MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT  A donated research vessel will help a local Connecticut Coast Guard veteran start a new career on the water. 

Work Vessels for Vets, of Mystic, presented U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1C Marc Harrell, of Niantic, with a 35-foot commercial vessel, the Dominion I, in a ceremony at Mohegan Sun on Friday. Dominion Energy, of Waterford, which operates the Millstone nuclear plants, donated the boat to Work Vessels for Vets, a volunteer nonprofit that has supplied more than 1,800 veterans nationwide with machines, vehicles and equipment valued at more than $2.5 million, to help them in their own enterprises.

Army National Guard SSGT Terry Flannery of Verona, KY endured injuries in Afghanistan that left him with complete atrophy of his left hip and unable to tend to his farm or hunt coyotes to protect his livestock. Marshall Motor Sports of Dry Ridge, Kentucky matched donor funds with an equal in-kind contribution, enabling Work Vessels for Vets to purchase a heavy duty Polaris Ranger 900 UTV valued at $13,000 UTV for $6500.

SAN ANTONIO WOUNDED VETERAN TARA HUTCH JEWELRY DESIGNS TO DEBUT AT FAMOUS LUX, BOND & GREEN STORES IN NEW ENGLAND Percentage of sales will go to assist fellow wounded veterans. Work Vessels for Vets, Inc and John A Green, President of Lux, Bond & Green Jewelers are delighted to announce the retail debut of unique handcrafted jewelry designs by wounded veteran Tara Hutchinson of San Antonio, Texas. “Lux, Bond & Green is proud to be the first retailer to feature Tara Hutch Designs with one-of-a-kind exquisite gold and silver jewelry. A percentage of sales of Tara Hutch Designs will be donated to assist other wounded veterans get a new lease on life, just as Tara has received,” Green reported. “Tara Hutch Jewelry is beautifully handcrafted and special. Tara has overcome severe injuries sustained in Iraq, resulting in amputation of her leg and other wounds. She has not let this stop her, and she has become a master goldsmith,” said Green. “Lux, Bond & Green is thrilled to feature her work for sale in our stores and online.” Cathy Cook, Executive Director of Work Vessels for Vets described how the Mystic-based charity awarded Tara the $5000 gold and silver jewelry welder she needed to accommodate her injuries.

Work Vessels for Vets, Inc., the nonprofit charity that equips America’s returning veterans with the tools they need to start a business, today earned the 2018 Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile seal of transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. Work Vessels for Vets, Inc has consistently received this annual award since its inception. This prestigious award allows donors to focus on the progress and results of the charitable mission of Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. “In this day and age of unscrupulous so-called charities, and especially those who fraudulently dupe donors who sincerely want to help our veterans,” said WVFV Co-Founder and Chairman John Niekrash, “we are excited to share this evaluation of our organization’s integrity by an unbiased third party. Donors to Work Vessels for Vets can rest assured that their donations are spent for veterans services with integrity and transparency.”

STONINGTON-MYSTIC, CT - From Children of Restaurant Employees: Mystic's John Niekrash was recently awarded the drinks industry inaugural award for "Innovator of the Year" at the VIBE International conference of beverage executives in San Diego, California. A 40 year veteran of the beverage industry, Niekrash is co-founder of CORE (Children Of Restaurant Employees), which has assisted over 250 families navigating life-altering circumstances and raised over $3M to support the charity since it's inception in 2004. In addition, Niekrash also founded and is Chairman and CEO of WVFV (Work Vessels For Vets), a nationally recognized and award-winning public charity which has helped over 1600 veterans in all 50 States to start their civilian careers upon returning from military service. The charity began in 2008 with the donation of a lobster boat to a returning Marine in Rhode Island who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To thank Joe Walsh for his deep commitment to veterans and the small organizations that support them, Work Vessels for Vets, Inc presented Joe with their esteemed PATRIOT STAR AWARD. The Patriot Star bears the embroidered star from a US Flag flown over Fallujah, Iraq. It recognizes the extraordinary efforts of individuals who are American Patriots helping our military veterans. Joe Walsh is a Gold Star child, whose father died in uniform in 1949 when Joe was an infant. The Patriot Star Award honors Joe’s work, using his celebrity and talent to help veterans organizations by playing concerts with his friends to raise funds for his Vets Aid Foundation. Rock on, Joe! You are a Patriot Star!