For more than 30 years, The Military Reunion Network (MRN) has been dedicated to helping military reunions start, survive, and thrive. Guided by its mission to reduce Veteran suicide through continued connection at military reunions, MRN provides educational programs, planning resources, industry partnerships, and the annual Reunion Planners Summit, equipping reunion leaders with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to build stronger organizations and create meaningful opportunities for Veterans to reconnect with those who shared their military journey.
Along the way, one thing became increasingly clear: while education, resources, and industry support were essential, they could not overcome every challenge. Many reunion organizations simply lacked the financial resources needed to continue bringing Veterans together. Recognizing that need, the Reunion Assistance Fund (RAF) was created to provide financial assistance that helps military reunion organizations overcome financial barriers and keep their reunions moving forward. While MRN continues to educate and connect reunion leaders, RAF focuses exclusively on providing financial assistance through grants—because no military reunion should end simply because financial assistance wasn’t available.
A Message from the Executive Director
Thank you for visiting the Reunion Assistance Fund.
For many years, I have had the privilege of working alongside military reunion planners through The Military Reunion Network. During that time, I’ve witnessed the incredible impact military reunions have on Veterans, their families, and the lifelong friendships forged through military service. I’ve also seen the challenges many reunion organizations face as rising costs and limited financial resources threaten their ability to continue bringing Veterans together.
The Reunion Assistance Fund was created to help meet that need. By providing financial assistance to eligible reunion organizations and helping reunion leaders attend the MRN Educational Summit, RAF is committed to ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of Veterans reconnecting with those who shared their military journey.
For me, this isn’t simply about funding reunions. It’s about preserving the friendships, camaraderie, and sense of belonging that military service created. Every Veteran deserves the opportunity to reconnect with those who understand their journey.
I am honored to serve alongside an exceptional Board of Directors who share a commitment to integrity, accountability, and service. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every dollar entrusted to RAF is invested wisely, responsibly, and in accordance with our mission.
Transparency and accountability are fundamental to our mission. The Military Reunion Network (MRN) does not receive grants or financial support from the Reunion Assistance Fund. All grant decisions are made solely by the RAF Board of Directors in accordance with established eligibility criteria and grant policies, ensuring that every donation is used to support RAF’s charitable mission.
Thank you for believing in our mission and helping ensure that no military reunion should end simply because financial assistance wasn’t available.
Sharon Danitschek
Executive Director
Reunion Assistance Fund
Meet the Board of Directors
Howard Dobson – Reunion Planner USS Sam Houston SSBN-609
Howard Dobson is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served from 1966 to 1972. He began his naval career as an Electronics Technician specializing in shipboard radar systems before entering the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. After completing the program, he served as a Nuclear Reactor Operator aboard the USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609), where he combined his electronics background with the operation, maintenance, and calibration of nuclear reactor control systems.
Following his military service, Howard joined the Philadelphia Electric Company as an Instrument and Controls Technician at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. He later transferred to the company’s Corporate Laboratories Division, where he served as a Senior Technical Assistant until his retirement in 2000.
Howard attended his first USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4) reunion in 1997, an experience that inspired him to establish reunions for the USS Sam Houston. After joining The Reunion Network (now the Military Reunion Network), he began reconnecting former crew members and, in 2009, founded the USS Sam Houston Veterans’ Association. He successfully incorporated the organization in the State of Delaware and secured federal tax-exempt status under 501(c)(19).
Howard enjoys sharing his knowledge with fellow reunion planners, particularly in the areas of nonprofit incorporation, 501(c)(19) organizations, and hotel contract negotiations. His decades of experience building and sustaining a successful reunion organization make him a valuable member of the Reunion Assistance Fund Board of Directors.
Michael Bugara – Reunion Planner Destroyer Leader Association
Michael Bugara is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served six years, including two years of active duty and four years in the U.S. Naval Reserve, with annual active-duty service. During his naval career, he served aboard the USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4), USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858), and USS Compton (DD-705).Michael has more than 25 years of experience planning military reunions. He is a former reunion planner for the Tin Can Sailors Association and currently serves as a member of its Board of Directors. His expertise includes military reunion planning, hotel contract negotiations, nonprofit governance, and researching funding opportunities to support reunion organizations.
For more than a decade, Michael has been actively involved with the Military Reunion Network, sharing his knowledge and experience to strengthen military reunions across the country. He is also an active member of the Bristol Elks Lodge, where he has served as Exalted Ruler, continuing his lifelong commitment to volunteer service and community leadership.
Stuart Dupre – Reunion Planner USS Finback
Stuart Dupre is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served for eight years aboard nuclear submarines as a Nuclear Machinist’s Mate. Following his military service, he built a career in the commercial nuclear power industry, where he ultimately served as a Refueling Project Manager. He spent the final four years of his career in project management before retiring.
For the past 12 years, Stuart has served as the reunion planner for the USS Finback reunion, applying the organizational, leadership, and project management skills he developed throughout his military and professional career. For the past four years, he has also volunteered at the Military Reunion Network’s Reunion Planners Summit, where he played an integral role in updating and improving the conference attendee planning packets.
Stuart’s firsthand experience planning military reunions provides valuable insight into the challenges reunion planners face. He is committed to sharing that knowledge in support of the Reunion Assistance Fund’s mission to help military reunions continue bringing Veterans together.
David Blake – Reunion Planner (ret) Fifteenth Air Force
David Blake is a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served from 1972 to 1976 and is the son of a career Air Force officer and World War II combat Veteran. In honor of his father, David chaired the reunion committee for his father’s World War II reunion group. As attrition took its toll on individual reunion organizations, he helped combine several Army Air Forces reunion groups to establish the Fifteenth Air Force Reunion. After serving in a leadership role for 19 years, he stepped down following the 2025 reunion
Today, David is honored to support the Reunion Assistance Fund in its mission to help current and future military reunions succeed. While he does not claim a single area of specialization, his many years in the reunion planning trenches have provided him with extensive practical experience and a broad understanding of the challenges reunion planners face. He is committed to sharing that knowledge to help others avoid common pitfalls and build successful military reunions.
Richard Krejsa – Reunion Planner (ret) 6994 Security Squadron
Richard “Rich” Krejsa is a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served from 1966 to 1969 as a Morse Intercept Operator. He served 18 months in the Philippines before deploying to Vietnam, where he flew more than 135 combat missions performing Airborne Radio Direction Finding (ARDF).
Following his military service, Rich built a successful career in information technology spanning more than 35 years. Beginning as a mainframe computer operator trainee, he advanced to become a systems programmer and was responsible for managing major mainframe computer relocations from Chicago to Nashville and from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Brentwood, Tennessee.
After retiring, Rich identified the need for a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Franklin, Tennessee, and led the effort to establish one. He currently serves as President of the chapter, which has grown to more than 160 members. In addition, Rich has planned 15 military reunions, bringing Veterans together to reconnect, remember, and strengthen the bonds forged through military service.
Rich’s leadership, organizational experience, and long-standing commitment to serving fellow Veterans provide valuable perspective to the Reunion Assistance Fund Board of Directors.