Leading the Way in Veteran Wellness Through Leadership.
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Kriss & Larry Titus
Founder & Chief Financial Officer
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Eileen Titus
Chief Operating Officer
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Matthew Titus
Director of Veteran Engagement
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Allan Alford
Vice President of the “Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation Inc.”
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Katie Zalesky
Special Programs Coordinator
A Message From Our Chairman, Mark Miller:
Hello, my name is Mark Miller and I have the pleasure of being the chairperson of Michael's Foundation. As the proud owner of Al-Marah Arabian Horses, which is also the host farm of the foundation, I am thrilled to announce that we will be celebrating our 80th anniversary in 2022. We take great pride in hosting this incredible program, which is aimed at using our horses to assist veterans with PTSD in their healing journey.
Our foundation's main goal is to provide veterans with free assistance by utilizing our beautiful farm in Clermont, Florida. Equine Assisted Therapy is an approach that has been highly successful for us over the past 75 years. Our first project aimed to help deaf children overcome their challenges and learn that they could have productive and wonderful lives.
Our experience has been firsthand, as one of our farm managers lost both his legs to a landmine in Vietnam and went on to become a successful rider and manager. We have worked with veterans for 45 years and have been at the forefront of Equine Assisted Therapy programs that target addiction and PTSD.
Our approach is unique because we understand that every interaction is different and that we can learn from everyone we touch. As horse people, we have gained insight into how to make our programs even more effective and meaningful. We have also realized that our program cannot be stand-alone and that veterans need access to legal and VA claim services, which we have included for free.
We invite you to join our supportive community without any pressure or expectation. If what you see on our website interests you, please come see us. We believe that there is never any cost to our veterans and that anonymity is critical.
KRISS & LARRY TITUS
Kriss Titus is the Founder of Michael’s Foundation, and Larry Titus is the Chief Financial Officer and Chairman.
With over thirty years as a C-Level Executive in the business world, Kriss has discovered a new passion and purpose in her life with Michael’s Foundation, named in honor of her deceased son. When Kriss & Larry’s youngest child of six kids, Michael, came home from serving seven years in the Army as a Forward Observer, with four tours in Afghanistan, he struggled psychologically with the effects of war to the extent that he took his own life.
Kriss explains the only way she would ever be able to make sense of the loss of
her son would be by doing something productive in this space where she knows so many veterans struggle: Adapting to the civilian world post-military service. In 2019, she founded Michael’s Foundation with Larry. Working together, they created a unique opportunity for veterans and their families to have an empowering community experience with horses.
The Titus’ ultimate goal is to support veterans and their families by providing a safe and tranquil space where they can thrive in their post-duty lives. Kriss and Larry, who have been married for 50 years, live near Michael’s Foundation and actively participate in the programs here in Clermont, Florida.
EILEEN TITUS
Eileen Daley, a UCF Alum, is thrilled to bring her business management experience and deep understanding of physical and mental health to Michael’s Foundation as Chief Operating Officer. In 2013, Eileen oversaw quality control and special projects for Arabian Night’s Dinner Show in Kissimmee, Florida. From there she became the Business Manager of the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Farm, here in Clermont, overseeing operations, programming, and events. A major highlight from the farm was planning Open House events, which drew in over 500 people!
Not only did Eileen learn a lot about horses and all that goes into the business of showing, breeding, and sharing their magic with riders and onlookers, she was able to do what she loved the most: make connections with others, to provide a safe and inclusive environment for everyone in attendance. Because of her love for helping others, Eileen eventually pursued Yoga Therapy school in Miami, Florida. During this 3 year (now master’s degree Program) school, Eileen was supervised in a clinic setting by various Doctors in various fields to address acute and chronic illness (mental and physical) through a yoga and physical therapy lens. She also became a personal trainer so that she could use strength training when needed, to further address health holistically. She continued working full time for 7 years as an Integrative Health Specialist & Business and Lifestyle Consultant.
Eileen is ecstatic about bringing her experience to Michael’s Foundation and being part of an incredible team of individuals who passionately want to support Veterans and their families so that they can thrive.
MATTHEW TITUS
Matthew Titus is our Director of Veteran Engagement, and also Michael Titus’ older brother. Matt brings his expertise in Search Engine Optimization, Digital Marketing, and life experience as an Army Veteran, to our team.
ALAN ALFORD
Over the last 27 years, Alan Alford has become a leader within the veteran
community. He has assisted tens of thousands of veterans, service members, and their families to receive their hard-earned veteran’s benefits. As a subject matter expert on veterans' benefits and benefits-related issues, he regularly lectures at numerous colleges, military bases, Vet Centers, Pow Wow, health fairs, homeless shelters for veterans, and numerous gatherings where veterans will be meeting that need assistance with their veteran’s benefits. Additionally, he co-authored “The Expert’s Guide to Veterans Benefits”, and has worked tirelessly to assist with numerous pieces of legislation that have protected the sacred rights for all that have served our great nation.
Most importantly though, Alan, as the Vice President of the “Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation Inc.” has personally been able to help hundreds of chronically homeless veterans to get off the streets of Central Florida permanently, and he has worked tirelessly each transitioning veteran to furnish their new apartments and rebuild their lives. Through our partnership with both Alan and Robin Alford and the “Fighting for Our Heroes Foundation”, Michael’s Foundation is equipped to handle the numerous often complex issues that our veterans face after their military service has ended. This dynamic partnership continually helps numerous veterans each day to overcome the various obstacles that impact both the veterans and their family member’s lives.
KATIE ZALESKY
Meet Katie Zalesky, MFI's Special Programs Coordinator, a dynamic and passionate member of our team who embodies the spirit of dedication and service. Katie is committed to the Veteran community, bringing over a decade of project management experience and nearly two years of case management expertise to MFI. As a proud Marine Corps Veteran Spouse and devoted new mom, Katie brings a unique blend of personal experience and empathy to MFI.
Katie looks forward to her role as Projects Coordinator. Her professional background, enriched by her personal passions and her military affiliations, empowers her to contribute significantly to Micheal's Foundation's mission.
Katie's hobbies are passionate and diverse. Not only is she a Level I Freediver, but she's also a Black belt in Shotokan Karate, and an experienced dog trainer!
At the heart of Katie's work is a desire to make a meaningful difference. Whether it's through her involvement with animals, her dedication to the veteran community, or her professional endeavors, she strives to leave a positive legacy that inspires others to act with compassion and purpose, kindness and support.