V O L . X X I X N O. V I
F
ast forward to September 2022, he
and his wife Kelsey opened the
Travis Mills Foundation Retreat,
a 9,800-square-foot, $7 million healing
center for post-9/11 veterans and their
families. e foundation's program-
ming provides activities for veterans and
their families, combined with tools and
skills needed for a healthy recovery. e
center includes an indoor pool, massage
rooms, fitness rooms and state-of-the-
art workout equipment.
Mainebiz: What prompted you to
create this center?
Travis Mills: I was in the army; on
my third appointment, I got blown
On April 10, 2012, Travis
Mills, a staff sergeant
in the 82nd Airborne
division of the U.S. Army,
was critically injured
on his third tour of duty
in Afghanistan, losing
portions of all four limbs
from an improvised
explosive device. He
was one of only five
quadruple amputees
from the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan to sur-
vive his injuries. During
his time at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center,
he found that being
active was a key part of
his physical and mental
recovery.
M AR C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 22
Travis Mills
Foundation
travismillsfoundation.org
1002 Watson Pond Road, Rome
What it does: The Travis Mills
Foundation offers support to
post-9/11 veterans and their
families.
Employees: 33
Founded: The Travis Mills
Foundation was established in
2014, and the doors of the
Retreat opened in 2017.
Funding: $33 million since 2014
P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D
A veteran
provides retreat
for veterans, families
Travis Mills is inspiring veterans to believe
in life again after their injuries
B y A l e x i s W e l l s
Travis Mills, founder
of the Travis Mills
foundation, with his
daughter Chloe.
NONPROFIT LEADER
OF THE YEAR
Travis Mills
Travis Mills Foundation
