Get ready for a thrilling chance to win an eye-catching 1995 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, all while making a meaningful contribution to the lives of veterans in need. This is more than just a raffle—it’s an opportunity to support those who have served our country and might be facing homelessness.
Every ticket you buy goes directly toward funding vital programs that assist homeless veterans, providing them with the support and resources necessary for sustainable living. Your participation is not just about the chance to win a beautiful car; it’s about creating positive change in the lives of our heroes.
We have flexible ticket options to fit every budget:
1 Ticket for $10
3 Tickets for $20
10 Tickets for $50
The more tickets you purchase, the greater your chances of winning this stunning convertible! Plus, each ticket purchased helps bring our veterans one step closer to a brighter, more secure future.
Don’t wait—seize this fantastic opportunity to help those in need and possibly drive away in a classic ride. Join our mission today and make a difference!
Our puppies are growing fast! They’ve been steadily gaining weight and are becoming much more social which is perfect timing as we gear up for the next phase of their obedience training.
They also just had their first haircuts! While the pictures aren’t top-tier just yet, more (and better) photos are on the way. Stay tuned for more updates!
First, thank you for being a part of our Board of Directors. Over the past three years, there hasbeen little to report as your Co-founders, Tom Lash, Fred Altman, and Ben Marich, have beenworking hard to move the projects forward. We are ready to advance several initiatives, and it istime to update you.
We applied for and received a South Carolina Housing Trust Fund (SCHTF) grant to constructour first 12-unit veteran apartment complex, Hidden Wounds Village-Alpha, for veterans facinghomelessness in Sumter, South Carolina. We purchased the building site after months of arduousplanning and endless meetings. We broke ground for this project on March 17. Thegroundbreaking is a monumental beginning and the first stage of our program to help preventveteran homelessness.
Desirable, affordable housing is a critical component, but housing alone will not keep veteransfrom returning to unhealthy relationships and undesirable living conditions. Access to supportiveservices is also vital. An all-veteran community of like-minded veterans who share the sameexperience completes this successful, proven model. We have partnered with Hidden Wounds,another 501(c)(3) nonprofit that will be handling all of the supportive resources needed to ensurethe veteran’s stability without allowing them to slip back into the destructive behaviors that gotthem into the position of homelessness.
Our funding from SCHTF, plus the donations we have received from generous donors, will payfor the land acquisition and fund the construction project. Veterans facing homelessness will beoccupying the units in the fall. Donations and corporate support will fund furniture purchases forthe twelve units. Thanks to a generous donation of two Goldendoodle puppies from a breeder, Gary Blinkey, at Goldendoodlepuppiessc in Westminster, SC. Renowned service dog trainerMichael Duncan, owner of Southern Edge K9, will train these puppies to be service dogs topresent to deserving disabled veterans. Service dogs provide veterans with visible and invisible injuries from combat with unwavering companionship and emotional support. This support helpsalleviate feelings of guilt, isolation, and distress. Their presence fosters a sense of purpose andstability, empowering them to rebuild trust, regain confidence, and improve their overall mentalwell-being. The service dog training costs $4,000 per puppy.
The third initiative VAlanthropy has undertaken is to raffle donated vehicles to raise money forour veteran initiatives. A 1995 Ford Mustang GT Convertible was donated last week. Our teamwill tour the Mustang through the car show circuit to gain marketing traction and allow vehicleenthusiasts to inspect and drop their names into the drawing. A winner will be selected randomlyon September 28, 2025. Following the Mustang drawing, our team will begin to market thesecond car donated, a 2002 Jeep Wagoneer X. Unfortunately, Board members are not eligible towin. SORRY.
What can you, as a board member, do?
Please donate to our charities for homeless veterans or puppies. Thank you to those who donated, some with recurring monthly donations.
Reach out to your network, tell them what you’re involved in, and seek their donations or help personally or as a business.
Let us know what we can do to help you.
Remember the highlights to discuss include:
All donations are tax-deductible; as law allows, VAlanthropy is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization, and all donations are fully deductible under the IRS.
The Co-founders receive no compensation. We are an all-volunteer organization, and every donated dollar goes to charity.
Donations will help veterans facing homelessness have a better life and provide ongoing support to help them become self-sufficient.
