About Us
how honor charity began
Founded in 2024 by former U.S. Army Sergeant Bernie Colonna—a service-disabled veteran with an unwavering commitment to those who serve—Honor Charity was born from a deep sense of purpose and personal mission. After witnessing firsthand the critical gaps in care and support for veterans and their families, SGT Colonna launched this 501(c)(3) nonprofit to be a lifeline for the military community in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Honor Charity exists to bridge the divide between existing services and the real-world needs of our nation’s heroes. From financial assistance and emergency relief to mental health advocacy and community reintegration support, we focus on delivering impactful, high-touch financial assistance programs that change lives. By targeting underserved veterans and their families, we ensure that no warrior is left behind.
Rooted in values like honor, service, and community, our foundation stands as a beacon of hope and a force multiplier for positive change. Through donor generosity and local partnerships, we provide sustainable, year-round support for those who’ve given everything for our country.
At Honor Charity, we don’t just say “thank you”—we show it.
Our Focus
At Honor Charity, we turn compassion into action by providing direct financial support to service members, veterans, and their families who’ve fallen through the cracks of traditional aid programs. Too often, these heroes face real-world challenges—from housing instability and medical expenses to emergency needs—without access to the resources they deserve.
That’s where we step in.
Our mission is laser-focused: identify those in urgent need, assess their unique situations, and deliver timely, impactful assistance that creates immediate relief and long-term hope. Unlike many larger organizations, Honor Charity takes a hands-on, veteran-first approach, ensuring that support goes straight to those who need it most.
Whether it's helping a military family stay in their home, funding critical repairs, or providing essential living resources, we offer flexible, high-impact grants tailored to individual stories.
Know a veteran or military family in need? Reach out. Together, we can transform gratitude into meaningful change.
Fundraising & Giving
Honor Charity is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to making a real difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes, and we can’t do it without you.
Every day, veterans and their families face critical challenges: unexpected financial hardship, housing insecurity, medical emergencies, and more.
Our mission is to meet those needs with swift, direct financial assistance and your support powers that mission.
Your tax-deductible donation enables us to provide flexible, needs-based cash grants directly to veterans and military families right here in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Whether it’s covering rent, paying for car repairs, or ensuring a child has what they need for school, your contribution goes exactly where it's needed most: quickly, transparently, and impactfully.
Make a difference today. Help us bridge the gap, honor their service, and uplift those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom.
Give with purpose. Give with Honor.
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.