To pursue his dream Steve needs specialized equipment and rigorous training. Through generous contributions from supporters like you, Helping the Heroes  provided him the specially configured laser rifle, and continued support will enable us to ensure he receive all the additional training, equipment, and support he needs.

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The OPS goal is to enable newly blinded veterans to build sustainable livelihoods despite their injuries. OPS accomplish this through a support network including spouses and parents who often serve as primary care-givers. Every August OPS attendees and their families participate in a week of educational sessions, disabled sports, local tours, the arts and group activities where they form strong bonds with each other and fellow blinded veterans. Future personal development goals include participation in the Army Ranger Mountain Camp, a Blind Marathon, international vision research conference, Project Gemini exchange with Blind Veterans UK in London, dedicated caregiver sessions, expanding the use of art therapy and preserving the personal stories of these brave veterans and their families to raise awareness as part of our art and Opera programs.

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 It is particularly beneficial to those recovering from the “invisible wounds of war” such as Vision Loss, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), physical disabilities, and their related effects. Working with participants in Operation Peer Support and other programs, Veterans are paired with art therapists and mentors from the visual and performing arts to develop their talents and express themselves through art. For many this leads to successful careers in art while reducing dependence on medication, clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other conditions. They also participate in “one of a kind” events one-on-one with top performers and artists. The program is expanding to use the personal histories from Operation Peer Support with the visual and performing arts talent of in art exhibitions, music compositions, videos, and ultimately to write, produce, and perform an opera depicting the challenges and triumphs of our veterans and their families.

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Although the primary objective is the creativity of the work itself, the project will engage Americans throughout the nation in experiencing art; increase knowledge and skills in the arts; and strengthen communities through art, particularly in the sensitive areas of conflict, physical and mental disabilities, and veterans’ issues. Paired with veterans in creating and performing the opera will be libretto Karen Hayes and Composer John O’Hara. Karen Hayes has many years’ experience working in collaborative theatre and as a poet and librettist in arts and dementia care having published two anthologies and a short film in this field. She is an experienced opera and music theatre director. John O’Hara has a career as a classical composer/musician for both theatre and stage, and as a rock musician in the band Jethro Tull. His compositions include a children’s opera and two other pieces by the Welsh National Opera. He’s also composed for wildlife, drama and documentary TV.  John holds teaching positions at Bath and Bristol Universities and is a guest tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. John O’Hara and Karen Hayes have worked together for over 4 years giving marginalized groups within society a voice in music and words. Recently they partnered with Welsh National Opera (UK) to create an Opera Film “I Had An Angel” and the Three Choirs Festival in collaboration with MindSong (UK) for a semi-staged Opera “The Bargee’s wife”  and a song cycle “I Can Hear You Waiting”. The project has significant global perspectives and will be adaptable for performances internationally.

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Of the 332,646 Identity theft complaints processed by the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network in 2013, some 88,552 or over 26% were military with 66% of those veterans. Using this stolen information resulted in Government Documents or Benefit Fraud ranked as the number one category in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for 2015. The recent breach and compromise at the Office of Personnel Management of detailed personal information effecting over 25 million current and government employees, active duty and veterans significantly increases this risk. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Javelin Strategy & Research, the average financial loss per identity theft incident amounts to $4,930. The Identity Theft Center reports an average of over 600 hours is required for a victim to personally affect the resolution of a breach (up over 340% from 175 hours in 2012) with nearly $16,000 in lost potential or realized income.

Helping the Heroes is directly addressing this critical situation, partnering with Industry leaders IDShield  and Kroll. Helping the Heroes will rebate 2 months of IDShield to Veterans, First Responders, and their Families. IDShield covers the primary, their spouse/significant other, and up to eight dependents with identity monitoring and restoration services. Should the identity of any family member be stolen, Kroll’s Licensed Investigators perform the bulk of the restoration work required to restore a member’s identity to pre-theft status. Kroll will guarantee 100% RESTORATION (vs. Resolution) of a victim’s identity and credit ratings to pre-compromise status at no additional charge When participants continue after this initial period, commissions will be used to further programs helping the heroes.

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The project uses both the classrooms at Bullard-Havens and Henry Abbott Technical Schools with the veteran’s home. students participating in the plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, masonry and electrical curriculums assessed the work needed; designed solutions; and will complete the repairs to include: replacing outdated and hazardous electric baseboard heat with a modern energy efficient gas central heating and air system; tracing the outdated and hazardous wiring then bringing it to modern standards of function and safety; making essential plumbing repairs to stop leaks and other mold-causing issues and hazard; converting other appliances to energy efficient natural gas; completing structural carpentry work; and more.  The property will truly be the student and faculty “learning lab” available at all times to fit their curriculum throughout the school year. This provides the opportunity to execute a complex multi-disciplined and cross-discipline project from start to finish with specific experience from inspection, planning and costing through completing the work and assessing results. The project itself provides effective student skills training and experience not only in the technical disciplines of carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, but work readiness including problem solving, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, team building, multi-discipline program, and self-management. All work will conform to the same industry standards graduates must know when they enter the job market following graduation.

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Helping the Heroes provided JB a small emergency grant sufficient to recover his car and cover the deposit on a small apartment. As a result, JB is well on his way to permanent self-sufficiency and repaying the grant so Helping the Heroes can assist another veteran in need.

Helping the Heroes is seeking donations to cover JB’s grant so he does not have to repay it, and to accumulate sufficient resources to help other veterans in need.  As JB’s case shows, early intervention with a little support has dramatic effect in helping our heroes achieve and maintain sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families. Please help JB by making a donation to Helping the Heroes towards his grant and to help other heroes and their families.

Please help us cover JB’s grant and to support other heroes in need by donating today at this link or bytexting “Heroes” with the amount of your donation to the number 91999 (ex: “Heroes 25”) on your cell phone. 

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