FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Veterans Passport To Hope Supporting Our Heroes 2nd Annual Gala – October 10th, 2013
Denver, CO, Monday, September 23, 2013— Navigating veteran
resources and the complexities of the Veterans Affairs system, which is in the
midst of an overwhelming backlog, can be a daunting and overwhelming task. However, it isn’t just the veterans
themselves who struggle with this burden.
Families, friends, spouses, and significant others are also
affected. A prime example of this is Becky
Hinkhouse, who knows the effects of war, back on the home front, better than
most.
On October 9, 2005, her
soon to be husband and 12 others traveling in a
small convoy were hit on the right side with an improvised explosive device. Her
fiancé’s vehicle was in the middle. The explosion killed the Marine sitting
next to him, and 4 other soldiers were injured.
U.S. Marine L Cpl. Kade Hinkhouse sustained the worst of the injuries
including a traumatic brain injury, shrapnel in his shoulder, an open leg
wound, and two collapsed lungs. He and the other four injured Marines were
taken to the Baghdad hospital, where the medical staff stabilized Kade and
amputated his right leg at the knee.
Mrs. Hinkhouse, the 2013 Gala’s keynote speaker, brings to
light the effects felt by those in and around our wounded veteran’s lives. From dealing with paperwork filing and
scheduling appointments, to maintaining their home while not being able to
visit Kade as he began his recovery in
medical facilities, Becky is truly an ambassador when it comes to offering a
glimpse of what it is like to endure through a wounded warrior’s battle from a
spouse’s perspective.
Veterans Passport To Hope
believes that it is the responsibility of all Americans to participate in
assisting the men and women who have returned home from multiple war zones over
the past twelve years and are doing more than their part. The Veterans Passport To Hope Annual Gala,
presented by Fred and Jana Bartlit and sponsored by the Anschutz Foundation,
raises awareness about the issues veterans and their families face as well as
supports local central Colorado charities that embody the mission of serving
our veteran community. The local benefactors
of the 2013 Supporting Our Heroes Gala are Project Sanctuary, The Home Front
Cares, and Vail Veterans Program.
"I believe that we
have a three to five year window to help our young veterans. In order to ensure successful transition and
healthy lives, it will take more than the V.A.
It is going to take entire communities throughout the United States,
coming together, creating resources, volunteering, and placing veterans as well
as their families’ needs as a priority.”, said Shane Schmutz, Executive Director
Veterans Passport To Hope.
This is a difficult time for
our central Colorado veteran community.
Together we can make a difference by ensuring our veterans community not
only has every opportunity (which they have earned through years of service to
their country) afforded to them, but also has access to the necessary resources
to continue their mission towards a successful transition to civilian life. Help do your part and attend the 2013
Supporting Our Heroes Gala at Wings Over The Rockies on October 10, 2013.
About Veterans Passport To Hope, The 2013
Supporting Our Heroes Gala, and The Colorado Resource Portal For Veterans
Founded in 2011, Veterans Passport To Hope’s mission consists of
three main focus areas: Awareness, Fund-Raising, and Cooperation.
AWARENESS: VP2H’s Primary
mission is to raise awareness within the Colorado area about the issues
Veterans face: Multiple tours in combat zones, Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), high unemployment rate, high
homelessness rate, high divorce rate, and a record high suicide rate. As
the military mission winds down in Iraq and Afghanistan and veterans reintegrate
themselves into civilian society, we believe that this awareness will foster an
understanding of their efforts and compassion for their struggle.
FUND-RAISING: VP2H’s
secondary mission is to raise money for Veteran friendly non-profits.
Through due diligence and research, we organize fund raising events, which
support local, Veteran friendly non-profits. We only support high quality
charities that maximize their accountability to veteran’s causes and are
transparent in their fund raising and giving practices.
COOPERATION: VP2H’s tertiary
mission is to act as a rallying point for other Veteran friendly non-profits.
Our goal is to organize and conduct meetings with the leadership teams of these
groups within the Colorado area with the goal of finding ways for us to work
together more efficiently. We believe that by working together and by sharing
ideas, we can reduce competition between non-profit groups and more efficiently
and more effectively help Veterans.
The Executive Director of VP2H, Shane Schmutz,
is available for interviews about the mission of Veterans Passport To Hope, the
2013 Supporting Our Heroes Gala, and The Colorado Resource Portal For Veterans.
Contact: Jay Lobins, Public Relations/Media Liaison
Jay.Lobins@VeteransPassport2Hope.org
Contact: Jay Lobins, Public Relations/Media Liaison
Jay.Lobins@VeteransPassport2Hope.org
Veterans Passport To Hope (VP2H)
4949 South Syracuse Street
4949 South Syracuse Street
Suite 340
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