Richard Casper

Richard Casper is renowned for his humanitarian efforts through CreatiVets, a non-profit organization he co-founded to help wounded veterans recover from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries using art, music, and creative writing. CreatiVets has empowered hundreds of veterans across the United States with programs designed to foster self-expression, healing, and community connection through creative disciplines.​

The primary mission of CreatiVets is to provide veterans with tools and opportunities to heal their unseen wounds of war through various forms of art and music.​ Since its founding in 2013, CreatiVets has helped more than 870 veterans from 48 states, with their created works amassing over one million streams.​ Programs include songwriting, visual arts, woodworking, welding, and creative writing, often delivered through university partnerships and community initiatives.

CreatiVets’ objective is to offer relief and healing by transforming trauma into creative expression, decreasing isolation and the risk factors associated with PTSD and TBI.​ Casper is recognized for his innovative approach, being named a CNN Hero in 2022 and one of TIME magazine’s Next Generation Leaders in 2017. In 2025, CreatiVets launched a $5 million capital campaign to create a permanent art and music center for veterans in Nashville with 24-hour access to a makerspace, gallery, and performance area.​

High-profile supporters such as Gary Sinise have contributed significantly, including a recent $1 million donation to help establish CreatiVets’ new headquarters, which seeks to provide a safe haven for veterans dealing with PTSD, especially after dark, when many support services are unavailable.​

Volunteers and staff work together to repair and expand facilities, turning adversity—like vandalism—into opportunities for rebuilding and community engagement.​ CreatiVets has grown into a movement that advocates for veterans' wellness, seeking to inspire a national curriculum and expand access to arts-based healing at universities and communities across the country.​

Through CreatiVets, Richard Casper has made a profound humanitarian impact, turning personal pain into a nationwide mission to support and heal fellow veterans creatively.