A Warrior's Wish®: Golf Clubs

Hope For The Warriors® is excited to share that we have granted another Wish through the A Warrior's Wish® Program.  This Wish was for a set of golf clubs.  Here is the story:

Joel (seen in this photo with his service dog) was shot in the face in June 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.  In addition, he also suffers from traumatic brain injury, a knee injury, back pain and severe PTSD. 

In high school, Joel enjoyed the game of golf.  Now, he has returned to this therapeutic sport. 

"Ever since I started golfing again, my PTSD seems to fade away when I am out on the course.  Golfing takes my mind off the daily struggles that I have with my PTSD.  I try to golf at least three times a week.  I am still recovering from my knee and back injury but it does not affect me too much when I golf."

These are words and sentiments that many wounded service members share.  The game of golf helps our service members with their physical and psychological recovery. 

Joel's Wish was for a set of golf clubs to replace the used golf clubs that had been handed down to him.  His goal was to improve his game with the right set of clubs.  Hope For The Warriors® was proud to grant this Wish!

And where will he go from here?  We shared the story last month of Chad whose Wish for golf clubs has led him to win the Warrior Open two years in a row.  Perhaps granting this Wish to Joel will help his golf game too!

Oso: Service Dog, Protector, Soldier, Family Member

Service dogs continue to dramatically improve the lives of wounded service members and their families.  This Spring, we received a Wish through our A Warrior's Wish® program for a service dog to help a soldier suffering from traumatic brain injury and PTSD.  The family needed a very specific breed due to their son's allergies.  Through the help of a private donor, Hope For The Warriors® was able to grant this Wish and provide the family with a service trained goldendoodle.  Soon after, the family learned about Oso, their future service dog.

Noemy, a proud Army wife shares how Oso has changed their lives:

Just wanted to let you know how things are going with Oso.  We were able to pick him up a month early because he has met all of his training requirements. He has done so much and I can see a difference in my husband’s mood.

They are perfect for each other. They both twitch at night and jump when they are startled. They are always together and if my husband leaves while Oso is asleep on the floor, Oso will wake up, look for him and whine if he can't find him.

Oso not only helps my husband but has made all of us safe. He guards us when his vest is off. He knows that when his vest is on, he is to work and help my husband, but when his vest is off he is totally different and protects all of us. Our daughter was sick and he gave her the box of tissues. When I am not doing well due to all the stress, he comes and jumps on me and lays on me. He hears a sound at night that is not good and he gets up and barks to let us know that something is wrong. Every night he jumps into bed with us, cuddles, and then jumps off.

My husband is the only service member here on Ft. Huachuca that has a service dog. Everyone has accepted Oso into the Army Family. The first morning that he took him to PT his 1st SGT asked "Why is your dog out of uniform!?!" So that same day, my husband went out and bought Oso his own PT uniform so he could look just like everyone else. He also overheard a soldier asking "What type of dog is that?" His sergeant told him, "That's no dog, that is a soldier."

We have been so blessed with Oso and are so grateful to have him part of our family.  If it wasn't for Hope For The Warriors®, we would not have Oso.  Thank you so much! 

 

 

 

Thank you to our private donor who made this Wish possible.  Thank you to all of our supporters--you make all of our work possible.

Donate today to help us grant more Wishes.  Donate online or text the word WARRIORS to 20222 to donate $10 to Hope For The Warriors®.

Fish Tales

Hope For The Warriors® was excited to be a part of two separate fishing trips in the beginning of October.  Both trips provided wounded service members the opportunity to enjoy a day with their fellow service members on the open water.

First, in North Carolina, staff members and volunteers hosted the 5th Annual Oorah v. Hoorah Fishing Battle.  19 wounded soldiers from Fort Bragg competed against 19 wounded Marines from Camp Lejeune for bragging rights on which team could catch the most fish and who could catch the largest fish.

This Army v. Marine competition was tied going into the weekend.  The Marines had won the 1st and 3rd year; the Army brought home the prize the 2nd and 4th years. Both groups were ready for a day of fun competition.

So who won?  Well, the team from Fort Bragg brought in the most fish.  However, the largest catch by an individual was earned by Marine, Matthew Heroy.

Hope For The Warriors® once again thanks Dr. Rick Weisler, Lisa McLaughlin, dockmaster Tripp Brice, Captain Kit Taylor, and all of the boat captains for giving so much of their time and resources.   Without their generosity and support from the community, this event would not be possible.  This is the sixth year that this incredible group has come together to support local service members.  (Last year's event was planned but cancelled due to the weather.) 







Another group gathered for the 4th Annual Combat Wounded Fishing Excursion in Tampa Bay.  17 wounded service members joined together for a great day of fishing.  All were hosted by members of the Tampa Yacht & Country Club who offered their time, use of their boats, fuel and more. 

 

The guys had a great time fishing together and receiving wonderful support from the Tampa Bay community.  Along with the Tampa Yacht & Country Club, we thank Suzanne and Roger Perry, owners of Datz restaurant; Aaron Carricato, owner of Beef O’Brady’s of South Tampa; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Charities, Inc.; Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor City; Sloan Bentschner, Nurse on Call; State Representative Dana Young; Rowe Transportation; and Johnny Mendola, who organized an oldies dance as a fundraiser for this event.

Both of the fishing trips were part of our Outdoor Adventures Program.  Hope For The Warriors® Outdoor Adventures Program provides adaptive opportunities for wounded heroes to participate in sporting activities in the great outdoors. Service members, who previously embraced an outdoorsman lifestyle, as well as those new to wilderness sports, are introduced to recreational opportunities on the road to recovery.

Thank you to all of our supporters who donated time and resources to make these opportunities possible for our wounded American heroes!

