Mission First Inc

11/20/2025

🇺🇸Veterans & Military Families — We Need Your Voice

🇺🇸At Mission First, everything we build is shaped by the real needs of the men, women, and families who’ve served. As we continue developing the Sanctuary on the Hill, we want to hear directly from you.

Your experiences.
Your challenges.
Your hopes for a stronger, healthier community.

🇺🇸Please take a few minutes to fill out our short survey. Your feedback helps us design programs, support services, and community spaces that truly make a difference.

👉 https://forms.office.com/r/LmpGSHZRyk

🇺🇸Your voice matters. Your needs matter. Your family matters.

🇺🇸Thank you for helping us build a place where veterans and their families can heal, connect, and thrive.

11/18/2025

Powerful things happen when mission-driven organizations unite for our Veterans. 🇺🇸

This week, our CEO Savannah Whicker met with Erik Goodge, Board Member of The Sanctuary on the Hill and Mission First, to discuss partnership plans and next steps as the Sanctuary moves closer to completion.

The Sanctuary on the Hill will be the first facility of its kind in Southwest Indiana—a comprehensive, Veteran-centered space designed to support reintegration, connection, resilience, and long-term stability.

ECHO Housing & Community Development proudly serves as a regional Veteran service provider across 11 counties, directly supporting and interacting with well over 100 Veterans each year through housing, employment, resource navigation, case management, community collaboration, and referrals to trusted partners.

Our conversation with Mission First reinforced a powerful truth:
When Veteran-focused organizations unite, we can change the trajectory of lives—not just today, but for generations.

ECHO looks forward to collaborating with Mission First and the Sanctuary team to ensure that when the doors open, Veterans across our region have immediate access to the support, structure, and community they deserve.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we honor their service. And together, we will do more.

11/14/2025

11/14/2025

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

It's only fitting that today, the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, and the eve of Veteran's Day, would be the MEET THE BOARD MONDAY for the great Mike Burkdoll.

🦅Mike served in the United States Marine Corps, Golf Co. 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, (0331) Machine Gun Team Leader (E-4 Corporal) Vietnam 1967. Mike was severely wounded in combat requiring 7-1/2 months of rehabilitation in three different Navy Hospitals. After his discharge from Great Lakes Navy Hospital, Mike finished his Marine Corps enlistment at the Navy Base, Guantanamo Bay , Cuba.

🌎Following separation from the Marines, Mike served with the Indiana State Police first as a uniformed Trooper, and later as Detective Sergeant with the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit headquartered in Indianapolis.

⚓️After his time on the State Police, Mike worked in different capacities in the construction industry in the Evansville and Tri-State area including building material sales, property ownership and management, and home building.

🇺🇸In 2009 Mike founded Point Man International Ministries in the Evansville area and has served as its Board Chairman since. In 2022 alone Point Man Ministries has impacted over 600 Veterans, spouses, and family members in the Evansville Region. For his work with Veterans and leadership in this Ministry, Mike has received numerous awards and commendations including induction into Indiana Military Hall of Fame in Indianapolis, (Class of 2021).

10/31/2025

🇺🇸 DON'T FORGET! Next Friday 11/7 7pm 🏒

10/30/2025

🎥 Thank You, ABC 25 Local Lifestyles! 🇺🇸

Huge thanks to Ange Humphrey and the team at ABC 25 Local Lifestyles for having us on today to talk about Military Appreciation Night at the Evansville Thunderbolts game on Friday Novemer 7th!

🎟$5 from every ticket purchased with the link below helps local veterans and their families: https://fordcentervictorytheater.formstack.com/forms/thunderboltshockey_missionfirst_giveback

🌲We’re excited to honor our nation’s heroes right here in our community — and to share how you can make a lasting impact by joining our $22/month campaign. Every dollar helps us build The Sanctuary on the Hill — a place where veterans and their families can heal, reconnect, and find purpose again.

Come out to the game, cheer loud, and help us carry the mission forward! 💪