Contributing to Paws2Heroes will ensure that a disabled veteran gets a trained service dog to match their personal needs. Your donation will enrich two lives at the same time.
“The Service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”
Donations are another way for your contacts to “do something” to help others and“ pay for their room here on earth.”
A significant step toward combating veteran homelessness in Sumter took place today with the groundbreaking ceremony for Hidden Wounds Village Alpha, the city’s first-ever permanent housing initiative for low-income veterans. The event, hosted at the Hidden Wounds Resource Center, brought together community leaders, local officials, and supporters to celebrate the beginning of a project dedicated to providing safe and stable housing for those who have served.
The ceremony opened with remarks from representatives of Hidden Wounds and VAlanthropy, the two organizations spearheading this initiative. The project aims to create residences for veterans facing or at risk of homelessness, offering not just a place to live but a supportive community tailored to their unique needs.
Following the speeches, the ceremonial groundbreaking took place, marking the official start of construction. Attendees applauded as shovels hit the ground, symbolizing a new beginning for veterans in need.
This initiative, made possible through the collaboration of Hidden Wounds and VAlanthropy, represents a major milestone in the ongoing effort to ensure that no veteran in Sumter is left without a home. For more information or to support the project, contact Steven Diaz at 803-873-6540.
With the groundbreaking complete, construction now moves forward on a project that will bring lasting change to Sumter’s veteran community.
VAlanthropy is proud to give our disabled veterans the gift of independence by partnering with a highly skilled service dog. Service dogs are placed at no cost or fundraising requirement to the Veteran. Our disabled veterans are screened and vetted before being paired with a puppy trained to meet specific needs. This is a commitment of ten years or more, and it should not be taken lightly.
On average, our Service Dogs train for four to eight months before they pass our Service Dog standards. Once they have passed, they’re ready to be paired with a disabled Veteran. Service animals are more than pets; they play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for individuals with physical and emotional disabilities and their families.
Veterans often experience anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, or other debilitating symptoms. Their service dog can intervene meaningfully, from providing physical contact to creating a distraction, fetching medication, opening doors, retrieving dropped items, or more complex interventions like turning lights on and off, giving balance and stability, creating situational awareness for the veteran, or alerting someone in an emergency.
Our service animals help their veteran navigate social environments more efficiently. They serve as a social bridge between the veteran and others, including their friends and family. This is crucial to many veterans who may otherwise feel isolated. They will allow the veteran to once again live with self-reliance and pride.
Sumter, SC, February 13, 2025 – Hidden Wounds and VAlanthropy are excited to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony for Sumter’s first-ever veterans’ housing project, Hidden Wounds Village Alpha. The event will take place on March 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Hidden Wounds Resource Center, located at 21 S. Washington St, Sumter, SC 29150.
Hidden Wounds Village Alpha is a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide permanent housing for low-income veterans facing homelessness the Sumter area. This project reflects the collaborative efforts of Hidden Wounds and VAlanthropy to address the critical need for safe, affordable housing for veterans and to ensure they receive the support they deserve.
“We are thrilled to unveil the first housing project of its kind for our area, Hidden Wounds Village Alpha, and to offer a supportive community for our veterans,” said Lance Newman, Executive Director of Hidden Wounds. “This project is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our partners and supporters who have made this vision a reality.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony will include remarks from key project leaders, a tour of the new housing facilities, and an opportunity to meet some of the veterans who will benefit from this initiative. Local officials, community leaders, and the public are invited to attend and celebrate this significant milestone.
For more information about the ribbon cutting ceremony, please contact Steven Diaz 803-873-6540.
We’re thrilled to share that Hidden Wounds Village—our upcoming 12-bedroom housing community for veterans—was recently featured in the news!
The Sumter City-County Planning Commission has approved this important project, which will provide affordable, accessible housing for veterans right across from the Hidden Wounds Resource Center at 21 S. Washington St.
“Knowing that we can have a special place for veterans who deserve it, to be able to have a place to stay and call theirs—that would be awesome.” —Lance Newman, Hidden Wounds Resource Center
This development will connect veterans with critical resources, including peer support groups and a food pantry, while also offering assistance through the HUD-VASH program to make housing more affordable.
