On November 11, 2018, Joe Walsh welcomed Don Henley, James Taylor, Chris Stapleton and Haim for his second VetsAid festival in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA to an audience of more than 17,000 fans, vets, active duty military and families. We shattered all of our expectations and disbursed $795,000 in grants to our charity partners! We also hosted our first ever VetsAid Jobs Fair in cooperation with our friends at Operation GoodJobs and Goodwill WA where dozens of vets and their family members were connected with meaningful employment and a living wage.
With thanks to our partners at the National Association of Veteran Serving Organizations (NAVSO), VetsAid screens large veterans' charities as well as smaller groups across the United States and gives out grants respectively. It's important to Joe that VetsAid recognizes the good works being done by established national charities as well as those by local and regional groups where a little can go a long way.
In 2018, VetsAid selected and gave out grants to the following:
$75,000 GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Operation Mend - Operation Mend provides advanced surgical and medical treatment, as well as comprehensive psychological-health support for post-9/11-era service members, veterans and their families at no cost.
Hire Heroes USA - Hire Heroes USA empowers U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce.
Warrior Canine Connection - Warrior Canine Connection enlists recovering Warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow Veterans.
Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (T.A.P.S.) - The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in our Armed Forces or as a result of his or her service.
Semper Fi Fund - Semper Fi Fund is dedicated to providing urgently needed resources and support for post 9/11 combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation - The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation's mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
Stop Soldier Suicide - Stop Soldier Suicide works 1-on-1 with troops, veterans, and military family members to help navigate the maze of services, programs, and assistance available.
Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans - The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans is a non-profit agency that provides housing, supportive services and community outreach to help homeless and at-risk veterans and their families achieve self-sufficiency.
Sentinels of Freedom - The mission of Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation is to assist severely wounded and injured, post-9/11 veterans in their efforts to become productive and self-sufficient members of their communities as they transition back into civilian life.
$10,000 SMALL GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Suiting Warriors - Suiting Warriors (SW) provides transitioning assistance to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Veterans, their spouses, Guard and Reserve by providing them with upscale professional attire needed to compete in the civilian workforce.
Hire Our Heroes - Hire Our Heroes assists veterans with resume writing, social media training, and connects with employers looking to hire veterans. We continue to assist those veterans with gaining full-time employment.
AMVETS Department of Washington - AMVETS (American Veterans) is the nation’s most inclusive Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization.
Salmon for Soldiers - The mission of Salmon for Soldiers is to offer a sense of normalcy and relaxation to our nation's Veterans through fishing. Salmon for Soldiers' fishing opportunities are designed to help reduce stress while creating new relationships with others who love fishing. Our events are designed to accommodate Veterans with paralysis, PTSD, TBI and other debilitating challenges.
Hero’s Bridge - Hero’s Bridge is dedicated to serving elderly veterans, age 65 and older. We serve, stand by and honor our aging veterans through six distinct programs. These services are available to our heroes wherever they call home, at no expense to them or their families.
Right Turn for Yuma Vets - Right Turn for Yuma Veterans (RTYV) is a long-term transitional housing program for homeless veterans within Child and Family Services of Yuma, AZ.
Work Vessels for Vets - Work Vessels for Vets matches donations of vessels, vehicles, equipment, tools and electronics to veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan as they start a business or pursue career education.
Arkansas Run for the Fallen - The mission of Arkansas Run for the Fallen is to raise awareness for the native Arkansas military service members who have died while serving on active duty since September 11, 2001.
MusicWorks4Veterans - MusicWorks4Veterans enhances quality of life for our Veteran community by leading experienced, all-inclusive music jam programs that encourage creative expression along with peers, in a safe, fun and friendly environment.
HeartStrides - HeartStrides’ mission is to integrate the principles of horsemanship with research based learning during interactive experiences with horses, which will improve the well-being of individuals, families, communities and, with this grant, veterans.