Our story
Our story of service and healing.
Outer Circle Foundation began with a son’s unanswered questions, a family’s faith, and a promise to stand beside the people who have spent their lives standing for others.
Why we began
A beacon of hope for those who have served.
Outer Circle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Dallas, Georgia, supporting Veterans, First Responders, and their families during times of need. Founded by Matt and Buffy Payne, the foundation is built around a simple belief: no hero should have to carry the weight of service alone.
Our work is faith-based, compassionate, and practical. We help people find a trustworthy next step toward care, connection, and renewed purpose—without judgment and without asking them to explain away what they have lived through.
In memory of
2nd Lt. Herman “Chuck” Payne
A father Matt never got to know, whose courage and sacrifice live at the heart of this mission.
His story does not end with loss. It becomes a reason to keep walking with the next person who needs help.
U.S. Army
Second Lieutenant & Infantry Unit Commander
May 17, 1941 – April 26, 1967
Silver Star · Bronze Star · Purple Heart
Herman’s service
A life of service, remembered with honor.
Herman “Chuck” Payne arrived in Vietnam in November 1966 as a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant and Infantry Unit Commander. In April 1967, he was killed by fragments from an exploded booby trap.
He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. His service was brave and costly, and his family has carried both the pride of what he gave and the ache of what was taken.
Nov. ’66
Arrived in Vietnam
Apr. ’67
Lost in service
3
Military decorations
The founders
The footsteps became a calling.
Matt was born in February 1967 and never knew his dad. Years later, he followed Herman’s footsteps into service, serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Combat Controller from 1985 to 1995.
For roughly 30 years, Matt carried undiagnosed PTSD. When he finally found effective care, something changed: healing became possible, and the door opened to a different kind of mission.
Together, Matt and Buffy created Outer Circle Foundation to walk alongside veterans and first responders who are ready to find help—and to honor Herman’s sacrifice by making sure no one faces the hard part alone.
Faith at the center
For Matt, faith made room for healing.
Outer Circle was created from a profound personal journey and a deep respect for veterans, first responders, and families. Matt served a decade as an Air Force Combat Controller. Later, he struggled with PTSD, isolation, nightmares, sleeplessness, and irritability.
With Buffy’s support, therapy, and innovative treatment including the Stellate Ganglion Block procedure, Matt found relief. Their experience led them to found Outer Circle as a beacon of hope, faith, and community support.
Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
A family memory
Herman’s service, Matt’s calling.
Herman Howard “Chuck” Payne was Matt Payne’s father. Matt never had the chance to know him, but Herman’s military service and death profoundly shaped the life Matt would go on to live. The example of service Herman left behind became part of Matt’s story before they ever had the chance to share one.
That example inspired Matt to join the United States Air Force as a Combat Controller and later serve as a police officer. Through each chapter, he carried a lifelong way of living: service before self, showing up for others with courage, steadiness, and care.
That same calling is at the heart of Outer Circle Foundation. It is why we walk alongside veterans, first responders, and their families with compassion, practical support, and hope. This is not only a memorial to Herman; it is the story of how his service continues through Matt’s life and through the foundation’s mission.
We honor service by serving others.
Community testimonial
“Before I connected with Outer Circle Foundation, I struggled alone with PTSD and the transition out of law enforcement. Nightmares, sleepless nights, and feeling isolated were a daily reality. After joining their programs and receiving specialized counseling, support, and mentorship, my life completely changed. For the first time in years, I found people who understood my battles, encouraged me to seek real healing, and helped me rediscover purpose and connection. Thanks to Outer Circle Foundation, I’ve rebuilt my resilience, reconnected with my family, and started on a new career path that gives me hope for tomorrow. Their dedication and resources genuinely saved my life.”
John M. — Law Enforcement
“We walk with people toward the help they are ready to receive.”
That is the circle Matt and Buffy are building: a place where faith makes room for honesty, where families are included, and where asking for help is understood as an act of courage.