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NOTES FROM THE FIELD: MAY 2019
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This epic sunrise shot taken from the 7th Annual KS Cast & Blast. Photo credit to WWIA Guide John Keeney.
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Notes From the Field: May 2019
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May was another exciting month for WWIA as we saw our Heroes take part in six outstanding events across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The diversity of locations and events that we provide for our Heroes is a testament to our amazing Hosts, donors, and volunteers. As we prepare to enter the second half of the year, we want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who graciously supports WWIA. Serving our Purple Heart Heroes is truly a team effort consisting of thousands of dedicated and patriotic partners who selflessly give of their time, finances, resources, and expertise. Thank you for standing with us to honor and bring healing to our courageous Heroes. The summer months are bringing plenty of exciting events your way, so stay tuned!
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7th Annual Kansas Cast & Blast
May 1-6 Cawker City, KS
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The 7th Annual Kansas Cast & Blast welcomed four of our Heroes to Cawker City, KS to enjoy a week full of fellowship, hunting and fishing, and some well-deserved time away. On their first evening, our Heroes scouted and familiarized themselves with the hunting grounds and then had a nice dinner while they got acquainted. Our Heroes raved about the combination of spending time in the field harvesting turkeys and catching fish on the water. As great as the hunting and fishing were, the conversations and camaraderie between our Heroes was the highlight as there were plenty of stories and laughter shared. The food, hospitality, and community involvement were equally amazing, and our Heroes could not have been more grateful for the kindness they were shown throughout their stay in Kansas. Our sincere appreciation to Host Carl Suter and friends for taking such tremendous care of our Heroes and for continuing to raise the bar on this stellar event. Additional thanks to all of the guides, volunteers, and supporters that helped make this event possible, including Ted Eberle, Herman Weise, Cole Eberle, Austin Hamilton, Nate Weeks, Bob Silsby, Ross Weber, Rick Weeks, Bob Berda, Gary Debey, Kelly Griffith and Ashley Clausen with the Sons of the American Legion, Virginia and Gary Wilson, and Paula Jones. High praise and gratitude to WWIA Guide John Keeney and WWIA Guide Asa Barrett for their tremendous attention and care throughout the event.
"As soon as I landed, I was welcomed with a handshake. I instantly felt like I was part of the family. I’ve never been to an event where it was so welcoming and laid back. All the Guides knew how to not only put you on turkeys but on fish as well! The community instantly welcomed us in Cawker City. We literally did not have to worry about anything. I will have to say out of all the events I’ve ever been on with different organizations, this is by far my number one event. I will never forget this trip or the lifelong friends that I’ve just met! Thank you so much to everyone involved, I hope I can attend other events with WWIA." |
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4th Annual Galveston Couples Fishing and Culinary Event
May 3-6 Galveston, TX
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Four of our Heroes and their significant others traveled to Texas for the 4th Annual Galveston Couples Fishing and Culinary Event. These couples experienced the best of Galveston Bay fishing and then returned in the evenings to learn first-hand the art of preparing game food. There was no shortage of first-class dining, as our couples were introduced to dishes such as pheasant pasta, pheasant and venison sausage pizza, crab-filled and fried squash blossoms, and many other culinary delights. There was plenty of relaxing downtime to enjoy these outstanding home-cooked meals, live music, and sharing stories with the other couples and Hosts. Our highest gratitude and thanks to Brad and Julie Boisen for their outstanding hospitality and graciousness toward our Heroes and for hosting another top-tier event. Additionally, we would like to thank WWIA Guide Matt Phillips for his care and contributions throughout this four-day event.
"This past weekend in Galveston at Brad and Julie Boisen’s was an amazing opportunity to spend some great time with my Fiancé, Claudia, and other couples. I found that I had a lot in common with everybody else as far as going through the military experience and relationships. Just sitting back out on the deck of the beach house enjoying the view and talking with everyone was nice. The Boisen’s really put together something special. The food was amazing, and I learned a few new things on how to prepare wild game and fish. I am very thankful that Brad hired a Guide that put me on the biggest speckled trout and flounder I have ever caught. I would like to thank WWIA and John McDaniel for giving myself and Claudia the opportunity to enjoy this past weekend in Galveston, Texas."
