About Us
how honor charity began
Honor Charity: Where Honor Takes Action
Founded in 2024 by U.S. Army veteran and Tucson native SGT Bernie Colonna, Honor Charity was created to do what bureaucracy too often can’t: act fast, care deeply, and deliver real help to veterans when they need it most.
After facing the gaps in veteran support firsthand, Bernie made it his mission to be the bridge. To turn “thank you for your service” into action that feeds families, keeps lights on, and opens doors to education, careers, and healing. It all started at his kitchen table, helping a friend.
At Honor Charity, we don’t waste time or dollars. We get help into the hands of our heroes—immediately, locally, and with zero red tape.
Your donation is more than support, it’s a statement. That when our veterans call for help, we answer.
Don’t just thank a veteran—stand with them. Give today.
Our Focus
Our Purpose: Real Help, Right When It’s Needed
At Honor Charity, we do more than care, we act. We provide fast, direct financial support to veterans, service members, and their families who’ve slipped through the cracks of traditional systems.
When a veteran faces eviction, urgent medical bills, or can’t put food on the table—waiting weeks or months isn’t an option. That’s where we come in.
Our mission is clear: meet real-world needs with speed, respect, and impact. We cut the red tape and put resources directly into the hands of those who served. Whether it’s keeping the lights on, funding emergency home repairs, or covering essential living costs.
Every grant is personal. Every dollar stays local. Every story matters.
Know a veteran in crisis? Let us help.
Want to be part of the solution?
Fundraising & Giving
Every Dollar is a Lifeline
Honor Charity is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit fueled by one mission: deliver urgent, life-changing aid to veterans and military families when no one else will. But we can’t do it without you.
Every day in Southern Arizona, our heroes face real crises—missed rent, car breakdowns, empty fridges, medical emergencies. Your tax-deductible gift turns those moments of fear into hope.
We don’t do red tape. We do results. Your donation goes straight to work funding emergency cash grants that keep families housed, cars running, lights on, and kids supported.
Fast. Transparent. Impactful.
Help us turn gratitude into action. Give now—and be the reason a veteran gets back on their feet.
Our Partners
Annual Report
Honor Charity commenced operations in 2025. As a newly established nonprofit, we are committed to transparency and accountability. Our inaugural annual report, including audited financial statements and disclosures regarding our Board of Directors, will be published at the close of our first fiscal year. This report will reflect our financial stewardship, programmatic impact, and governance practices. Please check back for updates. EIN 99-0458735.
Board of Directors
Bernie Colonna
Founder & CEO, Honor Charity | U.S. Army Veteran | Entrepreneur & Community Advocate
Bernie Colonna is a Tucson native, seasoned entrepreneur, and U.S. Army veteran with a lifelong commitment to service. A proud graduate of Salpointe Catholic High School and the University of Arizona, Bernie has built a successful business career rooted in resilience, innovation, and people-first leadership.
After serving honorably as a U.S. Army Sergeant, Bernie returned home with a renewed sense of purpose—to bridge the critical gaps he witnessed in veteran care.
In 2024, he founded Honor Charity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to supporting veterans and military families across Tucson and Southern Arizona. As a service-disabled veteran himself, Bernie leads with authenticity and compassion, building high-impact programs that deliver emergency relief, financial assistance, mental health advocacy, and reintegration support to those who need it most.
Under his leadership, Honor Charity is becoming a trusted force for good—powered by local partnerships, fueled by donor generosity, and guided by core values of honor, service, and community. Bernie brings a unique blend of military grit and entrepreneurial vision to the Board, ensuring that every warrior and their family are seen, supported, and never left behind.
Ashley Colonna
Board Member & Chief Strategy Officer, Honor Charity | Philanthropist | Veteran Advocate
Ashley Colonna is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in technology, sales, and strategic communications. Before dedicating her energy full-time to philanthropy, Ashley built a successful career driving growth and customer engagement in the tech sector, where she honed her skills in relationship management, brand messaging, and high-stakes planning.
As Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member of Honor Charity, Ashley plays a critical role in amplifying the organization’s mission and expanding its impact across Southern Arizona. Her strategic insight and executional excellence ensure clear, compassionate communication with veterans, donors, and the broader community. Whether she’s building partnerships, crafting outreach campaigns, or coordinating powerful events for honorees, Ashley brings heart, precision, and purpose to everything she does.
Passionate about service and driven by a deep respect for the military community, Ashley helps lead Honor Charity with integrity, creativity, and a commitment to making every veteran feel seen, celebrated, and supported.
Michael Miller
Board Member | Retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer | Co-Founder & CTO, Ghostdog Systems | UofA Alumni
Michael Miller is a mission-driven technologist, product leader, and retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer (CW4 ret) with over two decades of service in the Army/Special Missions. Throughout his military career, Michael led high-impact operations, culminating as Operations Officer for a Joint Center of Excellence overseeing 1,400+ personnel. He and his family have called Tucson home for the past decade.
Following his transition to the private sector, Michael led dual-use innovation programs in AI and cybersecurity, running projects across several Defense Tech federal contracts. He is now the Co-Founder and CTO of Ghostdog Systems, an applied AI company focused on automating critical workflows in national defense and commercial sectors.
Passionate about service beyond uniform, Michael actively supports veteran healing initiatives, mentors early-stage founders, and contributes to civic-tech ventures. He brings deep operational experience, entrepreneurial insight, and a people-first ethos to the Honor Charity Board of Directors. He is a University of Arizona alumni and UC Berkeley Haas Executive MBA candidate.
Tyler Bohl
Board Member | Retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer | Co-Founder & CEO, Ghostdog Systems
Tyler Bohl is a retired U.S. Army Intelligence Warrant Officer who spent his career delivering critical intelligence to Special Operations forces at the forefront of national security. With a distinguished record of service in high-stakes, austere environments, Tyler has led diverse, mission-critical teams around the globe, always with a focus on precision, performance, and people.
Known for his calm under pressure and ability to adapt in complex situations, Tyler is a compassionate supervisor and systems thinker who thrives in roles ranging from strategic advisor to technology builder. Whether training intelligence teams, solving operational challenges, or designing scalable solutions, he brings a unique blend of tactical expertise, organizational development, and intellectual curiosity to every mission.
Now serving as a Board Member for Honor Charity, Tyler brings his lifelong commitment to service above self to the veteran community in Tucson and Southern Arizona. His leadership, empathy, and relentless pursuit of excellence help ensure that Honor Charity delivers transformative support to those who’ve served—and sacrificed—for our nation.