Leading the Way in Veteran Wellness Through Leadership.
-
![Founders of Michael's Foundation - Kriss and Larry Titus]()
Kriss & Larry Titus
Founder & Chief Financial Officer
-
![Eileen Titus, Executive Director of Michael's Foundation]()
Eileen Titus
Executive Director
-
![Matthew Titus, Director of Veteran Engagement at Michael's Foundations]()
Matthew Titus
Director of Veteran Engagement
-
![Allan Alford, Veteran Benefit Guidance at Michael's Foundation]()
Allan Alford
Vice President of the “Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation Inc.”
-
![]()
Jenna Malone
Veteran Benefits Guidance Provider
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
Steering Michael's Foundation since 2021, and most recently as Executive Director, my leadership is rooted in a profound commitment to wellness education community enrichment, and strategic partnerships. With a robust background in volunteer management, my recent tenure has been marked by the successful orchestration of large-scale events, engaging over thousands of Veterans, their families, and Veteran supporters, in wellness programs and family-friendly events that resonate deeply with diverse audiences and the local community.
My "people first" approach is centered on fostering inclusivity and support for those seeking mental health and physical rehabilitation services. The foundation’s growth under my guidance reflects my ability to nurture partnerships, manage expansive volunteer networks, and deliver programs that truly make a difference. We have cultivated a team dynamic that thrives on collaboration and mutual respect, ensuring that each endeavor aligns with our overarching mission to uplift and heal. Our pillars at the Foundation are to combat isolation, improve communication with loved ones, and provide tools for stress reduction and better managing triggers, for Veterans and their families.
MATTHEW TITUS
Matthew Titus is our Director of Veteran Engagement, and also Michael Titus’ older brother, and grew up alongside of Michael, as they were only 2 grades apart from each other in during grade school. Matthew has over a decade and a half of experience in the digital marketing space, specializing in Digital Media Planning and Search Engine Optimization. He is also a Combat Army Veteran who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Liberty. Matthew is no stranger to the challenges Veterans may face when returning from war and/or exiting the military. He uses his first-hand experiences as a Veteran to connect with both Veteran members of Michael’s Foundation and possible donors. As well as lends his knowledge and understanding of digital marketing and media to the team when possible.
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.
Jenna Malone
Jenna Malone is excited to join the Michaels Foundation family, and share her case management experience and passion for Veteran family advocacy. Before becoming a case manager in 2023, she managed several different gyms and Pilates studios, including Orangetheory Fitness, Retro Fitness, and Club Pilates. She also taught many various group fitness classes, and found her love for Reformer Pilates. She made a new gym family everywhere the Navy moved their family. Her husband Issac, served in the Navy until 2016 when he was medically retired. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2013, Issac came home from deployment in Afghanistan struggling with a broken back and the invisible wounds of war. After Issac having over fifteen surgeries, numerous hospitalizations, and multiple weeks of treatments all over the country, this led Jenna to search for a remote career more conducive to her new caregiver duties. She decided to go back to college and earn a degree in Human Services to pay it forward and help other Veteran families obtain the benefits and resources they need.
Jenna also serves as a volunteer public speaker for Wounded Warrior Project sharing how the organization has helped her family, specifically attending Warrior Network treatment with Issac at UCLA. There they were introduced to Equine Therapy, and it helped them heal in ways they never expected. Jenna loves sharing the benefits of working with horses and holistic therapies for mental and physical well-being. She is excited to share her knowledge of veteran resources and benefits and help many veterans and their families move forward on their healing journey.