Work Vessels for Vets Awards $130,000 to Injured Veterans
Equipment Grants in 2022 to 17 severely wounded veterans in 13 states.
MYSTIC, CT. Work Vessels for Vets announces $130,000 in equipment awards to 17 injured veterans in 13 states. Work Vessels for Vets is a Mystic, Connecticut-based national charity that gives equipment to wounded veterans who are starting a business. Since 2008 this award-winning, volunteer-run charity has provided 2600 veteran-entrepreneurs in all 50 states with equipment valued at more than $3.6 million. These awards have assisted hundreds of new veteran-owned businesses grow to hire thousands of fellow veterans, and created millinos in economic activity for the nation. Contrats to all our awardees for 2022 (so far...)
The nationally accredited, award-winning Mystic, Connecticut-based nonprofit, Work Vessels for Vets (www.WVFV.org), awards America’s injured veterans with the tools they need to make a successful transition from service-connected injuries to entrepreneurship. Since its founding in 2008, the volunteers at Work Vessels for Vets, Inc awarded equipment to more than 2600 injured veterans in all 50 states. To date, the value of these “hands up” has exceeded $3.6 million! These awardees have gone on to hire thousands of fellow veterans and created tens of millions in economic activity.
READ MORE ABOUT THE MOST RECENT 2022 AWARDS TO VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS...
Army SSGT Jack Williams, is a triple amputee in Kentucky. Jack served 6 years in the Army with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and received the Purple Heart for devastating injuries. He is amazing and wants to share his blacksmithing skills with fellow veterans but needed adaptive equipment for his blacksmithing business fabricating knives.
"Work Vessels for Vets delivered a specialized forge and standing sander to meet his needs,” said John Niekrash, President and co-founder of the charity. “It’s what we do!”
USMC GYSGT Ryan Stevens was medically retired after conducting ten combat deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia resulting in injuries that earned two Purple Hearts and multiple valor awards including the Bronze Star. He and his wife, also an injured Marine SSGT started a cattle farm in Maine. In time, their injuries made handling the herd of Scottish Highlanders difficult without better equipment. Work Vessels for Vets received a grant of $40,000 from an ”angel” donor” for the adaptive metal cattle fencing and other special equipment are now helping them grow their beef business. “Using the new corral system was an amazing experience for both my wife and me. A stress-free process for us and the cattle were calm. This new cattle handling system is a life saver and a blessing. Thank you so much,” wrote GYSGT Stevens.
SGT Jason Wilson (on left) of Chicago was driving a specialized Army vehicle when he was injured in Iraq. Unwilling to sit idle, he dreamed of being his own boss and started a transportation service. Work Vessels for Vets funded a diesel truck for his freight forwarding delivery service. Jason won’t forget his fellow veterans so he also devotes time to help fellow veteran-owned businesses with their transportation needs.
MAJ James Hartman (right) of North Carolina got a truck from Work Vessels for Vets this year. He is a disabled Army veteran who served Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. Medically retired with 100% disability rating from 2 tours in Iraq, earning 2 Bronze Stars, he decided to put his land to good use and do something he was passionate about: becoming a full-time farmer and beekeeper. Along the way, he discovered that caring for bees is therapeutic for his PTSD. Maj. Hartman also mentors WVFV applicants in the process to obtain equipment from federal surplus.
“I am excited to share Big, REALLY BIG, News!” exclaimed Major Hartman. “We finalized an agreement with “The Fresh Market” to stock our honey in 66 of their stores! We are now available in every “The Fresh Market” across NC, VA, TN, PA, MD, DE, AR, AL, IL, KY, and OK! Thank you, WVFV!”
