Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Kenny Jary knew what it felt like when his world started getting smaller.

The then-84-year-old Navy Veteran, whom millions of people came to know as “Patriotic Kenny,” lived with a chronic lung condition. Walking long distances became nearly impossible without his mobility scooter.

I met Kenny as a stranger. I never expected that one meeting would change my life, but Kenny had a way of doing that. He welcomed people in, made them laugh and reminded them what kindness could do. Somewhere along the way, he became family.

When Kenny’s scooter broke down, his social media community showed up for him. They contributed more than he needed. With the extra funds, Kenny immediately said, “We need to pay it forward and help other Veterans.”

That choice became the Patriotic Kenny Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

Carrying Kenny’s mission forward

After Kenny died of cancer in May 2026, the foundation began carrying his mission into its next chapter. The heart of the work remains the same: helping Veterans reclaim independence, connection and joy.

The Patriotic Kenny Foundation helps reduce isolation and restore independence for Veterans through mobility scooters. The program serves Veterans from any era of service who have mobility needs. Veterans may apply directly or be nominated.

A scooter may look like equipment to some people, but for many Veterans with mobility challenges, it means something much bigger.

It can mean getting to a grandchild’s game. It can mean joining family at a park. It can mean shopping without fear of not making it back to the car. It can mean attending appointments, getting the mail, walking the dog or going on vacation.

But most of all, it can mean saying yes again.

That same spirit carries into the foundation’s new initiative, “Because of the Scooter.” Funded in part through Kenny’s memorial fund, the initiative gives scooter recipients the chance to pursue meaningful bucket-list wishes made possible because of the scooter.

For the foundation, these wishes are not separate from the scooter program; they are part of the same mission. A scooter helps a Veteran move again, but the deeper purpose is helping that person return to the people, places and moments that make life feel full. “Because of the Scooter” honors that truth by asking what becomes possible once independence is restored.

A wish to keep serving

Darwin, one of the Veterans the foundation has served, didn’t ask for a vacation or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. When asked about his wildest dream, he said, “I would take that scooter and put an ice bucket on the back of it with wheels to sell water. I was doing it all over the city, but it’s been too challenging now. I’d have to do something for my Veterans, too, so I’d give them free water. I’d bring my grandson for walks with me on the scooter. This scooter would also make VA easier for me to access because I just can’t get there.”

That wish said so much. Darwin’s scooter not only helped him move through the world, but it also helped him keep serving.

Other wishes look different. Some Veterans dream of going to Walt Disney World with their families. Some want to see the beach one last time. Some hope to visit a brother’s gravesite and sit with memories that still matter.

Each wish begins with a Veteran’s story. The foundation considers the impact, the need and what can be made possible through volunteers, sponsors and community partners.

Nominate a Veteran

Veterans, family members, caregivers, friends and community partners can submit a nomination. The form takes less than five minutes and is available at www.patriotickenny.com.

After a nomination is submitted, the team works with the selected Veteran and the Veteran’s support network to coordinate next steps. That may also include helping shape a bucket-list wish through “Because of the Scooter.”

Kenny’s story began with one broken scooter. It continues through all of us being “Kenny Kind” and through every Veteran who gets a little more freedom back.

Follow the Patriotic Kenny Foundation at @patriotickennyfdn on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. To learn more, visit www.patriotickenny.com.