top of page

2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Nonprofit of the Year San Diego Business Journal Citizenship Awards 2022.

  • Hire Vets Medallion

  • Outstanding Community Service awarded by Senator Brian Jones 

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen - SD 500 Most Influential

2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Veteran NonProfit of The Year Award, County of San Diego

  • Impact Award Finalist, North San Diego Business Chamber

  • Letter of Appreciation, USCG San Diego Sector, Commander and Captain of the Port

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - Salute to Service from the County of San Diego

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - San Diego Top 50 Leaders, Making a Difference During Covid-19

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - Chairman of the San Diego County Military and Veterans Advisory Council

  • Renewed Personal Finance Counselor Certificate, Sara Bartz and Kathi Bradshaw

  • Chairwoman Orange County Veterans Business Network, Shannon Buhrmaster

  • Fundraising Accelerate Certification, Shannon Buhrmaster and Tracie Winn

  • Certified by the Center for Financial Social Work, Kathi Bradshaw

2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, selected as a Veteran Vanguard Star Award honoree by the Us4Warriors Foundation

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, selected as a 2018 Leadership Award honoree by the North San Diego Business Chamber

  • 2018 Bill Trumpfheller Social Impact Award Winner

  • STEP Vice President, Kathi Bradshaw, MSW, appointed Chair, Transition Fund Committee, San Diego Veteran Employment Committee

  • The Association of Defense Communities name San Diego as a 2018 Great American Defense Community, highlighting Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) as an innovative program serving military families in crisis

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, appointed Chair of the San Diego Coast Guard City Executive Steering Committee

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, awarded San Diego Mayor Certificate of Recognition

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, spoke at TEDx Turtle Rock

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, appointed to San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen named Best Executive in the Nonprofit Category by San Diego Business Journal

  • STEP CEO & Co-Founder, Tony Teravainen, named San Diego County Veteran of the Year in the Nonprofit Category

2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Circle of Excellence Award on behalf of Torrey Pines Bank

  • Special Commendation in recognition of our generous efforts to support enlisted men and women; given by Councilmember Mark Kersey, City of San Diego, Fifth District

  • State of California Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Achievement serving military families on behalf of the San Diego Military Advisory Council

  • BBB Accredited Charity (A+)

  • Proud Member of Circle of Influence; San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Special Commendation for our Second Annual Family Appreciation Carnival; given by The City of San Diego

  • Charities Award; given by The Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of San Diego

  • Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition; given by Scott Peters, Congressmember

2014 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • 2014 San Diego County Veterans Allegiance Award- Nonprofit Nominee

  • Proud Member of Circle of Influence; San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of our outstanding support of veterans and the military; given by The Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Certificate of Recognition for outstanding leadership and service while demonstrating exemplary support for San Diego’s veteran community; given by Lorena Gonzalez, Assembly Woman, 80th District

  • Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition; given by Duncan Hunter, Congressmember

  • San Diego County Special Proclamation Honoring Support the Enlisted Project   

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - San Diego Veteran of the Year 

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - Nonprofit Executive of the Year

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - SD500 Most Influential People

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder - Top CEO's Making a Difference Award

  • STEP Vice President, Kathi Bradshaw -  Mayor Todd Gloria's Woman of Distinction Award  

  • GuideStar Platinum Participant

  • STEP Programs Manager Tracy Owens - Jimmy Valentine Service Award

2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Impact Award Winner, North San Diego Business Chamber

  • Certificate of Appreciation, from Mayor Kevin Faulconer - City of San Dieg

  • Certificate of Recognition For Outstanding Leadership, from Congressman Scott Peters, 52nd District

  • Game Changer Nominee, Woman of Influence Award given to STEP Vice President - Kathi Bradshaw

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder, Tony Teravainen - Inspirational Award Nominee, The Center of Wealth & Legacy

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder, Tony Teravainen - Veteran of the Year Finalist, San Diego County

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder, Tony Teravainen - Best Non-Profit CEO, San Diego Business Journal Veteran & Military Awards

  • STEP CEO & Co Founder, Tony Teravainen - Veteran Vanguard Star Award, The US For Warriors Foundation

2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • San Diego County Veteran of the Year Finalist, Tony Teravainen

  • Member of North San Diego Business Chamber

  • State of California, Senate, Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Achievement - Senator Joel Anderson

  • Charity Navigator - 4 Star Rated 

  • Member of San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's Defense, Veteran & Military Affairs Council 

  • GuideStar Platinum Participant

  • San Diego Regional Chamber of Business Commerce Small Business Awards Finalist, Vet Success Category

  • Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Achievement serving military families on behalf of the San Diego Military Advisory Council; given by The State of California

  • BBB Accredited Charity (A+)

  • Proud Member of The Circle of Influence: San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • 2015 Non-Profit Veteran Organization of the Year; given by The City of Oceanside

  • Corporate Member of the Association of the United States Army

  • Certificate of Recognition for our support of veterans and the military and being nominated for the Veterans Allegiance Award; given by The State of California

  • Certificate of Appreciation; given by Military Officers Association of America- Miramar Chapter 

  • Proud Member of Circle of Influence; San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Special Commendation for our First Annual Family Appreciation Carnival; given by The City of San Diego

  • Charities Award; given by The Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of San Diego

  • Certificate of Recognition for advancing the mission of caring for our military and veteran families; given by Marie Waldorn, Assembly Member 75th District

4 Star Chairty Navigator Rating

Four Star Charity Navigator

For the fifth consecutive year we received the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting non-profits with the highest standards and results for strong financial health and commitment to accountability, transparency, and efficacy. With only 25% of charities receiving this rating, it speaks to the importance of financial transparency. Being good stewards of our donors' gifts is paramount to our long-term sustainability and overall commitment to our community

bottom of page