VOLUNTEER DRIVEN
It's Personal
Pathways to Peace is 100% volunteer operated. We have no employees and none of our people, including our Board, are compensated for their time. Every event we conduct is made possible by the generous donation of time and effort of people that chose to support us.
We are humbled and grateful for the contributions of our volunteers.
Every volunteer on our team has a reason for supporting our causes.
Some of their stories are shared below.
How Can You Help?
Volunteer
Pathways To Peace cannot do what we do without volunteers. We need you! Our ability to achieve our mission is constrained only by the availability of volunteers.
We have larger leadership roles available, including captaincies for digital media, volunteers, and individual events. We also have smaller roles, all of which are important, as it takes significant effort to execute large events such as our golf outing.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please email us at volunteer@ptopf.org
Other Ways to Help
Volunteering time is not the only way to help. There are multiple paths.
The number one way anyone can help our cause is to remove the stigma associated with suicide. Talk about mental health, PTSD, suicide, resources, and treatments. Let's break down the barrier that keeps people from seeking the help they need.
You can also participate in one of our many events throughout the year. We have fun conducting euchre tournaments, hosting live music events, and running a golf outing. We have ideas for other events too like pub crawls, scavenger hunts, and holiday wrapping events. In December we will mobile volunteers to support the Wreaths Across America program. Come have some fun with us.
Many like to donate to our organization or for a specific event. We raffle donated items like merchandise and gift certificates to fund the battle against PTSD.
If you are a leader within a business, we offer a variety of opportunities for you to sponsor. All our events have sponsors and our major events offer many sponsorships. We would love to partner with you to amplify your message while supporting our veterans.
Check with your boss. Many employers have programs that seek to support nonprofits in their communities. These programs include matching donations and formal grants. Veterans causes benefit from these programs.
Reach out to us!
Volunteer Spotlight
Recognizing Our Volunteers
At Pathways to Peace we value our volunteers that allow us to accomplish our mission through their generous gifts of time and energy. We cannot do what we do without them.
Each volunteer has their own motivation to contribute. For most, it's personal. For all we are grateful.
The Spotlight
Once a quarter we put the spotlight on one of our volunteers.
Have a look below to see those highlighted to learn more.
Q4 2025 - Meet Amanda Duquesnel
Inspired by the service of both of her grandfathers, Amanda volunteered to assist with the holiday gift wrapping and euchre tournament setup. She was a rock star at went above and beyond for the event. She is the Captain of our March 2026 Euchre Event.
While fortunate enough to have not seen the effects of PTSD in her own loved ones, she values the chance to contribute to a cause that honors their sacrifice and strengthens the veteran community for future generations.
Our Stories
David: A Story That Sparked Action
During the COVID-19 pandemic, David lost a friend to suicide. Their condition was deemed non-essential, they were released from treatment, and lost their battle. That experience motivated him to investigate suicide—its causes, treatments, and available resources. Combined with his belief that enough isn’t done for our military service members and veterans, he eventually learned of the disproportionate impact suicide has on veterans.
In 2023, he discovered the Stop Soldier Suicide organization, a veteran-founded and veteran-managed nonprofit whose sole purpose is to battle PTSD and suicide in the veteran community.
Turning Awareness into Action
He was intrigued. Stop Soldier Suicide uses social media campaigns to encourage individuals to participate in month-long online fundraisers through running, rucking, and other activities. David ran 100 miles in July to earn a T-shirt and secure online donations. He raised $500. While every penny helped, he felt he could do more.
He convinced friends and family to help organize a golf outing in September of that year. The outing raised $19,000, and the team grew.
Since September 2023, the team has raised over $121,000. As a natural step in the team’s growth, he formally organized the group as the Pathways To Peace Foundation in late 2025.
Leadership
David Church - Director, President, & Treasurer
David serves as the Managing Director, President, and Treasurer of the Pathways To Peace Foundation. Since 2023 he has led the team in conducting events that have raised awareness and over $121,000 to battle PTSD and suicide in the military community.
In 2025, he founded a nonprofit as a next step in the team's evolution and to continue the mission to raise awareness of veterans’ issues and to fund veterans’ causes. While not a veteran himself, he has strong familial connections to the military. His father was a Vietnam Navy veteran, and both his son and daughter-in-law serve in the Michigan Army National Guard.
David is a management consultant with over 30 years of experience across accounting, finance, mergers and acquisitions, manufacturing operations, supply chain, software development, and information technology. He resides in Michigan and has adult three sons.