 

Hope For The Warriors®: See How Our Numbers Add Up

Hope For The Warriors® is proud to share the results of our Financial Audit and Form 990 for 2011.  Once again, we have demonstrated a commitment to wounded service members and military families through our low management (administrative) and fundraising costs. 

Hope For The Warriors® provides assistance through 11 distinct programs.  We focus on caring for our military families--not on expensive advertising campaigns.  Thank you to all who have supported our mission through donated time and dollars. 

Want to do more?  Please spread the word!  Share our mission and our results with families and friends.

Financials

Charity Navigator:  Includes evaluation of fiscal responsibility and accountability.  Reviews written by service members, military families, volunteers and more.

Warrior Open

The Warrior Open was once again held in Dallas on September 24 and 25.  This golf tournament is put on by The Bush Center and by former President George W. Bush.  His goal is to honor those that serve and sacrifice for our country's freedoms.  More importantly however, he wants to show the world that in spite of their injuries, each warrior is still a competitive fighter.

For many wounded service members, golf is considered to be a key part of their rehabilitation.  The game pulls them out of the medical facility, requires focus and strength and reengages the competitive spirit. 

Bush's goal for the tournament is to have a tough competition among wounded service members.  He seeks out those who have risen above their wounds to become a top golfer.  As he said at the end of the tournament, "There is no self pity in this crowd." 

Warrior after warrior shared how the game of golf had changed their lives and given them a positive focus throughout their recovery.  Each had withstood multiple operations and challenges on their road to recovery.  Some were still undergoing operations and were still unsure of what would come next.  One shared that his leg might still need to be amputated.  However, he looked around the room and recognized that many had lost their legs and that he would still be fine.

The tournament champion was once again Corporal Chad Pfeifer, USA (Ret.).  His fellow competitors were quick to warn him that they intend to return next year to challenge his reign.  Chad was the recipient of A Warrior's Wish® from Hope For The Warriors® many years ago.  His Wish was for a set of golf clubs.  Clearly, his Wish has paid off for him!

Chad was excited for his Hole in One!

Hope For The Warriors® was one of six nonprofits highlighted throughout the Warrior Open for the work that we have done for military families.  Many of the warriors competing have worked with Hope For The Warriors® at some point in their recovery.  We are proud of our work from the past six years and we will continue our mission to restore self, restore family and restore hope.

Happily Ever After: A Fairytale Wedding

 

 

Cpl. Baldwin Scott Casimiro-Moreland was born in Hawaii, but raised and recruited out of Texas. In October of 2007, Scott was proud to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.  During his service, he deployed a total of three times within five years. These experiences weighed hard on him mentally and physically.

 

 

Luckily, Scott was not alone in enduring the emotional trials of his deployment. Rebekah, his girlfriend since 2009, was by his side for the ups and downs and then a devastating phone call.

 

On October 31, 2011, while Scott was on combat patrol, a 40-pound IED exploded five feet away from him. The explosion sent shrapnel through his sunglasses, leaving him blind in his left eye. The shrapnel also embedded into his arms and legs and gave him a grade three concussion. Rebekah received the devastating phone call five hours later.

 

Scott returned to the United States for his rehabilitation.  About a month after the accident, he pulled a ring from their Christmas tree, and proposed to Rebekah.

Losing sight out of his left eye is not the only struggle Scott has dealt with throughout his life. Loss of family, and parents has been an emotional battle for Scott since his childhood. Abandoned by his mother, and raised by his stepfather, Scott has not had it easy. Since his injury, his family has become closer.

Weddings are a time when family can be brought together to celebrate a new beginning. In order to celebrate their wedding properly, Scott turned to Hope For The Warriors® and our A Warrior's Wish® Program. 

Through the A Warrior’s Wish® Program, Scott's Wish for a perfect wedding for his bride was granted. The Wish provided Scott and Rebekah with almost $9,000 to cover expenses for their wedding.  They married on September 15, 2012 in Columbia, SC at the Seibels House & Garden.

 

It is a privilege to be able to serve members of the military who have served our nation for so long. Without the generosity of the Hope For The Warriors® supporters, we would not be able to grant Scott’s Wish. Thank you from all of us at Hope For The Warriors®.

 

 

 

 

Critical Care Coordination

 

This summer, several members of the Hope For The Warriors® staff met to discuss one of our important programs, Immediate Needs.  As they discussed the program and the military families that we assist through this program, several things became clear.  First, our military families continue to struggle financially as they deal with physical and psychological combat wounds.  And second, that the name of the program does not really describe all the assistance that is given through this program.

For this reason, we have renamed the program: Critical Care Coordination.  Under this umbrella, program coordinators continue to work with military families to address immediate and emergency financial needs.  However, coordinators also work with the Department of Veteran Affairs, the military unit, medical professionals, the Department of Defense, and other nonprofit organizations. 

By working with other agencies and nonprofits, we strive to not just help with emergency needs.  Often, we connect with the family during times of transition:  newly injured, transitioning out of the military, or loss of jobs due to injuries.  Our ultimate goal is to pinpoint solutions that will help the family today and in the future.

In August alone, Hope For The Warriors® provided more than $75,000 in support through the Critical Care Coordination program.  The chart shows how those dollars were spent. (Click on the chart to enlarge view.)  Rent and mortgage payments topped the list in August as it does most months, followed by food.  During the most stressful times, we strive to keep these military families in their homes with food on the table. 

Many of the smaller, miscellaneous expenses were spent to support families who are relocated temporarily to military medical facilities to be near a wounded service member.  This transition can be a financial burden to families during a critical time in a service member’s recovery.  Support is granted to alleviate stress from these families and allow them to focus on the medical needs of the service member.

To learn more about this program, please visit the Critical Care Coordination website page.