What First Responders' Bridge does

First Responders' Bridge (legally The Bridge Corp, DBA First Responders' Bridge) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 in Westerville, Ohio, in the aftermath of the line-of-duty deaths of Westerville Police Officers Tony Morelli and Eric Joering. The organization was established by retired law enforcement officers Mike Pavolino and Mick Yinger, alongside clinicians and business community leaders, to address the cumulative and acute mental health burden carried by first responders and their families. Its sole programmatic offering is a 3-day, confidential, expense-free retreat model — the Bridge Retreat — delivered in-person at Ohio hotels and conference centers for active and retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and their significant others. The organization does not operate any technology platform, software product, or proprietary algorithm; the "product" is a human-facilitated, peer-led group retreat experience combining keynote speakers, peer speakers, clinician-led sessions, role-segmented discussion groups, yoga nidra meditation, and recreational activities. A separate Leadership Retreat serves command-staff personnel with rank-specific programming.

The business model is donation-funded. The organization derives revenue from individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring tiers ranging from $20 to $700+), Platinum/Gold/Silver corporate and government sponsorships (American Electric Power, Mount Carmel Health, Coughlin Automotive, State of Ohio Department of Public Safety, and others), workplace giving through Community Shares of Mid Ohio, tax-advantaged vehicles (Donor Advised Funds, QCDs, stock transfers), and a small branded apparel e-commerce line. All retreat programming, lodging, meals, and activities are provided at no cost to attendees, who cover only their own transportation. Post-retreat, Ohio residents can access limited free counseling sessions; the organization explicitly does not provide counseling services on-site.

Distribution and growth-to-market are entirely community-led: peer referrals within law enforcement, fire/EMS, and dispatcher networks; partnerships with chaplain programs, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams, and Employee Assistance Programs (notably the City of Columbus EAP); and ambassadorship by clinicians and chaplains embedded in their respective agencies. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees mixing retired first responders, clinicians, and corporate executives, and is actively operating with retreats scheduled for July and August 2026.

Name

First Responders' Bridge

Legal name

The Bridge Corp (dba First Responders' Bridge)

Website

https://firstrespondersbridge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Responders' Bridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs 3-day, confidential, expense-free retreats in Ohio for active and retired law enforcement, fire/EMS, and dispatcher personnel and their spouses, funded entirely through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

First Responder Mental Health Support Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation & Recovery Retreats (Physio, Post-Op, Pain Management) (THAGAMAG)

Keywords

• First responder mental health
• Trauma retreat programs
• Peer support services
• Nonprofit wellness programs
• Crisis intervention retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: First Responders' Bridge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds all retreat operations entirely through donations and sponsorships. Donors include individuals (one-time and monthly giving), Platinum/Gold/Silver corporate sponsors, community shares workplace giving programs, and tax-advantaged giving vehicles (stock transfers, QCDs, Donor Advised Funds). Retreats, lodging, food, and activities are provided at no cost to attendees.
2. Apparel Sales: The organization sells branded apparel through its online storefront at firstrespondersbridge.districtimage.com, generating supplemental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

First Responders' Bridge delivers 3-day, confidential, expense-free in-person retreats for active and retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics/EMTs, and 911 dispatchers and their significant others who have experienced traumatic or life-altering events. Programming combines keynote speakers, peer speakers, clinician-led sessions, role-specific discussion groups, self-care activities, and recreational amenities, with lodging, meals, and activities provided at no cost to attendees (who cover only their own transportation). A specialized Leadership Retreat serves command-level personnel above officer/firefighter/EMT rank with rank-specific programming.

Product overview

First Responders' Bridge is a non-profit organization offering a single, unified program: expense-free, educational retreats for first responders and their significant others experiencing trauma or mental health challenges. The core offering is The Bridge Retreat—a 3-day confidential program featuring keynote speakers, peer support, self-care discussions, and group activities. The organization also operates a specialized Leadership Retreat with rank-specific programming for supervisory personnel. Supporting services include a volunteer chaplain program and multiple donation mechanisms to fund the retreat experiences. The organization does not provide counseling services at retreats, though Ohio attendees may access limited free counseling sessions post-retreat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Bridge Retreat

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% of firefighters meet the criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress; 85% of First Responders have experienced mental health symptoms; more firefighters and police officers die by suicide than all line-of-duty deaths combined

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Community Shares of Mid OhiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Shares of Mid Ohio is a coalition of non-profits participating in workplace giving campaigns. City of Columbus, Franklin County, and State of Ohio employees can direct workplace giving to First Responders' Bridge through this platform, serving as a referral and fundraising channel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 1stHelp: Provides immediate financial grants and ongoing support to families of fallen first responders and first responders in crisis. Operates in the same first responder welfare ecosystem with complementary focus areas.
• Headstrong Project: Provides free, confidential mental health treatment to post-9/11 veterans and first responders. Highly comparable mission, peer-trusted clinical model, and similar reliance on donated professional services for trauma-affected populations.
• Badge of Life: Police officer mental health support organization providing peer support, training, and resources for law enforcement dealing with PTSD and suicide. Comparable law-enforcement-specific peer support mission.
• 911 At Ease: Mental health and suicide prevention program for first responders and dispatchers, offering peer support, training, and resources. Highly comparable target population (especially dispatchers, a segment First Responders' Bridge also serves).
• Save A Warrior: Provides free multi-day retreat programs for active-duty military, veterans, and first responders experiencing PTSD and suicidal ideation. Closely comparable in-person intensive retreat model with peer and clinical support.
• Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation: Provides free multi-day wellness retreats (including PATHH program) for combat veterans, active-duty military, and first responders. Operates a retreat-based recovery model structurally analogous to First Responders' Bridge, with similar peer/clinician integration and donor funding.
• Code Green Campaign: Focused specifically on first responder mental health awareness, peer support, and resource referral for law enforcement, fire/EMS, and dispatchers. Directly comparable target population and peer-led community model, though without the dedicated retreat component.
• Responder Life: Provides mental health and wellness resources, peer support networks, and training programs tailored to first responders and their families. Comparable mission and target audience with broader programmatic scope.

Broad incumbents

• Warrior PATHH (Boulder Crest): Prolonged Adaptive Therapeutic Healing program within Boulder Crest, providing retreats for veterans and first responders. Comparable structured multi-day retreat curriculum, with a larger parent organization backing.
• Home Base (Red Sox Foundation & Massachusetts General Hospital): Provides intensive clinical care, retreats, and ongoing support for veterans, service members, and their families affected by invisible wounds. Comparable retreat-plus-clinician model, with significantly larger institutional backing from Mass General and the Red Sox Foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FRBridge
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstrespondersbridge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-responders-bridge

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Responders' Bridge