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2nd Annual Ohio Masons Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Event
May 3-6 Huron, OH
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Six of our Purple Heart Heroes traveled to Huron, OH for the 2nd Annual Ohio Masons Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Event. Our Heroes were welcomed warmly and experienced four days of camaraderie, world-class walleye fishing, and amazing cooking, including a walleye and yellow perch fish fry prepared by local fishermen and a grateful community. Our Heroes discovered why Lake Erie is one of the premier walleye locations in the world as there were copious amounts of walleye caught and some white bass as well. This would not have been possible without the selfless dedication and expertise of the volunteer fishing guides that accompanied our Warriors. Our Purple Heart Heroes left the event with tremendous gratitude and coolers filled with walleye as evidence of an amazing time spent with amazing people. We extend our sincere appreciation to Host Virgil Tent and the Ohio Masons for conducting another wonderful event in honor of our Heroes. This event was truly a community effort and we thank each and every volunteer and supporter who participated. Additional praise and recognition to WWIA Guide Derek Duplisea for his exceptional coordination and support throughout the event.
"This was hands down the best event I have ever attended. Virgil and the volunteers were amazing, but the Guides made the trip fantastic. I feel I not only made great friends with the vets but the Guides as well. This was a first-class trip and I can’t say thank you enough. These memories will for sure last for a lifetime."
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5th Annual Dave Harris Memorial Billfish Tournament
May 3rd - 7th Puerto Aventuras, MX
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Mexico is the place to go for world‐class billfishing, and ten of our Heroes flew to Puerto Aventuras, Mexico to cast their lines while making some lasting memories with their fellow Purple Heart brothers at the 5th Annual Dave Harris Memorial Billfish Tournament. Our Heroes were treated to five memorable days of camaraderie, fishing, and great food. Although the weather was a bit uncooperative this year, they were still able to bring in some outstanding catches and thoroughly enjoyed their time on the water. There was also some time to play golf and relax at a local water park that allowed our Heroes to float through a natural mangrove. Our Heroes expressed that this excursion was just what they needed to unwind and re-center themselves. We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to Dan Harris and family for graciously hosting this event and taking such incredible care of our Heroes throughout the past five years. Additional recognition and thanks to WWIA Guide Mark Broda and WWIA Associate Travis VonSeggern for ensuring that our Heroes had first‐class support and guidance during this exciting excursion.
"Mark and WWIA, thank you so much for this awesome opportunity to come out here to Puerto Aventuras and meet up with my fellow brothers in arms. As you all know it is the camaraderie that we all miss the most and even if for only a few days I got that brotherhood feeling back, it is something I’ll always cherish and remember. Thank you once again for everything. If you or WWIA need anything let me know. Special thanks as well to the Harris family for hosting us. Couldn’t have been any nicer people. Love you all."
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5th Annual Western PA Turkey & Fishing Event
May 9-12 Rural Valley, PA
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The 5th Annual Western PA Turkey and Fishing Event was another great success! Three of our Warriors gathered in scenic Rural Valley, PA for some world-class hunting and fishing with their fellow Purple Heart brothers. The bonds formed between these Heroes were impressive and immediate, as there was great conversation shared around the dinner table, or while shooting pool. The morning of the first turkey hunt was met with some challenging rain, but there were plenty of turkey gobbles and sightings, giving our Heroes hope for the hunts that remained ahead. After lunch, our Heroes were treated to some private trout fishing courtesy of Inga Armstrong of Blackleggs Trout Nursery, a private hatchery. Our Heroes thoroughly enjoyed their time on the water, catching lots of trout throughout the afternoon. The following day consisted of an early morning turkey hunt and more time on the water, followed by an outstanding homecooked dinner and our Heroes sharing their gratitude and experience about the event. Our Heroes explained that this trip was exactly what they needed to help them regroup and reconnect. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Hosts Dan and Susan Bevevino for putting on another world-class event for our Heroes. Additional gratitude goes out to local Guides Steve Thacker, Tony Brunetta, and Frank Condino for their knowledge and expertise. Special thanks to Frank Condino, Frank Bevevino, and Tony Petruolo for their dedication and assistance throughout the entire event, and to Anna Petruolo for her delicious home-cooking. We also want to recognize and thank WWIA Guide Jeremy Smith for his attentiveness and care throughout these four days.
"Thank you seems to be so inadequate to express my appreciation for the experience of the Western PA Turkey Hunt. Dan and his family are fabulous patriots and hosts. The Guides, Jeremy, Tony, Steve, and Frank were focused on our having an unforgettable experience. Everything exceeded my expectations. I certainly felt the love and appreciation from everyone. It reinforced my belief that our great nation will be preserved since we have great patriots such as these. Thanks, everyone so very much for the experience. I know that WWIA wouldn’t be possible without Dan and Corrina. This is a chapter of my life I will cherish forever. Respectfully, with many thanks."
