American Warrior Initiative
Founded to bridge the gap between civilians and veterans — now focused on funding service dogs and empowering communities nationwide.
The American Warrior Initiative was founded to bridge the gap between civilians and the men and women who have served our country. Early on, the team carried that message across the nation—reaching more than 35,000 real estate agents and business professionals through American Warrior Real Estate Professional (AWREP®) Boot Camps, raising awareness about the challenges veterans face when returning home from war. In 2018, AWI launched Freedom Tours alongside Gold Star mother Karen Vaughn, whose powerful perspective reminds communities of our shared responsibility to honor the sacrifice of those who have given so much for our freedom. In recent years, AWI has also welcomed Retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman to its national speaking team, further strengthening the message of resilience, service, and leadership.
Today, AWI’s mission is focused on funding life-changing service dogs for veterans and first responders. Through local Outposts across the country, communities host events, raise funds, and stand behind America’s heroes. To date, AWI has helped place over 450 service dogs—restoring independence, confidence, and hope one partnership at a time.
AWI has spearheaded hundreds of give-back initiatives to the wounded heroes of America. These wounded heroes have been served through the gifting of service dogs, business grants, home upgrades, mortgage-free housing, and more.
AWI Leaders
Louise Thaxton
National Speaker & Author, Veterans Advocate, Mortgage Professional
Louise Thaxton (NMLS 69996) has been in the mortgage business for 25 years, almost 23 of those years with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (NMLS 2289), as a producing regional manager, with offices across Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Colorado. Louise was named as one of the Top Women Originators in America for 2018 by Scotsman Guide, was included in the top 100 Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA) for 2018, and named by National Mortgage Professional Magazine as one of the “Best Military Lenders and Originators 2018”.
She is the National Director of the Military Mortgage Specialist, a designation exclusive to loan professionals of Fairway Mortgage, which trains and equips loan professionals on working with military clients.
Louise is a national advocate for America’s veterans and is the Director and co-founder of the American Warrior Initiative, the non-profit of Fairway, leading the way for hundreds of initiatives for veterans in need across the country, inspiring millions of dollars in donations to fund those initiatives.
Karen Vaughn
Gold Star Mother, Author, Veterans Advocate, National Speaker
Karen Vaughn is the mother of fallen Navy SEAL Chief Aaron Carson Vaughn of SEAL Team Six. On August 6, 2011, Aaron was killed in action in Afghanistan when Extortion 17—carrying thirty Americans—was shot down while charging into battle. The day Aaron’s life ended, Karen’s began again.
She refused to let his sacrifice be buried in silence.
Karen has advised three Presidents, become a nationally recognized cultural and political analyst, and appeared across every major news network. Her writing on military and national security issues has reached millions and gone viral.
From 2013–2017, she served as Senior Military Families Advisor for Concerned Veterans for America, touring the country as a keynote speaker and working on Capitol Hill to drive authenitic VA reform for wounded warriors.
She is the national bestselling author of World Changer: A Mother’s Story.
In October 2025, Karen and her husband were appointed to the first-ever Gold Star Advisory Council to the Department of War.
Her message has never wavered: A Representative Republic is the noblest form of government ever devised by man—and it must be defended.