Special Report: Veteran-Owned Brands Turn Veterans Day Into $34 Million in Medical Debt Relief

Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company have turned a simple Veterans Day sales push into one of the largest acts of medical-debt forgiveness for veterans on record—while bringing renewed national attention to the broader “invest in veterans” movement that National Invest In Veterans Week® has championed for years.

According to a joint announcement released through PR Newswire, the two veteran-owned companies set out in November 2025 to erase $25 million in medical debt for former service members through an initiative called “Operation Debt of Gratitude.” By dedicating 100% of online profits from November 7–11 to the effort, and partnering with debt-relief firm ForgiveCo, they ultimately surpassed that goal by 36%, eliminating $34 million in medical debt held by thousands of U.S. veterans.

The effort places the initiative among the largest single campaigns of veteran medical-debt forgiveness yet documented.

How “Operation Debt of Gratitude” Worked

Rather than asking veterans to apply for help, Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company worked with ForgiveCo to use donated funds to purchase portfolios of qualifying medical debt on the secondary market—then cancel that debt outright.

• From November 7–11, 2025, 100% of profits from each brand’s online sales were committed to the campaign.

• ForgiveCo structured and executed the acquisition and cancellation of eligible accounts, a model the company describes as “Transforming debt into goodwill.”

• Impact letters will be mailed directly to affected veterans, notifying them that their debts have been wiped out—no applications, portals, or paperwork required.

For many families, those letters will land just as holiday expenses begin to mount. One beneficiary highlighted in the announcement, Mara C., a U.S. Army veteran and Gold Star spouse, saw over $341,000 in medical debt erased after years of struggle following her husband’s death in Iraq and her own serious injuries.

Why This Matters: The Veteran Medical-Debt Crisis

The campaign is taking aim at a quietly devastating problem.

Citing national data, the organizers note:

• More than one-third of U.S. veterans worry they cannot afford needed medical care.

• One in five veterans has medical debt in collections—nearly double the national rate.

• Over 33% report “surprise” medical bills exceeding $1,000.

• Post-9/11 veterans with medical debt are twice as likely to face eviction or housing instability.

Service-related injuries, complex care needs, and gaps between Veterans Affairs coverage and civilian billing mean that even small billing errors can spiral into life-altering debt.

By targeting that specific pain point instead of launching yet another awareness campaign, Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company are meeting veterans at a critical financial choke point: the difference between barely hanging on and finally being able to breathe.

Veteran-Led Brands at the Center of the Story

Both companies behind Operation Debt of Gratitude are deeply rooted in the military community.

Born Primitive

Founded in 2014 by former Navy SEAL lieutenant Bear Handlon and co-founder Mallory Riley, Born Primitive has grown from a niche fitness line into a global nine-figure athletic and lifestyle brand offering more than 1,200 SKUs across training apparel, athleisure, workwear, tactical gear, footwear, and more.

Website: https://www.bornprimitive.com

Black Rifle Coffee Company

Founded by former Green Beret Evan Hafer in 2014, Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) has become one of the most visible veteran-owned consumer brands in the U.S., known for its unapologetically pro-veteran identity and mission to “serve coffee and culture to people who love America.”

Website: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

How This Connects Back to National Invest In Veterans Week®

For the team at National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW), Operation Debt of Gratitude reads like a case study in what “investing in veterans” should look like in practice:

• Veteran-founded brands using their peak sales period (Veterans Day) not just for promotions, but to create measurable economic relief.

• National television exposure that reinforces veterans as leaders and problem-solvers, not just recipients of charity.

• A structure—through ForgiveCo—that is scalable and repeatable, rather than a one-off publicity stunt.

From the perspective of NIVW, campaigns like this extend the impact of their March 1–7 observance into November and beyond, strengthening a year-round culture where veteran-owned companies are central players in solving veteran challenges.

Learn More / Get Involved

• Full PR Newswire announcement:
  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mission-accomplished-born-primitive-and-black-rifle-coffee-company-surpass-veterans-day-debt-relief-goal-eliminate-34-million-in-veteran-medical-debt-302622444.html

• Born Primitive: https://www.bornprimitive.com

• Black Rifle Coffee Company: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

• ForgiveCo: https://forgiveco.com