For close to two decades, the Geneva Foundation has been supporting and promoting the advancement of military medicine. The Tacoma-based nonprofit has more than 200 employees across the country who do research at most major military medical centers, plus a majority of federal laboratories and locations in Germany and Thailand.

Since 1993, it has handled more than $100 million; last year alone, it managed more than $30 million in research. The research includes clinical work, like lab development and human subject testing.

Geneva also works to provide military medical personnel with up-to-date education in the form of conferences and other events intended to keep them abreast of innovations in military medicine.

"Though the military is our primary demographic, the work that we're doing is important to the global community, not just the military," said Elise Huszar, president of the Geneva Foundation. "We work in tandem with many civilian medical research initiatives." 

Despite not having a medical background, Huszar had the business acumen and experience, and over the years she has become increasingly versed in the medical field. In addition, when she first joined Geneva 15 years ago, her husband was stationed at then Fort Lewis and is still on active-duty today, so her ties to the military are strong. 

On a very local level, Geneva currently provides much of the funding for the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a component center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), which is based at the Madigan Healthcare System.

Without financial backing and fundraising, however, the work that the Geneva Foundation does would not be possible.

"I know there are a lot of great organizations and programs that support the military out there - like the Wounded Warrior Project or Fisher House - but I hope that eventually people want to contribute to Geneva so that we can continue to fund this research that truly does ultimately benefit the Servicemembers and their families and the retirees," said Huszar.

Though Geneva is working to be a part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) moving forward, donations can currently be made directly by contacting staff at help@genevaUSA.org. Most importantly, donations can be earmarked for a specific research project or facility, ensuring that the money goes to the cause closest to a donor's heart.

"You can gather information from our website, but it's not just about the mechanics of what we do," Huszar said. "It is about the passion that we feel about doing this and that's really what sets us apart."

For more information, visit www.genevaUSA.org.