Year In Pictures - Sold!

Photo courtesy of Paul Oberle

When we asked Jay to be our emcee for the 2011 Got Heart, Give Hope Gala, we knew he was the man for the job.  Anyone who has heard him speak can attest to the power of his words, voice and emotions.  What I did not know was how amazing he would be as our Gala's auctioneer.  He did more than just lead the auction--he owned that stage!  I guess this proves that if you can lead on the battlefield, you can lead anywhere else too.

I love this photo of Jay as he takes command of everyone is the room.  Jay is also the founder and executive director of Wounded Wear, a nonprofit that provides clothing and clothing modifications for wounded service members. 

Jay has also recently taped a public service announcement for Hope For The Warriors®.  Here is a small thank you clip that was also filmed that day. 

Year In Pictures - Hope Learns To Rock!

Rockstar Mayhem Tour 2011

This is just a fun picture.  In this photo are the members of the band Godsmack, staff members from our North Carolina office and service members from the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.  I borrowed this photo from the Rockstar Mayhem Blog.

Hope For The Warriors® was proud to be included in this year's Rockstar Mayhem Tour.  Their "Metal of Honor" Tour highlighted the needs and challenges of our wounded service members and today's military family.  Thanks to the producers of this tour, more than 125 service members and military family members attended concerts in 17 different cities.  All together, the tour raised more than $25,000 for Hope For The Warriors® while raising awareness to thousands of fans and concert goers.  Thank you to John and Elenie Reese for making a difference to so many military families!

To learn more, view this PSA, created for the tour and shown at every concert this summer. My favorite part is the quote recited by the lead singer of the band Disturbed, "Scars remind us of where we've been.  They do not need to dictate where we are going."

Year In Pictures - In Honor Of

A runner at the 9/11 Run For The Warriors® , held in Wallace, NC this past September.
Photo provided courtesy of Jon Althouse

In each of the races in our Run For The Warriors® series, people have the opportunity to wear these extra bibs on their backs.  As you pass other runners, or they pass you, there is a constant reminder that you are doing more than just participating in a local event.  In each race, you are honoring those that serve and running in memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.


We do not need to see and read these special bibs to honor the men and women in our military.  Especially on Christmas Day, as you celebrate with your family and friends, I hope that you remember the sacrifices made by our military families. Remember both the service members in Afghanistan and their families--spouses, children, parents and more--all who wish the entire family was together.  Remember the families of the fallen.  For many, their pain is more intense during the holidays and we pray for strength for each family member.  And of course, we pray that each service member now deployed comes home free from harm.


Merry Christmas to all!

Photo provided courtesy of Paul Oberle.

Year In Pictures - The Big Catch

At the end of July, Hope For The Warriors was invited to join elite anglers for the Bassmaster Elite Series Toyota Tundra All-star week in Montgomery, Alabama.  This was the second year that we were a part of this event and this year, we invited six wounded service members and veterans to attend as part of our Outdoor Adventures Program. 

The veteran in this photo had almost backed out of the trip.  The thought of coming on the trip, socializing with a lot of new people, and garnering attention from crowds was overwhelming to him. 

On the second day, the guys were paired up with their anglers and went out on the bass boats.  As the tournament time was up and the boats were docked, each service member pulled out their largest catch. 

Clearly, this photo depicts the winning catch of the day.  The bass weighed 8-pounds, 7-ounces and was by far, the largest bass caught that day.

But this veteran's smile caught my attention.  Here he stands, relaxed and proud--exactly the way he should feel after a fun and theraputic day of fishing.  He was a completely different man than the person we had met less than 24 hours before.

Another great trip to Alabama!


Read more here.

Year In Pictures - Rollin' Along

Photo provided courtesy of Paul Oberle.

The smile on both of their faces tells the story.  This photo was taken along a country road in the middle of New Jersey.  The veteran had just received this donated handcycle and was going on his first ride as Jenlene, our Team Hope For The Warriors® Director ran along.  These handcycles can go extremely fast and so this athlete was being kind--going slow enough for someone to run alongside him.  He has now returned with his young family and the handcycle to his upstate New York home where there are many miles of country road for him to reach top speeds. 

I am a firm believer that if everyone exercised, everyone would be happier and the world would be a better place.  I offer their expressions as evidence of this belief.

In 2011, Hope For The Warriors® facilitated the donation of 23 pieces of adaptive equipment to our service members at a cost of more than $65,000.  Donations came from:  Deer Park Lions Club, FDNY VFW,  Ground Zero Independence Ride, Haskell Family of Long Island, Jordan's Initiative, Siller Foundation, Tee It Up For The Troops,  Yorktown Heights Community, Zilinski Memorial Fund and directly from our organization.

Wreaths Across America - A View From The Inside

It was too early on a wintry Saturday morning when I began my journey to Arlington National Cemetery. Upon arrival, I marveled at the Wreaths Across America production – the semi-trailer trucks designated to each section, ensuring the perfect amount of wreaths, and the coordination of thousands of volunteers. My tendency toward perfectionism compelled me to grab all of the wreaths and try to complete the project.

I squashed the nagging feeling and breathed in the cool air, looked over the Cemetery, and reminded myself about the gravity of the day. I recalled this special privilege to honor our military. As I passed World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and Korean veterans, prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients, my humility grew.

After making a few wrong turns, and thoroughly spanning the area, Section 60 stared at me. I prepared myself to see graves of young service members and subsequently watched as a young girlfriend mourned the loss of her fallen warrior. She cried hysterically and fell to the ground as she remembered the life they shared together. Tears filled my eyes as I publicly observed this personal moment. I privately began to pray and moved on, allowing her to grieve without an audience.

I laid my first wreath and silently thanked this hero for his service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our freedoms. So many thoughts flashed through my mind – wondering about everything this man had experienced and everything his comrades had experienced.

The day was overwhelming and humbling. Most importantly, it was an honor. I will forever remember the details from the day, the stories shared, and the thousands of volunteers – from 5 to 85 years old. It may be trite, but I was truly proud to be an American.

Year In Pictures - A Smile at Mile 26.2

Photo provided courtesy of Paul Oberle.

Paul and Sally Kelly have done so much for Hope For The Warriors®, I could do an entire blog on their efforts and their impact.  As a matter of fact, here is Paul's blog if you would like to read more.  Together, the couple has raised more than $38,000 for Hope For The Warriors®. 

Beyond the fact that they raise funds and awareness, both Paul and Sally have become mentors to other athletes.  Paul, a quadriplegic, competes on a handcycle and has helped new service members who are still adapting to the equipment.  Sally has supported Team efforts and trained with other members to help them reach their race goals.

For the past several years, Paul has raced in countless marathons and Sally has raced in shorter distances, including several half marathons.  In 2010, she helped a teammate from Team Hope For The Warriors® train and complete her first marathon.  After that, Sally decided that she too would join the ranks of marathon finishers.

This photo shows Sally after she completed the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon and her smile says it all.  She completed her first marathon at an age that many Americans are thinking about retirement and taking life easy.  And not only was her first marathon inspiring, she place 30th in her age group out of 90.  An amazing accomplishment for a first marathon and in such a huge marathon.

As a sidenote, not only could I do an entire blog on Paul and Sally, I could also do an entire blog on members of Team Hope For The Warriors®.  To see more incredible photos of amazing people, I encourage you to "Like" out Team Facebook page.