The Face of True North — Riley Gregoire and a Life of Service
by Leslie Parsons
Riley Gregoire volunteering with Wreaths Across America
For many people in the veteran and military-support community, Riley Gregoire isn’t just a name on an email signature. She is the face of the True North Foundation—a visible, tireless advocate whose work extends far beyond her role as Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Riley joined the True North journey in 2020, helping guide the transformation of a corporate giving initiative into a fully realized nonprofit foundation. But her commitment to service didn’t begin with a job offer.
Military service runs deep in Riley’s family. Her great-grandfather, both grandfathers, her father, multiple aunts and uncles have all served. Her brother currently serves with the U.S. Marines and her husband is a pilot with the U.S. Air Force. Supporting veterans and their families isn’t abstract to her—it’s personal.
While much of Riley’s work with True North focuses on building relationships and raising awareness for nonprofit partners, she also dedicates an extraordinary amount of time to hands-on volunteerism. Working remotely—first in Washington state and now in Oklahoma—she sought out additional ways to stay connected to the veteran community, turning to online searches to find opportunities close to home.
Conferences became another avenue for impact, allowing Riley to work alongside national organizations such as Operation Homefront, the Foundation for Women Warriors, and Wreaths Across America.
What Riley values most about volunteering is the human connection. Meeting like-minded people, working alongside fellow advocates, and seeing firsthand how small actions can change lives reminds her why the work matters. Through her volunteer work, she also has countless opportunities to meet and connect with veterans, active duty service members, and their families and to understand their strengths, values, and needs.
She’s also quick to acknowledge that getting started can feel daunting. Red tape and logistics can discourage even the most well-intentioned volunteers. Her advice is to begin with organizations—like True North—that work across multiple nonprofit partners and regularly share vetted volunteer opportunities.
Riley is also passionate about remote and creative ways to give back. She points to initiatives like Soldiers’ Angels’ annual Valentines for Vets, where volunteers create cards for deployed service members and elderly veterans, and the Foundation for Women Warriors’ holiday toy drive. Dog Tag, Inc. welcomes business leaders from many different industries who want to serve as teachers, coaches, and mentors for the Dog Tag Fellowship Program.
In 2025 alone, Riley estimates she volunteered approximately 1,400 hours—all while balancing her professional responsibilities. She has even combined her love of running with fundraising, using races as platforms to raise awareness and support for veteran causes.
Riley Gregoire embodies what True North stands for: service driven by purpose, connection built through action, and leadership grounded in compassion. Her work reminds us that making a difference isn’t about proximity or title—it’s about showing up, again and again, for the people who served.