GAR Cares Advocacy and Resource Center was founded out of a deep sense of urgency and purpose after witnessing firsthand the injustices embedded within the healthcare system. Time and time again, we saw individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, denied or delayed the care they deserved, facing systemic barriers that compromised their well-being, and in some instances resulted in death.
 
We witnessed patients struggling to access quality treatment due to financial constraints, discrimination, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. We saw healthcare professionals burdened by policies that prioritized increased patient loads, which seemingly placed profits over patient care. We heard stories of families devastated by preventable outcomes simply because they lacked the resources or advocacy to navigate the system.
 
These experiences ignited a commitment within us, to challenge these inequities, amplify the voices of those often unheard, and work toward a healthcare system that is truly inclusive, just, and compassionate. Our organization exists to be a pillar in the community, drive meaningful change, advocate for policy reforms, empower individuals to take control of their health without fear of neglect or discrimination, and to selflessly serve those who experience moments of healthcare vulnerability just as George Andrew Ridgel(GAR) served this country selflessly while in the Vietnam War. 
 
This is more than a mission; it’s a movement. One that we refuse to turn away from until justice in healthcare is no longer the exception but the standard.