Helping veterans find their next mission

We started Dillon’s place to try to help newly discharged veterans gain traction with training, resources and job placement.

We hope the organization helps grow awareness to the problems veterans face when they are discharged back into society.

I have a thousand great memories of Dillon but one of my favorites is when he told me in 5th grade he was going to be a state champ and followed with I am also going to be a Marine because they are the toughest.

Dillon Franciscus is my son and the inspiration behind Dillon's Place. After we lost him, I knew his legacy was not over. It became incredibly important for me to make a difference in his name. Dillon inspires me every day with his convictions, dedication, and unwavering loyalty.

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Dillon's Place will serve as a vessel to make a difference by providing resources and a helping hand to recently discharged veterans. This is our commitment to the community that Dillon loved and held in such high regard.

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I will forever cherish the special bond Dillon and I shared over TV shows, football, and our dogs. I can still clearly hear Dillon reciting our favorite scenes from our favorite shows. I will forever miss not getting phone calls about the Browns trades and his incredible knowledge about our dogs' behaviors.

He challenges and inspires me everyday.

Sam LaCrosse is the founder and CEO of Don’t Do This Media, which features the Sam LaCrosse Substack and the Sam LaCrosse show on Spotify and YouTube. He is the six-time #1 bestseller of three books, including Value Economics, Toxic Immaturity and Spectrum of Lies. He has partnered with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson for content production, and has been featured in Forbes magazine. Most importantly, he is a Christian, and leads in the legacy, men’s, special needs, and tailgating ministries in his church, Red Rocks Austin. A lifelong supporter of charities centered around special needs children and families and veterans, LaCrosse has supported organizations such as the Gary Sinise Foundation and the Michael Murphy Foundation. Finally, LaCrosse was also one of Dillon’s best friends for over 20 years. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he now lives in Austin, Texas.

Dillon Franciscus was one of my closest friends growing up. It is an honor to serve on the Board of an organization that will both honor Dillon's memory and make a positive impact in our community. 

I am a close friend of the Franciscus family and had the pleasure of watching Dillon grow up over the years.  I am connected to the veteran community through Dillon.  In  addition, my grandfather was in the Navy, a veteran of WWII, and a Purple Heart recipient.  Further, my husband’s family had many military members, including his father who was a Marine, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and a recipient of three Purple Hearts. 

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Justin joined the Army after 9/11 and served on active duty for 8 years. While earning his MBA in Hungary, Justin focused on the effects employment has on people with mental illness and used what he learned to start a social business that employed recently housed veterans in Los Angeles. Justin recently returned to Cleveland and now works as a graphic designer while continuing to serve in the Army Reserves. He connected with Dillon’s Place to support the local veteran community, emphasizing the importance of employment in veterans returning to civilian life.

Dillon and my oldest son were good childhood friends and our families stayed have close over the years.  His death left a hole in our hearts but it is a privilege to have the opportunity to honor his memory by providing resources to his brothers and sisters in arms.

Thank you to our veterans.  That’s something people say all the time but for me it’s personal.  My grandfather served in WW II (Army) , my uncle served in the Korean War (Air Force) , my father was drafted during the Vietnam War (Army),  and my brother served in the Air Force during the Gulf War.  And then of course there’s Dillon and his comrades.  The everyday freedoms and security we enjoy are a product of your service and sacrifice.Dillon and my oldest son were good childhood friends and our families stayed have close over the years.  His death left a hole in our hearts but it is a privilege to have the opportunity to honor his memory by providing resources to his brothers and sisters in arms.

I’ve had the honor of knowing Dillon’s parents personally and professionally for nearly two decades—watching Dillon and his brother Devon grow into remarkable young men. I followed Dillon’s journey through the Marine Corps and witnessed the beginnings of Dillon’s Place.

I’m the daughter and granddaughter of veterans, carrying that legacy forward through decades of personal and professional connection to military families—like Dillon’s Place. As Chairwoman of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies (OWRL), I help lead the nation’s largest “No Veteran Buried Alone” initiative, having stood in for over 1,000 services in just 3 years and championed national awareness for unaccompanied veterans.

Dillon was one of my best friends who I knew since the 1st grade. I am honored to be on the Board for Dillon’s Place and to support local veterans from our armed forces. As an active duty Air Force member, I work alongside so many amazing folks who serve our great country. Dillon was one of those rare individuals who committed themselves to be apart something greater than themselves.

I have known the Franciscus family for over 25 years, and I am humbled to serve on the Board of Dillon’s Place to help carry forward the torch in the way Dillon would have wanted. Dillon and my son were best friends from 1st grade on, and we always considered him part of our family—just as Lee and Angie embraced our son with the same love.

For more than 30 years, I have been an entrepreneur with the privilege of supporting a variety of non-profits through both services and volunteer leadership. My experience includes serving on several boards and committees, and my commitment is to apply those skills to ensure Dillon’s memory lives on—especially through the lasting impact and success of the foundation that bears his name.