SAFE Project was founded in November 2017 by Admiral James and Mary Winnefeld, following the loss of their 19-year old son Jonathan to an opioid overdose. The Winnefelds immediately channeled their grief into action, hoping to save other families from the pain of loss.
Whether it was seeking treatment, getting answers, or understanding the nature of the disease – the Winnefelds knew there needed to be a different solution to help other families facing the same journey with substance use disorder. They swiftly built a team of experts who strive for meaningful action through our programs, and lead efforts that are unifying and evidence-based.
Today, SAFE Project is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to overcoming the addiction epidemic in the United States. SAFE Project aims to save lives impacted by substance use and mental health challenges through overdose prevention and response, education on stigma, and development of prevention and recovery programs. We provide tailored guidance and training within our four key initiatives: SAFE Campuses, SAFE Communities, SAFE Workplaces, and SAFE Veterans.
At SAFE Project, we remain keenly aware of and grounded in the reality that our organization was built on loss and grief.
Help is Available
One of the biggest hurdles the Winnefelds faced was finding local treatment options. Today, our SAFE Locator helps you find critical resources and options best matched to your needs or the needs of a loved one.
Jonathan’s Freshman Essay
In August of 2017, Jonathan wrote about his very first ride-along on an ambulance as a brand new EMT for his incoming freshman essay at the University of Denver. He wrote about his experience when they responded to a call of a man overdosing on heroin, just one month before he died.
“The deepest impact ever left on me was by a person I had never even talked to. We didn’t know each other at all, and I had never even seen him before in my life. I never got to find out his name, and he wasn’t even aware of my presence or anyone else’s for that matter. However, we both had one thing in common that made an instant connection between us. We both shared the disease of addiction, with the only difference being he was still in active addiction and I was one year sober.” – Jonathan Winnefeld
LJ Winnefeld and Jonathan’s Legacy
After his passing, Jonathan’s brother James Winnefeld III—”LJ” to his friends and family—shared his own memories and experience in memory of his brother.
“He knew he was struggling, he knew he had a problem, and he knew there were a lot of people out there like him. He wanted to be able to help those people, to save lives. Jonathan’s story is a testament to that. If we can save one family, one person, that’s all that matters,” concludes LJ.
You Can Make An Impact
In Jonathan’s memory and to honor the millions of others we have lost, we seek to make an impact every day. Your gift to SAFE Project supports our efforts to stop the addiction fatality epidemic.