Our Story

The founders of Keeping America’s Promises have a story filled with service to our country. Igrain served 26 years in the U.S. Army. Three of Kassandra and Igrain’s four children also served in the armed forces. Kasandra’s brother graduated from West Point; her sister served in the Air Force; and her mom served in the U.S. Army Reserves. She had an uncle and a stepfather who served in Vietnam. These service members are in addition to family members who serve in the fields of nursing, medicine, and law enforcement, fueling their passion to give back to first responders. Kasandra learned the importance of service and leadership at an early age. Following the example of her parents who fostered children and adults with special needs, Kasandra and Igrain served for seven years as foster parents to children and adults who suffered from Autism, Down’s Syndrome, and other special needs. After many years of contemplating, Kasandra’s heart for service led to the founding of this 501c3 non-profit organization in 2019 to raise awareness of the hidden sacrifices of military service and show appreciation for the selflessness required by service members.

Service comes with hefty prices. Combat veterans come home changed. People are able to acknowledge the visible scars of war, but the invisible wounds are often ignored. Yet, the entire family suffers from them. The spouses and children of those who serve live in constant fear of harm coming to their mates and parents. They wonder daily if their loved ones will ever return home. This causes anxiety and PTSD. It is a misconception that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a result of combat. Any traumatic event can cause any person to suffer from PTSD. Many soldiers never recover from the trauma they experience and return home a shell of the person they were when they left. Even when they escape combat with their lives, many times their families pay the ultimate price because the person they knew and loved is gone.

Kasandra and Igrain experienced loss when her mother, Dona Jolinda Gunn, succumbed to her invisible wounds, dying by suicide on September 6, 2019. It is their mission to carry on her legacy of service and self-sacrifice by being a face and voice for this devastating issue and removing the stigma associated with mental illness, especially in the African American community. Growing up black usually means you are taught that “what goes on in this house, stays in this house.” These secrets are often the foundation of silent suffering that leads to depression and suicide. As a result of their loss, Kasandra and Igrain know that it is past time for this conversation in every community, especially their own. Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than nonveteran adults. Keeping America’s Promises is determined to turn their pain into purpose and go the extra mile for every veteran and first responder.

KAP doesn’t want to reinvent the wheel! We want to connect and collaborate with like-minded organizations and make an undeniable impact in our beloved community! We believe that we are stronger together, and there are so many incredible organizations out there doing amazing work serving individuals like my husband after his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan! Please consider joining us, and together, we can keep our promise!