A Change of Mission
A home in the Lowcountry where combat veterans heal from the unseen wounds of war, rediscover their purpose, and mentor at-risk youth — using the game of rugby to rebuild lives on both sides of the line.
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ — uniting two proven, Christ-centered models: the healing of Camp Hope, Texas and the youth mentoring of the Chicago Hope Academy — and planting both in the Lowcountry.
A Change of Mission — 23 Years, One New Mission
I joined the Army in 2002, in the months after 9/11, while playing rugby at Indiana University. After graduating I moved to Chicago to play for the Chicago Lions before deploying to Afghanistan. In 2009 I settled in Charleston and finished my career in the South Carolina Army National Guard — 23 years in uniform, with a final tour in Africa.
Coming home, I was offered a position at Fort Bragg with a guaranteed promotion to lieutenant colonel and a path to retiring a full colonel. I turned it down. As much as I loved the Army, I felt a clear calling to something bigger — to make a deeper impact than the next rank could give.
Since 2017, the work began. Volunteering with Operation Enduring Warrior, then the PTSD Foundation of America's Camp Hope, after meeting my wife Kinga in 2018. God has set this change of mission on our hearts.
Heal · Grow · Lead · Give Back
HEAL — Charleston Hope Academy
A dedicated home for the PTSD Foundation of America's Camp Hope — the Southeast's place for our nation's combat veterans to recover through faith-based, whole-person, peer-to-peer healing. A 6–9 month residential program.
GROW — Charleston Hope Academy
A platform to mentor — modeled on the Chicago Hope Academy & Chicago Lions. Veterans use rugby and wheelchair rugby to mentor at-risk youth through adults across our community.
LEAD — Through the Game of Rugby
When veterans graduate, they don't just move on — they step into the Academy and find a new purpose: mentoring the next generation through rugby, wheelchair rugby, and mentorship.
GIVE BACK — A Shared Campus
One facility, open space and resources shared with veteran nonprofits across the Southeast — a base and focal point for the veteran, rugby, youth, and gospel communities. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
23 Years In Uniform. One New Mission.
The Three R's
Phase One is built on three priorities — the foundation for getting Charleston Hope Academy off the ground and serving veterans and youth across the Lowcountry.
Recruiting
Gathering everyone with a passion to help build this — volunteers, partners, and champions for the mission.
Research
Working alongside Camp Hope Texas, the PTSD Foundation of America, and the Chicago Hope Academy to find land, grants, and the smartest path to grow.
Resources
Raising the funds and donations needed to get the Charleston Hope Academy off the ground.
The Goal
A shared campus where veterans heal, grow, and give back — mentoring the next generation through the game of rugby, all for the glory of God.
Refer a Buyer or Seller. Give. Partner.
We're in our founding phase. The simplest way to help: refer anyone looking to buy or sell property in Charleston. Kinga and I donate 20% of every real estate sale toward our $1,000,000 goal — and others are matching every dollar we raise.
Of every real estate sale, donated. The easiest way to help: refer anyone looking to buy or sell property in Charleston.
Refer a Buyer or SellerOur fundraising goal for 2026. Kinga and I donate 20% of every real estate sale toward our $1,000,000 goal.
Give / DonateOthers are doubling every dollar we raise — so we're getting others to match every dollar. Partner with us to build it.
Become a Partner
To refer a buyer or seller, give, or partner with us, contact us at chshopeacademy@onehopesc.org
All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Get In Touch — Refer, Give, Partner
Whether you're looking to buy or sell property in Charleston, want to partner or donate, or simply believe in the mission — Kinga and I would love to hear from you. Refer a buyer or seller, give, or partner with us.
We're building Charleston Hope Academy from the ground floor — a Christ-centered mission for veterans and youth.
Contact Information
Veterans Crisis LineCall 988 & Press 1 — Available 24/7