Giving back · American Warrior Initiative
They served us. Now we serve them.
The American Warrior Initiative is Fairway's own nonprofit — founded in 2015 to bridge the divide between civilians and the men and women who served. Alexis is proud to be part of a company where giving back to warriors isn't a campaign. It's the culture.
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Service dogs funded for veterans & first responders
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Of donations go directly to warriors
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Year Fairway founded AWI
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Donated by Fairway employees for veteran initiatives
The mission
Educate. Inspire. Give back.
AWI began with a simple observation: most Americans want to support veterans — they just don't know how. So Fairway built the bridge. Through boot camps and trainings, AWI has educated tens of thousands of real estate and mortgage professionals on the real challenges facing military families: repeated deployments, post-traumatic stress, financial strain, and the difficult transition home.
Then it turned awareness into action. AWI's signature program funds highly trained service dogs — more than 400 to date — that restore independence, confidence and peace of mind to veterans and first responders. Past initiatives have also delivered business grants, home repairs, mortgage-free homes, vehicles, and retreats for warriors living with PTSD.
And because Fairway underwrites all of the nonprofit's expenses, every dollar donated — 100% — goes directly to the warriors it serves. Fairway employees have personally donated millions over the years, much of it through voluntary payroll contributions. At the very first company pledge drive, a quarter of a million dollars was committed in ten minutes.
See it, don't just read it
The official AWI film
Two minutes on what "educate, inspire, give back" looks like in practice —Beyond Words, Embracing Action.
Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play — then the video streams via YouTube's privacy-enhanced player. Or watch it directly on theAWI YouTube channel.
Why the red hat?
R.E.D. Friday: Remember Everyone Deployed
Every Friday, people across the country — including Fairway teams — wear red until every deployed service member comes home. It's a small, visible promise: you are not forgotten. That's what the red hat in the photo is about, and it's a tradition Alexis wears proudly.
Serving those who served
If you've served, your VA benefit is waiting
The most direct way Alexis serves the military community is making sure every eligible veteran, service member and surviving spouse actually uses the home loan benefit they earned: $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and competitive rates. Alexis can pull your Certificate of Eligibility electronically in minutes.
Questions about AWI
American Warrior Initiative FAQ
What is the American Warrior Initiative?
The American Warrior Initiative (AWI) is the nonprofit founded by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation in 2015. Its mission is to educate, inspire and encourage Americans to give back to the military community — bridging the divide between civilians and the veterans, active-duty service members and first responders who serve them.
What does AWI actually do for veterans?
AWI’s signature program funds highly trained service dogs for veterans and first responders — more than 400 funded to date. Over the years AWI initiatives have also included business grants, home repairs and upgrades, mortgage-free housing partnerships, vehicles, and retreats for veterans living with post-traumatic stress.
Where do donations to AWI go?
Because Fairway underwrites the nonprofit’s operating expenses, 100% of donations go directly to the veterans and first responders AWI serves. Fairway employees themselves have donated millions of dollars over the years, much of it through voluntary payroll contributions.
What is R.E.D. Friday?
R.E.D. stands for Remember Everyone Deployed. Wearing red on Fridays is a nationwide tradition honoring deployed service members until they come home — and it’s a tradition Fairway teams across the country, including Alexis, take part in.
How does this connect to VA home loans?
Fairway trains loan officers specifically on serving military clients, and VA loans are one of the strongest benefits service members earn: $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and competitive rates. If you’ve served, checking your VA eligibility is usually the very first thing Alexis will do.
Want to nominate a veteran or donate directly? Everything runs through the official American Warrior Initiative site — where 100% of your donation reaches a warrior.