Michael Dolkowski - Director
Mike is a Director of the Pathways to Peace Foundation bringing over 40 years of experience in business entrepreneurship and environmental engineering to the organization. He is a honorably discharged US Army veteran with a Purple Heart.
Mike grew up in Detroit, MI and is a life long survivor. He has overcome major life challenges, including childhood molestation, captivity in a Cambodian jungle prison during the Vietnam War, and multiple cancers. He found ways to turn adversity into fortune. He authored an inspirational memoir One Day One Thought One Lifetime, about his life experiences. He supports veteran's causes and speaks at events. He has first hand experience with PTSD and approaches to healing. He has faced life's challenges with courage, tenacity, and a never-failing belief that misfortune can be turned into opportunity.
His life story is an inspiration to our organization. He resides in Troy, MI with his wife, Dona.
Adam Eaton - Director
Adam serves as a Director at the Pathways To Peace Foundation, where they lead initiatives supporting the well-being of service members and their families. A lifelong member of the military community, Adam was raised in a multi-branch household as the child of an Air Force father and Army mother and has a sibling currently serving in the Air Force.
In addition to leadership at the foundation, Adam is a proud Military Ambassador for the Washington Nationals, helping bridge professional sports with the local and national military community. Their outreach includes multiple USO tours and dedicated support for air bases across the United States and overseas installations. Through advocacy and strategic partnerships, Adam continues to champion programs that provide critical resources and morale-boosting experiences for military families.
Richard Kaye - Director
Richard Kaye serves as a Director of the Pathway to Peace Foundation and brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in consumer electronics, retail operations, and business management. His career includes senior roles spanning both brick-and-mortar and online merchandising, with responsibility for category strategy, long-term product planning, and annual budgets exceeding $500 million.
Richard has worked directly with manufacturers at the executive level to develop long-range product strategies and annual purchasing plans, supported by disciplined quarterly reviews. He has led cross-functional teams across sales, store planning, and finance, ensuring strong alignment between strategy, execution, and financial performance.
In 2022, Richard became Managing Member of DR&R LLC and acquired Main Street Grill & Tavern, where he oversees all aspects of operations and employs more than 40 team members. His hands-on leadership, financial discipline, and people-first approach make him a trusted and effective board leader.
Rick Lack - Director
Rick serves a Director of the Pathways to Peace Foundation. He is also the Executive Vice President of Rave Associates, distributors of fine wine and beer in the State of Michigan. While overseeing all facets of operations, Rick’s true passion is bringing more than 4,000 different alcoholic beverages to people across the state from 52 nations worldwide, while specializing in developing and supporting local beer and wine producers. He proudly represents and distributes products from over 30 Michigan beer, wine, and cider producers.
A lifelong resident of Genesee County, Rick is a graduate of the University of Michigan–Flint and currently resides in Fenton, MI. A patriot of the great State of Michigan and a proud American, Rick is committed to supporting organizations that benefit people in need, particularly veterans. Outside of work, Rick enjoys spending time with his family—his wife, Stephanie, and sons, Kyle and Kevin—golfing, and enjoying all things outdoors in our great state.
Butch Maxwell - Vice President
Harley “Butch” serves as the Vice President of the Pathways to Peace Foundation. In addition to his role at Pathways to Peace, he has been a member of the Sons of the American Legion for 30 years, holding various positions including Past State Commander. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Wil Win veterans retreat owned by the American Legion. Butch is also a member of the American Masonic since 2009.
He is a Council Member at the Village of Milford where he has been a resident since 1960. He and his wife Linda bought their first home in the Village in 1986. He worked in the Department of Public Services with the Village from 1992 until he retired in 2017. He is married with two adult children. You’ll see Butch around town and his motto is “Life is Good!"
Jennifer Frankford - Secretary
Jennifer is an active advocate of veteran’s causes. She is the Secretary of the Pathways to Peace Foundation. She also serves at the American Legion Auxiliary and is a past Vice President of the Grand River Trail Daughters of the American Revolution.
She has forty-seven years experience in various retail management positions, eight years as a Girl Scout Leader, and 10 years as a Boy Scout Leader.
Jennifer was first elected to Council in the Village of Milford in 2009 and has been elected for four subsequent terms. She has resided in Milford since 1988. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oakland Community College where she earned recognition as the Psychology Student of the Year.