Public Registration Helen Sajer, PA Wounded Warriors

Helen Sajer is the founder and Chairwoman of Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc., an all-volunteer, state-wide Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation formed to assist wounded and disabled veterans of the Commonwealth to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Helen founded PAWW in 2007 after one of her sons, a United States Army Reserve officer, returned safely from deployment to Fallujah, Iraq.  She made it her mission to ensure that every returning Pennsylvania veteran knows that the community cares and has a place to turn for assistance in readjusting to a changed life.  Helen Sajer is committed to the belief that one person can make a difference in the lives of others.

Helen was the first president of the PAWW board of directors and served for 20 years in that role before stepping down in 2026.  Helen now serves as PAWW Chairperson and remains the public voice and face of the organization. 

In 2026, in recognition of her enduring commitment to supporting PA veterans in need, Helen was awarded the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal for meritorious service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  In 2018, Helen was inducted into the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ Hall of Fame, the first non-military person to be so honored.  Election to the Hall of Fame is the DMVA’s most auspicious honor conferred upon an individual for monumental achievement.  In addition, in recognition of her service to the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and her community, Helen Sajer was awarded the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal, Pennsylvania Commendation Medal, and the Pennsylvania National Guard Molly Pitcher Award.  Helen’s dedication to serving the community also earned her an Outstanding Citizenship Award from the Borough of Camp Hill and 2019 Pennsylvania Woman of the Year from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Also, based on her support to wounded and disabled veterans, Helen was awarded the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal (first oak leaf cluster); Heroes Among Us award from the Adams County Democratic Committee; and the John F. Kennedy award from the Northeast Community Center for Behavioral Health.  Helen was recognized by the Union League for her outstanding leadership of PAWW and active commitment to our veterans.  The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce awarded Helen its 2015 Gen. Frank Smoker Beyond the Call Award, which recognizes chamber members who support armed forces personnel and their families.  Helen is also a recipient of the 2015 Jefferson Award for outstanding public service in the Susquehanna Valley sponsored locally by WGAL-TV, PSECU, and eight regional United Ways, and was selected to represent the Susquehanna Valley at the national level.