About Us

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Flags Replaced

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Communities Reached

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of Conversations Sparked

Our Mission

Our Purpose Is Clear: Restore Civic Pride Across America

The HRW Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative committed to honoring the American flag, empowering veterans, and reactivating civic responsibility in local communities. We believe patriotism should be visible, actionable, and inclusive — grounded in values like service, freedom, and neighborly connection.

Our approach is simple but powerful: we deliver new American flags to homes in need, retire the old ones with dignity, and spark conversations that reconnect Americans with their civic purpose.

Who We Are and Why We Serve

Named after three historical figures — Hopkinson, Ross, and Wisher — the HRW Foundation draws on the diverse spirit of early American patriotism.
We believe that every citizen, regardless of background, has a role to play in preserving our national ideals.

We are:

” Together, we are working to bring the flag — and what it stands for — back to the front porch.”

The Legacy Behind Our Name

The Stories that Shaped a Nation

The HRW Foundation is named in honor of Francis Hopkinson, Betsy Ross, and Grace Wisher—three Americans from vastly different backgrounds who contributed to the birth of our national symbol: the American flag. Their stories remind us that patriotism is not about perfection, but about participation. Each of them stood for service, sacrifice, and the unifying power of the American spirit.

Hopkinson. Ross.

Wisher.

Francis Hopkinson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Renaissance man of the American Revolution. He served as a lawyer, judge, composer—and most notably—claimed to be the designer of the first American flag. As a member of the Continental Congress, he helped shape not just the nation’s laws but also its early symbols, including designs for the Great Seal and various government insignia. Hopkinson submitted an invoice to Congress for “designing the flag of the United States,” making him one of the earliest documented creators of our national banner. His vision helped anchor the flag as a powerful emblem of a free and unified people.

Francis Hopkinson

Signer, Designer, Patriot.

Betsy Ross is perhaps the most iconic figure associated with the American flag. According to family lore and popular tradition, she was commissioned by George Washington and a secret committee to sew the first flag of the United States in 1776. Whether myth or fact, what’s indisputable is that Ross was a real-life upholsterer and seamstress in Philadelphia, who endured personal tragedy while quietly contributing to the Revolution. She represents the many unsung women of America’s founding—those whose skilled hands and steady courage helped stitch together the fabric of a nation.

Betsy Ross

Maker, Mother, Revolutionary.

Grace Wisher was a young African-American girl who worked as an indentured servant and apprentice in the household of Mary Pickersgill—the woman credited with sewing the Star-Spangled Banner flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814. Though rarely mentioned in history books, Grace Wisher is believed to have helped construct that famous flag, which inspired the national anthem. Her legacy speaks to the invisible hands of freedom—those of African Americans, women, and working-class citizens who contributed quietly but profoundly to America's symbols and struggles.

Grace Wisher

Apprentice, African-American Patriot.

“Patriotism is not about perfection, but about participation.”
These names remind us that shaping America is everyone’s duty

— past and present.

Civic Engagement in Action

🤝 More Than Flags: A Movement of Civic Renewal

Every flag we give is paired with education, conversation, and community action. We don’t just hand out symbols — we hand out opportunities to connect and care.

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Why It Matters

Together, Hopkinson, Ross, and Wisher represent the diverse spirit of American patriotism:

"We name our foundation after them because they remind us that every American—regardless of race, gender, or class—can help shape the flag and the nation it represents."

🙌 Be Part of the Mission

Whether you walk with us, donate, or help spread the word — your action can help rebuild civic pride in your community.