Hello
Shana Marie Willis, originally a native of Western Massachusetts, has a familial connection to Veterans. She is a proud military wife (Air Force), Certified Key Spouse and mother of two teenage boys. Many of her family members served in the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force during the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Iraqi wars.
My Story
While residing in the Berkshires, Shana served as a board member of the Here at Home Committee, an organization dedicated to welcoming veterans returning from deployment and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Through this work, her passion for connecting veterans and their families with meaningful support services deepened. She volunteered extensively to help organize and participate in Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day parades, often marching alongside her family. In addition, she supported Veteran Family Day events and coordinated holiday toy drives for military families. After relocating to Southwest Florida in 2015, Shana made it her mission to connect with veterans in Charlotte County, identify existing support services, and explore opportunities to implement new resources aimed at improving veterans’ overall quality of life and long-term well-being.
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As Co-Founder, CEO, and Treasurer of Helping Hearts for Heroes Corp., Shana draws upon more than 20 years of professional and volunteer experience in advocacy, human services, community outreach, and nonprofit leadership. Her career reflects a strong, consistent commitment to serving individuals in need, particularly veterans and their families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Business Management and has dedicated her professional life to bridging gaps in care, access, and support.
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In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Shana has served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Right at Home for the past five years, where she brings extensive experience in client advocacy, care management, geriatric care, community health, human services, and strategic sales and marketing. She also holds multiple professional certifications, including Community Health Worker, Patient Navigator, Certified Senior Care Partner, Care Transitions Coach, and Dementia Live Coach.
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When asked why she advocates so passionately for veterans, Shana explains, “Because they are a group of individuals who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and they are often forgotten and never ask for anything in return.”