to day.
“I’ve walked in the boots I now serve,” she explained. “I understand the weight of service, the identity shifts, the silent battles, and the gaps between help being available and help being accessible.”
This understanding informs every program and event.
“We listen first. We meet people where they are. And we design experiences that feel human, welcoming, and real—not transactional or performative.”
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Among Backing the Brave’s core values—Honor, Service, Empathy, Unity—it is empathy that guides Amanda most strongly as a leader
“Empathy reminds me that every story is different and every struggle is valid,” she said. “Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about understanding people. When people feel seen and understood, real impact follows.”
Backing the Brave Festival
One of the most visible expressions of that empathy and unity is the annual Backing the Brave Festival, now a major community event.
“The festival started with a simple idea,” Amanda shared. “We wanted to create a space where heroes and their families could feel celebrated, supported, and connected—without barriers.”
What makes it special is the shared heart behind it.
“It’s not just entertainment or vendors. It’s a living example of community unity—military families, first responders, nonprofits, local businesses, and city leaders all coming together with one shared purpose.”
A meaningful detail reflects the authenticity of the event: most vendors and partners have direct ties to the military or first responder community themselves.
Moments That Matter Most
When asked about a moment that captures the mission of Backing the Brave TX, Amanda didn’t hesitate.
“Watching families arrive quiet and guarded and leave laughing, talking, and exchanging contact information—that’s everything.”
She’s witnessed veterans reconnect with purpose, children light up as they see their parents honored, and first responders realize they are not invisible.
“Those moments—when people feel they belong again—are exactly why we do this.”
One especially meaningful outcome speaks to long-term impact.
“At our most recent festival, we learned a new veteran-owned business was created after someone gathered resources at a previous event. That was such a full-circle moment for us.”
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Reducing Isolation Through Connection
Isolation, Amanda emphasizes, is one of the greatest silent struggles facing military and first responder families.
“Our events create safe, welcoming environments where people don’t have to explain themselves or prove their worth.”
By combining resources, genuine connection, and community presence, Backing the Brave TX helps reduce stigma, ease financial and emotional strain, and remind people they are not alone.
“Sometimes the most powerful intervention is simply being seen and supported.”
A Community Effort
The mission does not succeed in isolation—it depends on collective effort.
“The community is everything,” Amanda said. “When businesses sponsor, volunteers show up, families attend, and neighbors spread the word, it creates a safety net strong enough to catch those who might otherwise fall through.”
“No One Gets Left Behind,” she adds, only works when everyone takes part.
Looking Ahead
As Backing the Brave TX looks to the future, the vision is clear: growth with intention.
“We’re focused on expanding programs, increasing year-round support, building sustainable partnerships, and creating long-term impact for military and first responder families.”
Those who want to support the mission can attend events, volunteer, donate, sponsor, share the work, or simply start conversations.
“Every action—big or small—helps ensure that no one who serves our communities is ever left behind.”
To learn more, visit www.backingthebravetx.com or follow Backing The Brave TX on Facebook.
At Warrior Spirit, we are grateful for partners like Amanda Csombok and Backing the Brave TX—organizations that lead with empathy, serve with purpose, and remind our communities that connection saves lives.
| | Warrior Spirit: Community Partners | | | | |
