THE SOLD-OUT CONCERT FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY WALSH AND THE JAMES GANG WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAVE GROHL, NINE INCH NAILS, THE BLACK KEYS, THE BREEDERS AND THE OSU MARCHING BAND AT NATIONWIDE ARENA ON NOVEMBER 13, 2022
VETSAID 2023 COMING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 TO SAN DIEGO, CA
JANUARY 17, 2022 (Columbus, OH) – Today VetsAid, Joe Walsh's national 501(c)3 non-profit, announced the disbursement of $650,000 in grants to veterans services organizations based in Ohio or with operations on the ground in Ohio. The funds were raised from their sold-out 6th annual concert event which took place on November 13, 2022 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH and featured an all-Ohio bill with performances by Walsh and the James Gang with special guest Dave Grohl, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, The Breeders and the OSU Marching Band - “The Best Damn Band in the Land.”
VetsAid divided the proceeds from the 2022 concert event into various sized grants and all recipients were chosen by Walsh and the board of VetsAid with the advice and counsel of the Combined Arms Institute. Grant recipients were selected and announced just before the concert event last November. The disbursements are as follows:
$75,000 – Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buckeye Chapter – Home modification projects for Ohio veterans in need of improved home accessibility.
$75,000 – Semper Fi & America’s Fund – Financial assistance and life support for wounded, ill and injured Ohio veterans.
$75,000 – Travis Manion Foundation – Building out and increasing aid capacity of Columbus, OH chapter and Ohio programming at large (includes youth development and mentorship programs, community gardening and food support).
$75,000 – Save a Warrior – Providing essential 72-hour intensive integrative intervention services as well as follow-up care for Ohio veterans struggling with thoughts of suicide triggered by mental health and other health concerns.
$75,000 – QL+ Foundation – Supporting practical scientific research projects at the Universities of Cincinnati and Dayton and Ohio University that will directly improve the quality of life of handicapped veterans and first responders in Ohio and across the country. Projects currently include: a Trail Accessibility App, a Wheelchair Protection Device, a Recumbent Headrest, a Modified Ski Boot and Wheelchair Skis.
$75,000 – Hire Heroes USA – Directly assisting Ohio veterans find jobs and succeed in the civilian workforce with salaries above $60K/annum through training and career coaching.
$75,000 – National Veterans Memorial & Museum - Improving accessibility to museum experiences, exhibits, programming and support services for Ohio veterans and military families.
$58,000 – Combined Arms – Streamlining the connection between Ohio veterans and their families from all branches of the military with the organizations and resources that best serve them.
$15,000 – Canine Companions – Connecting Ohio veterans with service animals at no cost to them.
$12,000 – VFW Post 9857, Columbus, OH – Refurbishing the floor of their facility so that they may continue to provide a 24 hour space for local veterans and their families to come together, enjoy free meals and connect with other veterans.
$5,000 – Stockhands Horses for Healing – Facilitating vital human and animal relationships through equine therapy and fellowship to Ohio veterans and first responders in need.
$5,000 – Resurrecting Lives Foundation – Coordinating mental health care, employment and training for transitioning Ohio veterans suffering from TBIs and thoughts of suicide.
$5,000 – Back the Heroes Rumble – Providing moral and financial support to the families of fallen military, police and firefighters throughout Ohio.
$5,000 – Task Force 20 – Facilitating physical fitness activities and general wellness for Ohio veterans dealing with PTSD and depression.
$5,000 – Pegasus Farm – Military Family Center – Supporting and empowering Ohio veterans with diverse needs through equine therapy, vocational services and recreational and social activities.
$5,000 – Rickenbacker Military Families – Supporting family programs and readiness at Rickenbacker Air National Guard base.
Providing support to organizations that care for America’s veterans as well as their families is deeply personal to Walsh, himself a Gold Star survivor whose father died while on active duty on Okinawa, Japan when Walsh was just 20 months old. Walsh was raised for a time in Columbus as a child and made a point to bring the festival to his hometown and give back to the state where he first picked up a guitar and found success with the Cleveland-area James Gang. In the days leading up to the concert event, Walsh held the James Gang’s first in-store appearance in 50+ years at a local independent record store, gave keynote speeches at the Veterans Day parade and the National Veterans Memorial & Museum and was celebrated with a street named in his honor in front of Nationwide Arena.
“VetsAid 2022 in Columbus will be a memory that my family and I will cherish forever and I am grateful to the bands that participated, Nationwide Arena and our friends at Ohio State; Ohio is and will always be my home that I hope I can continue to make proud,” Walsh explains. “VetsAid is a traveling circus that we aim to share with as many military communities across the country as possible so it is with great excitement that I can announce VetsAid 2023 is coming to 'America's Finest City' this November 12th!”
Additional event details to be announced.