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.”
Respectfully,
Ben Marich, Fred Altman, Tom Lash