Gary Sinise, best known for playing Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, has helped raise more than $300 million for wounded veterans, first responders and their families through the Gary Sinise Foundation, founded in 2011. One of its main initiatives, the R.I.S.E. program, builds fully mortgage-free, specially adapted smart homes for severely injured veterans and first responders. In November 2025, the foundation celebrated the dedication of its 100th home, awarded to retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Joe Bowser.
Beyond housing, the foundation has provided more than a million meals to military personnel, while Sinise’s Dan Band has performed hundreds of concerts for troops since 2003. His commitment to veterans began decades before the foundation, inspired partly by his connection to the character of Lieutenant Dan, a wounded Vietnam veteran. Sinise has emphasized the importance of helping veterans and first responders who often struggle to ask for support.
In 2025, the foundation reported more than $91 million in revenue and received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Around 90 percent of donations reportedly go directly toward its programs.Through home-building projects, hospital visits and musical performances, Sinise continues to make a difference in the lives of those who have served their country.