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8th Annual BC Black Bear Hunt
May 26th - June 1st Tatlayoko Lake, BC
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A Hero and his son had the unique opportunity to travel to breathtaking Tatlayoko Lake, BC to participate in the 8th Annual BC Black Bear Hunt with Skinner Creek Hunts. This location is full of scenic mountain views and trophy bear hunting that even the most seasoned hunter would appreciate. This trip provided our father/son team with the perfect combination of exciting world-class bear hunting and relaxing in the great outdoors while spending quality time together. We are proud to report that our Hero's son was able to successfully harvest his first-ever bear. After hunting in the Canadian wilderness each day, our father and son team returned to Skinner Creek Ranch to enjoy some amazing home-cooked meals and engaging conversation while taking in the incredible wilderness around them. Our heartfelt thanks to Doug and Julie McMann and family for their outstanding dedication and faithful support of WWIA and our Heroes. Thank you for making this such a special and memorable excursion for our Hero father and his son.
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Kim's 3 Mile Bar and Grill WWIA Meat Raffle
April 28th Phillips, Wisconsin
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We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Kim's 3 Mile Bar & Grill in Phillips, Wisconsin for recently hosting a meat raffle with proceeds benefiting WWIA. This raffle raised an incredible $1,026.00 to help support the local 13th Annual Camp Hackett Event that will take place this fall. Special thanks to co-donor Bob Bolz for his tremendous coordination and efforts surrounding this raffle; and to the outstanding Northwoods community for their generosity and support of WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes.
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Uno Pizzeria & Grill WWIA "Dough Raiser" 50/50 Raffle
May 11th Webster, NY
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WWIA would like to recognize and thank Uno Pizzeria and Grill of Webster, NY for their outstanding generosity and support of WWIA through their recent Uno "Dough Raiser" event. The winner of the 50/50 raffle graciously donated their winnings back to WWIA for an overall total of $202.00. Additional donations were made by outstanding patrons and community members in the amount of $287.28. These funds will go to help support the upcoming local 10th Annual NY Upland Bird and Couples Retreat. Our sincere thanks to Uno Pizzeria and Grill and the patriotic community of Webster for their support of WWIA and our Heroes.
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The WWIA Sweepstakes is Here!
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The WWIA Sweepstakes is underway! Go to: wwiaf.org/sweepstakes to purchase your ticket for a chance to win the Grand Prize, a .30-30 Henry Repeating Arms Lever-Action Rifle with custom engraving by Baron Technologies or $2,500 in cash. We also have other amazing prizes available. Tell your friends and family, share this opportunity with others, and enter for your chance to win! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 7/30/19. Open to legal residents of 50 US & DC who are 21 or older. Subject to full Official Rules (wwiaf.org/sweepstakes/rules). Void where prohibited by law.
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This month we are honored to introduce you to Mike and Debi Davenport of the WWIA Southern Vermont Chapter. Mike and Debi have been an integral part of organizing fundraising, galvanizing support, and spreading the message of WWIA throughout their community. Through their collective efforts, they have led the Southern Vermont Chapter to become a WWIA Medal of Honor decorated patron, raising over $150,000 in support of our Heroes since 2013! We applaud their dedication and appreciate them taking time out to share their story with us. We hope you enjoy getting to know them and hearing about their WWIA journey.
Mike and Debi, can you please give us a brief introduction and tell us a little about yourselves and your family?
Debi and I are both employed at Unicorr/Vermont Container. Unicorr is a manufacturer of corrugated boxes, store displays, wood pallets/crates, and numerous other packaging needs. Unicorr has 5 locations throughout New England. I have been employed with them for the past 32 years during which time I have worked my way up to the Operations Manager for the Bennington, Vermont location and the Walden, NY location. I am tasked daily to lead 40 employees to complete objectives which encompass quality, safety, meeting delivery dates and maintaining the budget. Debi has been with Unicorr/Vermont Container for 26 years and is the Customer Service Manager for the Bennington, Vermont location.
I am very passionate about hunting and fishing. I have been very fortunate to hunt/fish many areas of the United States and Canada. I have hunted brown bear in the Alaskan Bush, caribou in the Quebec Tundra, antelope and mule deer in Wyoming, hogs in the swamps of South Carolina, elk in Montana, black bear in New Brunswick, Canada and many others too numerous to list. Debi and I both enjoy traveling and she especially enjoys spending time with our grandchildren.
How did you first get involved with WWIA?
In 2013 the owner of Unicorr Packaging Group tasked each location to get involved with something to give back to the community. He gave each location $2,500.00 for seed money and left the rest to us. I was watching a hunting show on one of the outdoor channels when I came across a show featuring the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation. I did a little research on WWIA and after understanding what they did and what they accomplish with very low overhead I decided this was the organization to get behind and support. I rallied the employees and we set out to raise as much money as possible for WWIA. We worked all summer getting the WWIA name out there and selling merchandise and raffle tickets. We concluded our efforts with a banquet dinner in September of 2013 where we had a live auction, games, and raffles. We took our $2,500.00 of seed money and turned it into $22,988.00 for WWIA.
