Gary Sinise from Forrest Gump is a true hero raising more than $300 million for veterans and their families
Topics: Film and TV, US News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Maximum Film / AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Film and TV, US News
The majority of people will know actor Gary Sinise for his role in the legendary film Forrest Gump, where he played Lieutenant Dan Taylor.
Sinise played a starring role in the 1994 film alongside Tom Hanks, who played Forrest himself.
Lieutenant Dan becomes one of the most impactful people in Forrest's life, and their relationship takes a lot of twists and turns in the film, as many of you will know.
So, many film fanatics know Sinise from the nearly 30-year-old film, but did you know that the American actor has raised a staggering amount for war veterans and their families over the years?
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Yes, back in 2011, Sinise founded The Gary Sinise Foundation - a charity and veterans service organisation that offers services and events for veterans and their families.
Among its many offerings is the construction of specially tailored smart homes for the severely wounded that are provided mortgage-free.
Since the Gary Sinise Foundation was founded, 81 of these specially adapted smart homes have been built, in what is an amazing achievement.
Alongside that, the foundation has served more than 950,000 meals to veterans across the US, and also provided around 500 support concerts for troops, which is sponsored by the foundation.
And perhaps the most impressive work that Sinise has done with the foundation is raise over $300 million for wounded veterans, first responders, and their families.
And the reason why Sinise decided to set up the foundation is quite a personal one.
The actor grew up in a family of veterans and has actually been involved in supporting them as early as the 1970s.
He became actively involved in supporting the military after the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In a little nod to his Forrest Gump character, the actor also started the Gary Sinise & the Lieutenant Dan Band back in 2004 - a cover band that has played over 500 shows visiting soldiers on the frontline.
Sinise opened up on his decision to start the foundation in an interview with People back in 2019.
He said: "I’ve found that service is the best way to heal.
"If every person in every neighborhood around the country took a little bit of responsibility for patting these folks on the back, all the problems that we hear about with regards to veterans not getting services or falling through the cracks would disappear.
"If citizens would look at their freedom providers in a little bit different way."