How to Support the Coast Guard — and Why the Foundation's 2026 D.C. Dinner Matters

The most direct way to support the U.S. Coast Guard is to donate to the Coast Guard Foundation — the service's primary nonprofit partner since 1969. On June 9, 2026, the Foundation raised more than $1 million at its annual Washington, D.C., tribute dinner, funding scholarships, morale programs, and emergency relief for Coast Guard members and families nationwide.

by Ron LaBrec

June 11, 2026

Key Takeaways

Donating to the Coast Guard Foundation is the most direct way to support Coast Guard members and their families.
The 2026 Salute to the Coast Guard in our Nation’s Capital event in Washington DC raised more than $1.2 million for Foundation programs.
The Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) were honored for record drug seizures and shadow-tanker enforcement.
AECOM received the Coast Guard Foundation Award; Chairman and CEO Troy Rudd accepted on behalf of the company.
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday delivered the keynote; Fox News anchor John Roberts emceed.

Every day, Coast Guard members risk their lives to protect America's waters, borders, and economic security. They often serve and deploy far from home and their families have fewer support programs than other military branches. Unlike the Army, Navy, or Marines, the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense. That means real gaps in family and community support. The Coast Guard Foundation exists to close them.

On June 9, the Foundation's Twenty-Second Annual Salute to the U.S. Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital at the National Building Museum brought that mission to life raising more than $1.2 million and honoring two outstanding contributors to the Coast Guard community.

How Can You Support the Coast Guard?

There are many impactful ways to help:

Donate: Fund scholarships, wellness programs, and emergency relief at CoastGuardFoundation.org/donate.
Attend a Foundation event: Connect with the Coast Guard community and directly support Foundation programs at CoastGuardFoundation.org/events.
Run to Remember: Walk, run, or race to honor fallen members and raise funds for Foundation programs
Give from a donor-advised fund: An easy, tax-deductible way to make a meaningful gift
Share this story: Raising awareness of the Coast Guard's mission multiplies impact

Who Was Honored at the 2026 D.C. Dinner?

U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces: The DSF, specialized units trained to deploy rapidly and execute complex, high-risk missions anywhere in the world, received the evening's unit honor. Over the past year, they delivered record-breaking drug seizures and played a critical role in seizing shadow tankers evading international sanctions, demonstrating the Coast Guard's unique role at the intersection of national security, law enforcement, and maritime operations. Accepting the award, along with several deployable specialized forces members, was Capt. Robert Berry.

"These are the individuals who save lives, secure our maritime borders, protect the global supply chains your organizations rely on, and respond to the contingencies involving all threats and all hazards alongside our joint force and interagency partners worldwide," said Berry. Berry has been selected for the rank of Rear Admiral (lower half) and named as the commander of the new Coast Guard Special Missions Command, which will bring all the DSF forces under one commander.

AECOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Troy Rudd speaks to attendees at the Coast Guard Foundation Salute to the Coast Guard in our Nation's Capital on June 9, 2026. AECOM received the Coast Guard Foundation Award for its support of the Coast Guard and the Foundation.

AECOM: The Coast Guard Foundation Award went to AECOM, a global infrastructure firm that has supported the U.S. Coast Guard for more than 50 years, planning, designing, and building mission-critical shoreline facilities nationwide. Chairman and CEO Troy Rudd accepted the award. "This recognition is a testament to the enduring partnership between AECOM and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a shared mission that stretches back more than half a century," said Rudd. "What has always stood out most for us is not the scale of the mission. It's the people behind it," he added.

Every day, when a Coast Guard man or woman or their family is in need the Foundation is there. Especially when tragedy strikes, the Foundation is immediately there to help in ways that change lives and help when the times are darkest and the storm clouds are there. So, by your generosity, by your support for our amazing Coast Guard and our men and women and their families, you save lives."

- Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday

What Does the Money Fund?

Since 1969, the Coast Guard Foundation has provided more than $122 million in services to the Coast Guard community including $53.8 million in education and $32.5 million in morale and wellness programs. Funds raised at this year's dinner support:

Scholarships for members as well as their children and spouses of members
Morale and wellness programs for members at sea and in remote locations
Emergency relief for families hit by disasters or tragedy

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I support the U.S. Coast Guard? Donate to the Coast Guard Foundation, attend an event, give through a donor-advised fund, or participate in the Run to Remember. Every contribution funds scholarships, wellness programs, and emergency relief for Coast Guard families.

Why does the Coast Guard need a separate nonprofit? The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense, creating gaps in family and community support that the Coast Guard Foundation was built to fill.

What are the Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces? The DSF are specialized Coast Guard units that deploy rapidly to execute complex missions including drug interdiction and maritime law enforcement anywhere in the world.

Who received the 2026 Coast Guard Foundation Award? AECOM, the global infrastructure firm, recognized for more than 50 years of support to the U.S. Coast Guard. Chairman and CEO Troy Rudd accepted.

Where do donations to the Coast Guard Foundation go? To scholarships, morale and wellness programs, emergency disaster relief, and tragedy assistance for Coast Guard members and families nationwide.

Learn more about the event and sponsors.

Dinner Program

The Coast Guard Foundation acknowledges dinner sponsors AECOM and Cheniere Energy, reception sponsors Austal USA, Mary Ann Elliott, the Gary Sinise Foundation, GovCIO, and Saltchuk/Tote Services. We are grateful to all those who sponsored and attended.

Title Image: Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces receive the Coast Guard Foundation Salute to the Coast Guard in our Nation's Capital Award on June 9, 2026, at the National Building Museum in Washington.

Disclosure: AI was used in the creation of this content.

by Ron LaBrec

Featured Partner

AECOM solves complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings, partnering with the public and private sectors to create innovative, resilient infrastructure throughout the full project lifecycle, AECOM is a generous sponsor of the Coast Guard Foundation's Washington DC events that support programs for Coast Guard members and families.

Featured Partner

Austal builds steel and aluminum ships at its Mobile, Alabama, shipyard including those for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Austal is a major supporter of Coast Guard Foundation events and programs nationwide.

Featured Partner

Cheniere Energy is a full-service global provider of clean, secure, and affordable LNG. Cheniere supports the Coast Guard Foundation across an array of events and programs.

Featured Partner

The Gary Sinise Foundation serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. The Gary Sinise Foundation supports Coast Guard Foundation events and emergency relief programs and also directly supports Coast Guard members nationwide.

Featured Partner

GovCIO uses IT to transform how government works for the better. From the U.S. military to Health and Human Services. GovCIO is a generous sponsor of the Coast Guard Foundation's Washington DC dinner that supports programs for Coast Guard members and their families.

Featured Partner

Tote Services and the Saltchuk family of companies are longtime supporters of the Coast Guard Foundation. Saltchuk's companies provide freight transportation, marine services, and energy distribution to enhance the quality of life for people from Alaska to Hawaii, the Continental U.S., the Caribbean, and beyond.