Big Fish Foundation

This non profit organization is phenomenal! It’s played an amazing role for our veterans and family! Highly recommend!

The Big Fish Foundation is doing incredible work in helping veterans re-engage with others and reminding them they are never alone in their fight. Their programs foster a strong sense of community, providing veterans with the support and camaraderie they need to navigate life after service. The Foundation’s compassionate and dedicated team understands the unique challenges veterans face, making a real difference in their lives by ensuring they feel heard, valued, and supported. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to our veterans.

The Fish Foundation is a great organization that is focused on doing a lot for veterans. Truly a remarkable organization.

Thank you

Amazing work!! I’m always so impressed with everything from this organization!!

This organization’s unique strategy of putting vets in challenging situations surrounded by supportive community created an opportunity for growth that no other kind of experience could. After hours getting beyond my superficial, protective portrayal of myself, I got to (had to) see, show, and deal with who I am when I thought I was no longer able to continue on my own. The volunteers and other athletes helped me discover for myself that I could - and that I didn’t have to do it alone. Through opportunities to help and be helped, I left far more equipped for the days ahead. I went to show who I was, and left having discovered more about who I am.

Incredible people making a noticeable change in people's lives. That's inclusive of everyone who participates, volunteers, competes or even sees this non profit in action. You'll be a better person by interacting and seeing what Big Fish is all about.

I attended the 5th Annual Big Fish Foundation Fundraiser a few weeks ago as a volunteer. I am so grateful for the Foundation as a whole and specifically for the 4 days I got to spend on location. I found Joy and Hope in being able to connect with and serve those whom were there. As well as the premise of getting to be outside in nature, surrounded by Veterans and citizens alike, whom where there to work and support each other. The Big Fish Foundation has the correct recipe for helping us all to “fight forward”. I am super proud and honored to get to be a part of the Big Fish!

Participating in the 5th annual Big Fish Challenge as a cook was a truly unforgettable experience. Right from the start, I was struck by the genuine warmth and camaraderie displayed by the people attending the event. The usual greeting of a handshake often turned into a heartfelt hug, both when meeting someone new and when bidding farewell. It was clear that this community had a special bond. There was a unique atmosphere of openness and meaningful interaction that permeated the event. The willingness of everyone to engage in deep conversations was inspiring. It was evident that something truly special was happening within the community that Tosh has built. It was a pleasure to be a part of the 5th annual Big Fish Challenge. Thank you for welcoming me into your community, making me feel like a part of the family.

Big Fish Foundation is tremendously improving hundreds of lives in a HUGE way, if not thousands. There is no better non-profit out there, period.

I have attended last 2 Bigfish foundation events and it's just overall surrounded by great people, veterans, athletes and volunteers. The camaraderie is unbelievable.
This year I had the opportunity to take my 2 sons 14 n 12yrs old and they had experience of their life. They want to go back to the next event.

I have become a better human due to my time spent with everyone at the Big Fish Foundation.

My life has been significantly, positively impacted as a result of attending 4 different Big Fish Foundation events.

I was able to learn and discuss leadership qualities at a weekend event. I got to do that with a group of other veterans which only helped to build bonds with them and drive friendships outside of the event. Those friendships have given me a place to relate to others when I am struggling mentally and keep me from a tendency to self isolate.

Even more impactful than than the leadership retreat was attending 2 Diesel Day events. There I learned strategies of resiliency & perseverance. At Diesel Day 1, I was struck with a lesson of “I am so much more capable than I give myself credit for.” At Diesel Day 2 (a year later), I got to put the strategies I learned from the first event to work in an environment where I was expected to think through challenges & do more for myself while having leadership to process through sticking points with expert help. Those lessons have stuck with me and have been engrained in such a way that got me through one of the most stressful times in my life.

I also had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer for the Big Fish Annual Fundraiser. At a time when I was giving my time to help, I was also supported & encouraged myself. I didn’t walk in a share anything about stressful things I was going through. My demeanor was noticed & asked about.

Overall, the thing that overrides each experience with Big Fish is that I have felt seen, genuinely cared for and loved. There hasn’t ever been conditions or parameters around receiving that support. It comes freely & generously in a way I haven’t experienced anywhere of my family.

BFF is special. Big Fish Foundation is special because of the passion that Tosh has for doing things the right way, the cool way. The expectation of the people who were involved in the event that I attended was challenging. Not only were the participants challenged but more so the volunteers. Everyone worked, everyone participated, everyone supported, and everyone showed love. I may be a bit biased, but there isn't anyone better to lead a foundation like the one Tosh has built. Anyone can participate but you better be willing to give(give not being money). If you give you will receive much more in return. Thank you for letting me be a part. Semper FI.

-Mac

I attended the June 2023 fundraising event and it was simply magical. The love and support Bigfish provides to veterans is above and beyond. It truly was a unique experience. I personally spoke with many veterans at the event that Bigfish has positively touched in so many ways. I can’t wait to be in attendance next year and continue to be a civilian worth these veterans dying for because they truly are veterans worth caring about. Love the Bigfish Foundation.

