Gary Sinise Donates $1 Million To Turn Abandoned Church Into Creative Space For Wounded Veterans

An old, unused church on Nashville’s west side is about to get a second life—thanks in large part to Gary Sinise. The actor, best known for playing Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, donated $1 million this spring to CreatiVets, a nonprofit dedicated to helping wounded veterans heal through music and art.

The property, priced at $3.35 million, had long sat idle. But CreatiVets saw its potential as a dedicated space where veterans could turn to songwriting, painting, and other forms of artistic expression. Sinise did too.

“Quite often our veterans don’t want any help,” Sinise told the Associated Press. “But through art and theatre as well, acting out what they are going through can be very, very beneficial.”

Richard Casper, a Marine veteran and the executive director of CreatiVets, said Sinise’s contribution has been transformative. “It will accelerate the opening of our Nashville art and music center, expand access to life-saving songwriting and visual arts programs, and help us drive down the waitlist of veterans seeking creative healing.”

CreatiVets was founded in 2013 and has built a strong reputation for using art as therapy for post-9/11 veterans dealing with combat trauma and PTSD. Sinise’s foundation has supported the group in past years, but this latest donation is the largest to date.

Two anonymous donors also stepped up with $1 million each, allowing CreatiVets to finalize the purchase in July. Grammy-winning singer Amy Grant, who visited the property alongside Sinise, also contributed to the cause.

Part of the new facility will be a performance center named in honor of Sinise’s late son, Mac, who died in 2024 after battling cancer. Mac had a deep passion for music and had been involved in supporting veterans through his father’s foundation.

Casper emphasized the need for a 24-hour space where veterans can play music, record, and work on noisy machinery—things that aren’t possible in CreatiVets’ current shared facility in Nashville’s 12 South neighborhood.

With renovations estimated at $1.9 million just to get the building operational, the nonprofit will still need help to bring its full vision to life. But for Casper, who’s spent over a year fighting to secure the property, the progress is energizing. “This gives us a permanent home for the people who need it most.”

The plan is for the new CreatiVets center to open by next fall.