RAISING FUNDS  ·  SUPPORTING MISSIONS  ·  CHANGING LIVES
About Project 22

One veteran. One number.
One relentless mission.

Project 22 was founded on a conviction: the people doing God's hardest work in our communities should never run out of fuel — and no veteran should ever feel like the fight is theirs alone.

A veteran looking out over Tampa Bay at golden hour, an American flag flying nearby
The Founder

Michael "Legend" Lyter

U.S. Navy veteran. Christian. Brother to those still fighting.

Legend served his country in the United States Navy — and came home to discover a second calling: serving the men and women who served beside him. He is passionate about his fellow veterans, and above all, about putting an end to veteran suicide.

Through his own experiences, Legend saw a profound need to protect and uplift those who serve us — as well as those falling through the cracks: veterans, first responders, our homeless neighbors, and the service dogs that save lives. Many people want to help but simply don't have the time. Legend does — and he chooses to spend it in the trenches, doing the groundwork.

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The Story Behind The Name

Why we carry the number 22.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released a suicide data report with a finding that shook the nation: an estimated 22 veterans were dying by suicide every single day.

That figure — "22 a day" — became the rallying cry of a movement, sparking pushup challenges, awareness rides, and thousands of grassroots efforts across the country. It is the statistic that moved Legend to act, and the number this organization is built on.

More recent VA reports estimate the daily toll at 17 to 20 veterans. The number moves; the tragedy doesn't. Whether it's 22 or 17, it is far too many — and behind every number is a name, a family, and a story that didn't have to end.

Project 22 keeps the original number as a memorial and a mandate: fund the missions that reach people before the crisis.

"Every mile ridden, every bottle handed out, every dollar raised is a message to somebody who's struggling: your community has not given up on you."
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis: call or text 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — free, confidential, 24/7. You can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.
What Drives Us

Mission, vision, and the values in between.

Our Mission

To shoulder the work of fundraising for churches, ministries, and community organizations — designing and running high-impact campaigns that turn community generosity into direct funding for frontline missions.

Our Vision

A community where no mission stalls for lack of funding, no veteran fights alone, and no neighbor falls through the cracks — where generosity flows as freely as water on game day.

Our Values

Faith in action. Service before self. Radical transparency with every dollar. Honoring those who serve — veterans, first responders, volunteers — and dignity for every life we touch.

Who We Serve

Funding the people who catch people.

Project 22 raises funds alongside — and for — organizations on the front lines:

  • Veterans & first responders — and the fight to end veteran suicide.
  • Churches & ministries — the community's first line of hope.
  • Recovery & restoration programs — walking with people out of addiction and incarceration.
  • Families in crisis — women and children escaping violence and homelessness.
  • Service dogs — the four-legged lifesavers matched with the people who need them.
Meet Our Current Partners
Community members' hands stacked together in a huddle