Under the guise of doing “dude stuff”, Brian Chontosh and his team at the Big Fish Foundation have carved out an effective way to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. We had 10 participants that served together 19 years ago in Al Qaim, Iraq. The group shared a strong bond before this weekend, but after sharing a lot of recent life experiences, working together all weekend, and taking time to reflect on our journey’s created an experience that will keep me energized for some time. A representative from the Mosaic Foundation also attended the event and she brought a unique experience in the form of energy healing that has left me feeling rebalanced and present, something that has escaped me for years.

I was introduced to Big Fish as a friend of mine from the SEAL Teams was doing their "Team Shut up and Row" event, which had them rowing across the Atlantic Ocean! I started an organization called Hero to Hero, which transitions service members to first responder careers and was looking for help and advice from other organizations. Tosh and his folks saw synergy in our efforts and stepped up immeadiately with both financial and networking help! We have already partnered on getting a Marine, a Coastie, & an Airman through the CT Fire Academy and on to career positions s firefighters. This is HUGE on a couple different levels. These service members were able to smoothly transition from active duty to a civilian career with good pay and benefits, while continuing to serve with purpose! We couldn't have accomplished this without Big Fish's help and we look forward to continuing to partner in our efforts to care for our "family".

Brian Chontosh, and the Big Fish Foundation.......Gloves on, not hands out. I had the pleasure of being invited to a 3/5 event back in may 2018 and I was hooked. I loved it, the second I showed up it was back with the boys, carrying on like we never missed a beat. It was, it is still healing. I have also had the amazing opportunity to volunteer for the BFF fundraiser for the last 3 years. It's absolutely amazing the caliber of men and women that show up with their gloves on not hands out, just to work. Just to have the opportunity to give, to help. If ever, you have the opportunity to get involved.....do it. Not only will you get to work with incredible humans, but you will be better having served with and for the Big Fish Foundation. What are you doing to be a BIG FISH today?

Brian Chontosh and his team at Big Fish are changing lives across a wide spectrum of needs and demographics. This organization stands above its peers by facilitating the most effective and positive changes per dollar spent and volunteer hour given. In addition, Big Fish’s methods are unique and innovative… no one else is doing it like this in a way that is authentic. Nothing is “borrowed”, copy+pasted, or outsourced. I witnessed this first-hand as a recipient and then through the seemingly countless stories of others. Big Fish and Tosh give more (of themselves, their time and sweat and money) than any group I’ve worked with.

To say Big Fish Foundation is a non-profit that only serves veterans is almost an injustice. While the mission statement is to challenge, empower, and inspire Veterans to live meaningful, purpose-driven lives, this's just a microcosm of the power behind the mission. I can say ,as a veteran, Big Fish Foundation has impacted my life in immense ways and allowed me to become a more comprehensive person, capable of utilizing new tools to improve my life and subsequently, those around me. There are few that understand more than Tosh of how important empowerment and how to make effective change with it as a tool.

The Big Fish Foundation has been impactful in shaping my post service life. The programming is inclusive for all Veterans as it is guided by the idea of continued growth wherever someone might be in their journey.

I recently participated in a Veterans retreat at XIT Ranch with the Big Fish Foundation. I didn't really know what to expect when I signed up for the event - it had been so long since I had interacted with my fellow 3/5 Veterans - but I'm so glad I decided to participate. You can tell, from the jump, that Brian and his staff care deeply about their mission and the people they serve. I felt that they sincerely wanted what was best for me during that long weekend on the ranch. The experience was great too. I felt useful for the first time in a long time. I felt physically able. I felt acknowledged. I didn't feel alone.

More folks should know about Brian and the Big Fish Foundation.

Love the mindset and mission of Big Fish. Tosh understands the current landscape of veterans in our community, empowers them to take ownership of their situation, and gives them the tools to do it. Big Fish makes a significant impact in the life of every veteran it serves and does it in a way that sticks.

I knew of Tosh, and had heard many stories of how amazing he was. It was suggested that I talk to him about some work that I am doing with Veterans with Disabilities in the Philadelphia area. The more I talked to Brian and learned of Big Fish I realized he was the real deal. That Suicide prevention is a real need amongst the Veteran community. Many of the Veterans that I train mention that at some point it was a prevalent thought on their mind. Big Fish also donated money to my cause (which was never the point of my contact with them) I now have money to help with transportation, training, even a meal if one needed it. I am very appreciative of the contacts that Brian and Big Fish have helped me get in the area, and support Big Fish in any way that I can.

I've know Brian for a decade and have participated in his events and personally witnessed what this cause is about and can do. His vision for BFF and being proactive against Suicide is very much needed. The aim of creating lasting and deep relationships and understanding of personal struggles prior to having an "attempt" is transformative. BFF is a proactive and important organization that more veterans should be aware of.