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September 21, 2025 2025 Giving Guide

Wreaths Across America

2026 Goals

The goal each year is to expand the reach of the mission in more communities across the state and country. In doing so, more servicemembers will be remembered and honored with the placement of a veteran’s wreath and we help teach the public through sharing stories of service.

Fundraising Events/Opportunities

National Wreaths Across America Day is a national event, that will be held this year on Dec. 13 at more than 5,000 participating locations across the country. This event gathers more than four million volunteers, a third of whom are children, to pause, place wreaths and say the names of over 3 million servicemembers laid to rest.

Currently, WAA has over 7,000 registered Sponsorship Groups nationwide. Each one is raising awareness and wreath sponsorships for local or national cemeteries. These groups host events all throughout the year. To learn about events in your community, we encourage you to identify a couple of groups near you that you want to support through our website. You can search for by zip code, city/town or name of group.

Giving Opportunities

• Sponsoring wreaths: Every $17 sponsorship received places a veteran’s wreath on the headstone of U.S. servicemember. It also supports WAA’s year-round free programs.

• Corporate Support: There are many ways for companies to join the mission. From wreath sponsorships to in-kind support for events and volunteerism, WAA offers a customizable public engagement opportunity for your employees, customers and community.

• Join the Honor Fleet: Hundreds of professional drivers and trucking companies help move the mission each year. Thanks to these professional drivers, delivering veterans’ wreaths across the nation is possible.

• Support Programs: National Wreaths Across America Day is a national event, but the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is a yearlong one that offers several impactful programs such as the TEACH Program offering FREE curriculum for youth of all ages.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Add a New Location: Volunteer to coordinate a wreath-laying ceremony at a cemetery or veteran’s memorial in your community. Determine if this location is already participating by checking our website. We have resources to help you plan your ceremony!

• Start a Sponsorship Group: Your civic, nonprofit, school, sports or other group can help raise wreath sponsorships for any participating cemetery. A portion of the funds can be returned to you to help your group. We offer resources and assistance to ensure your success.

• Volunteer to place wreaths on a veteran’s grave at any of our more than 5,000 participating locations. Involve your friends and family to honor our service men, women and families.

At A Glance

Established: 2007 / Employees: 67 / Annual revenue: $37,980,702

Top funding sources

68% Individual sponsorships

19% Corporate support

13% Foundation grants/other

Contact

4 Point St.,

Columbia Falls, ME 04623

(877) 385-9504

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

WAAHQ WreathsRadio

@wreathsacross

@wreathsacross

@WreathsAcross

wreaths-across-america

WreathsAcrossAmerica

Awards/Accolades

Executive Director Karen Worcester received the 2025 Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon Patriot Award, presented by the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) Greater Kansas City Chapter. She accepted this award on behalf of Wreaths Across America’s volunteers. Additionally, Wreaths Across America received the 2024-2025 Public Spirit Award from the American Legion Auxiliary.

Mission Statement

The yearlong mission of Wreaths Across America is to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who serve and TEACH the next generation the value of freedom.

Our servicemembers sacrifice daily, leaving empty seats at home for those serving and those lost. Wreaths Across America’s year-round mission to Remember, Honor, Teach ensures veterans and families are never forgotten, far beyond one December day.

Service locations

WAA is a national nonprofit, with more than 5,000 participating locations across the country. Currently, there are 73 registered participating locations where ceremonies are held in Maine and more than 60 sponsorship groups supporting these local efforts in all counties.

Leadership

Karen Worcester
Executive Director (volunteer)

Board officers

Wayne Hanson, Chairman of the Board (volunteer), Vietnam Veteran

Michael Edgecomb, Vice Chairman, Time Warner Cable (retired), Veteran

David “Mel” Russen, Treasurer, President and CEO of Mar-Jel Remodeling Inc., Veteran

Renee Worcester, Secretary, WAA Director of Development and Partnerships (volunteer)

Board Members

Karen Diefendorf, Army Chaplain (retired)

Kevin Haley, Gold Star Brother, Portland Police Officer (retired)

Lorna Harris, Gold Star Mother, President American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Maine Chapter

Col. Daniel M. Leclair, Commander, Northeast Region Civil Air Patrol (retired), Veteran

Randy Lewer, Imagery Analyst, Department of Defense with the National Geospatial Agency, Veteran

Nathan Lewis, Senior Director of Risk Management for Transportation, Tyson Foods Inc.

Jenny Lovering, General Manager, Transportation, Walmart

Daniel Patrick Mead, Senior Estimator, Sorensen Gross, Veteran

Graig Morin, Owner and President, Brown Dog Carriers, LLC.

Debbie Ruane Sparks, Executive Director, National Motor Freight Traffic Association

Col. Ron Sailor, Chief of Staff, Maine Air National Guard (retired), Veteran

Patrick Simmons, Senior Vice President of Transportation, Tyson Foods Inc., Veteran

Dr. Pamela W. Slaven-Lee, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Marymount University

Sarah Worcester, WAA Director of Transportation (volunteer)