What has been the biggest benefit for you since becoming involved with WWIA?
The biggest benefit has been seeing my community come together year after year to support WWIA and to see this event grow year after year. 2014 was our first event as a chapter and we netted $26,179.00. In 2018 our event netted $62,636.00. I am truly humbled by the incredible support of our local community.
The WWIA Southern Vermont Chapter is an incredible example of a community working together to selflessly support our Heroes. How have you been able to galvanize such tremendous support and grow this vast network of donors, volunteers, and supporters over the years?
I think our success is multi-faceted. First and foremost is the compassion this community has for our veterans. Second is the dedication of all the volunteers that help with the event every year. I believe that my leadership and problem-solving skills that I have developed in my role at Unicorr has also helped in the success of the Southern Vermont Chapter. We try to change up the event every year with some different games and products to keep it fresh. We never let our foot off the gas, we push hard every year to exceed the net total from the prior year.
What would you say to others who are considering getting involved with WWIA either as a Host or in any other capacity?
For others looking at getting involved with WWIA, I would tell them to go to the website, watch the videos and read the testimonials from the Heroes. If they are interested in fundraising, no event is too small; it could grow into something much larger than you anticipated. It feels good to know that you are giving back to the ones that have given so much for our freedom.
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We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the following supporters for their gracious contributions and dedication to WWIA and our Heroes. THANK YOU!
Donations:
A.D. McCann Foundation via Anthony McCann $5,000
Dr. Abbas Samii $2,000
Sharon Farnsworth $1,423.66 (via CARS donation)
Arthur Kandarian $1,200
Joyce Todd $1,000
Michael Wascom $741.00 (via CARS donation)
Steven Roccuzzo $733.66 (via CARS donation)
Hector Rodriguez $561.16 (via CARS donation)
Donations toward 5th Annual Eagle River Muskie
Chal-Lunge
Ferrellgas $700
Eagle River Lions Club Foundation Inc. $600
Appraisal Associates $500
Jeffrey Miller $500
Donation toward 13th Annual Camp Hackett Event
Anonymous Donation $561
Donation toward 5th Annual Western PA Turkey & Fishing Event
Frank Condino $500
Donation toward 5th Annual Dave Harris Memorial BillfishTournament
Reginald Hudson $500
Donation toward 8th Annual BC Black Bear Hunt
Michael Zacharias $500
Donations toward Inaugural New Hampshire Black Bear and Bass Combo
The Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Inc. $3,000
Enfield Firefighters Association $500
Enfield Fast Squad $500
Donation toward 10th Annual NY Upland Bird & Couples Retreat
Stefano La Sala Foundation, Inc. $1,000
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On May 23rd, our staff hit the roadway outside WWIA headquarters to clean up as part of the Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful initiative. WWIA adopted Pauls Dr. (the street that houses our main offices) through the Adopt-A-Road program and is committed to preserving and maintaining this area. Every little bit makes a big difference. If you're in the local Brandon/Tampa area and would like to volunteer and help us with our next clean-up, we'd love to have you! Please reach out to us for more information!
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Help Support WWIA Through Vehicle Donation!
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You can help support WWIA and our Heroes by donating your car, truck, van, SUV, boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer or airplane. V-Dac recently joined the CARS team to help continue providing opportunities to support non-profits through vehicle donations. You will still work with the same outstanding representatives that you have come to trust with your donation needs. Simply click here to start the donation process or call CARS toll-free at 855-500-RIDE (855-500-7433) to have a donation staff specialist help guide you through the donation process. If you would like to learn more about how the CARS vehicle donation program works, please click here. We thank you in advance for your support!
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WWIA has Partnered with Ammo.com!
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WWIA is proud to have recently partnered with Ammo.com. Ammo.com has an outstanding reputation for quality, price, selection, and customer satisfaction. You can find all your ammunition needs at Ammo.com while helping support WWIA and our Purple Heart Heroes at the same time! When you order from Ammo.com, 1% of your entire purchase will be donated back to WWIA when you select us as your preferred “Freedom Fighter” option from the dropdown menu at checkout. And right now, you can also save 20% off any order of $200 or more! Simply go to https://ammo.com/wwia-supporter to get started and find out more information. Our sincere thanks to Ammo.com for their support of WWIA and their outstanding patriotism!
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Help WWIA become a 2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit!
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