Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. Announces Latest Grants to Veterans
$75,000 in Awards to 13 Injured Veterans in 4th Quarter of 2022
Work Vessels for Vets, the Connecticut-based charity that purchases equipment for injured veterans who are starting a business, announces their end of the year 2022 grants. In the last 3 months of 2022, thirteen veterans in 8 states received $75,000 in equipment for their civilian startup businesses!
“This was our very best quarter in our 14-year history! We are thrilled to make a difference to so many young men and women who sacrificed and were injured in service to our country. We are honored to help them make a new start as business owners,” said Cathy Cook, Executive Director.
“All we ask in return is for these 13 new entrepreneurs to use their business plans to succeed, and go on to hire more veterans, serve their communities and contribute to the economy,” noted John Niekrash, President and Co-founder of Work Vessels for Vets. Niekrash started the charity in 2008 with the gift of his lobster boat to a USMC amputee who was starting a clamming business in Narragansett Bay, RI.
Since 2008, Work Vessels for Vets awarded equipment valued at $3.7 million to 2700 injured veteran-entrepreneurs in all 50 states. This volunteer-run nonprofit is lauded as a Top-Rated Nonprofit at Great NonProfits, and achieved the highest Platinum status at GuideStar (now known as CANDID) for its transparency and efficiency. The administrative overhead at Work Vessels for Vets is 1%.
$14,000 for Army Sgt Seff Boyle of Tennessee who received a new dump trailer. Semper Fi Fund participated in this award.
"Even the dealership wanted to thank WVFV for working with me,” said Boyle. “I can't tell you how much it means to me to have foundations like WVFV and Semper Fi Fund in my corner with this new business. I appreciate it more than anyone will ever know.”
$15,000 for Commercial Drone Kits. One for ARMY SGT Devon Stewart of Alaska Drone Photography for his work filming commercial sites and weddings and other events in Alaska. And a specialized commercial drone and accessories for ARMY Maj. (ret) Craig Young of Georgia who is a contractor to Homeland Security. Maj. Young also prepares fellow veterans for their FAA drone licenses. The drones were purchased from a 2019 WVFV Awardee, USMC Maj.(ret) Dan Daly who founded Vigilante Drones. Now he has a million-dollar business!
$7500 in Poultry Equipment for SSGT David Zarate of TX. “I served 2 tours in Iraq as a combat medic. After being medically discharged I moved back home to Texas. However, our dream of running a farm and ranch has had some financial snags. Well, our dreams started to come true when WVFV negotiated a sizable discount from HatchingTime.com and over $7500 worth of incubators, poultry processing equipment and accessories were delivered just before Thanksgiving.”
$8000 of medical technology equipment for USAF veteran Dr. Andrey Shalomov of TX who has recently became a board-certified Child Psychiatrist. He is opening a new medical office to provide psychiatric care to military children and others in his Texas office near several military bases. Thanks to an angel donor who is a USAF veteran of Vietnam War, WVFV sent equipment to get him started in this critical field of medicine. “It's incredible how much more productive I am with the right tools. Scanning is a breeze, bookkeeping is simplified, voice recognition with the microphone is phenomenal. I am able to dictate the notes with great speed and accuracy. Now, I can concentrate on seeing patients rather than worrying about being behind on notes and other administrative tasks. I am so grateful for your help and for this wonderful opportunity.” Dr. S.
$5000 in adaptive corral and electric fencing went to USMC Maj. Ron Reed of North Carolina. WVFV thanks Tractor Supply for their generous discount for the 196 feet of corral fencing. And thanks to Zareba for electric fencing to extend the paddock. Maj. Reed started an Air B and B for horses in transit! His horse guests can stretch their legs after a day in the trailer in a beautiful and safe paddock. And there's a bunkhouse for the handlers, too. WVFV matched him up with a previous awardee who transports horses.
$4000 in restaurant equipment was sent to Alaska for Navy Petty Office First Class Joshua Keller who is outfitting his OM SO GOOD Food Truck. In spite of his 100% disability rating, he is determined to use his chef skills to feed folks who live on the way north to the Arctic Circle!
$8600 for a Walk Behind Tractor and Attachments went to USN Chief Petty Officer Sierra Sunshine of Virginia. She learned farming from a previous awardee, Fields4Valor which offers agricultural therapy to vets like Sierra who have 100% military-related disabilities.
$3000 to Army SSG JD “Jack” Williams of KY, a triple amputee, to equip his program to take military children on outdoor adventures with his nonprofit Mohawk Outdoors. Jack also received a grant for $2000 for an adapted forge and belt sander for his hand-crated knife making business.
Refurbished laptops went out to many veterans. WVFV thanks the corporations that donated used laptops and Computer Design of Branford, CT where their techs refreshed and reloaded them.
These 4th Quarter awards helped make 2022 banner year for Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. Over $250,000 in awards and services to injured veterans went out in 2022. A small, but mighty charity doing big things for America’s injured veterans. Learn more at www.WVFV.org
