Rose’s Keys Foundation is more than an organization, it’s a legacy built on love, resilience, and unwavering compassion. Named after my mother, Rose Maria Howard, this foundation was born from her story.

Known to most as Maria, my mother was the kind of woman who opened her heart and her home to anyone in need. She knew what it meant to struggle. She experienced homelessness while pregnant with me, and again when I was just a child. But even during those darkest moments, she never stopped believing in a better life, not just for us, but for others too.

Her determination to become a mental health counselor never wavered. For over a decade, she worked full time, studied online, and raised a family. Eventually, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology. After years of dedication, she began working with active-duty military members and their families on bases across the globe, bringing light and healing where it was needed most.

Maria’s impact rippled far beyond her job. Her compassion earned her a Marine Corps Certificate of Commendation, a rare honor that reflected how many lives she touched. She became known as a beacon of hope, especially for those who felt unseen and unheard.

On September 6, 2018, my mother passed away. But her legacy lives on through this foundation. Rose’s Keys exists to carry forward the mission she lived every day: providing safe, supportive housing and care for veterans and other communities who vulnerable and underserved. This is not just a service, it’s a promise to uphold the spirit of a woman who never stopped giving, even when she had little to give.

This is our why. This is Rose’s Key.