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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Operation Vet-Fit's mission is to assist our nation's combat
veterans, active duty members and affected family members
through exercise, fitness, and group based motivational
activities and events. Operation Vet-Fit is accomplishing this
mission through free fitness club memberships, personal
training, group training and group based motivational events
and excursions geared toward fostering a healthy transition
following combat service. Additionally, we serve as a free
liaison and veterans advocate supporting veterans with serviceconnected disabilities by assisting in the process of locating,
accessing, and navigating the many available veterans benefits
currently being offered.
VISION
To embolden our next generation and inspire a greater future
for all who have served our nation in combat.
VALUES
www.operationvetfit.org
CONTENTS
Executive Summary .................................................................. 1
Contents ...................................................................................... 2
Situation ...................................................................................... 4
Mission ........................................................................................ 6
Execution .................................................................................... 8
Financials ..................................................................................10
Founding Board Members .....................................................12
Advisory Board Members ......................................................14
Overview of those we serve...................................................21
Measures of Success ................................................................22
Highlighted Success Story - Leave No Man Behind ..........24
Camaraderie Building Events ................................................25
Community Awards and Recognition ..................................31
Grants ........................................................................................32
Forward Thinking....................................................................33
www.operationvetfit.org
www.operationvetfit.org
SITUATION
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a kind of anxiety triggered by a
traumatic event causing extreme shock, fear, or a feeling of
helplessness. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
estimates that approximately 1 in every 30 US adults develops
PTSD every year.
The risk for combat war veterans is significantly greater with some
reports suggesting that about 1 in every 4 service men and women
returning from Iraq or Afghanistan will develop at least one
combat-related problem such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
Recent studies highlight that At 12 months following combat, the
prevalence of mental health problems among veterans does not
abate, and in many cases increases. The far-reaching
consequences of these disturbing findings touch the returning
soldiers, their families, and their peers.
Researchers have continually found exercise can be an effective
treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Doctors are
increasingly prescribing exercise for the prevention and treatment
of many diseases as it can alleviate the stress that exacerbates many
symptoms and promotes physical fitness, which helps with
resiliency.
References:
Thomas JL et al. Archives of General Psychiatry 2010; 67(6): 614-23 Hoge CW et al. JAMA 2006; 295:1023-32
1. 58th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, 2nd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine.
2. "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Coronary Atherosclerosis, and Mortality" Naser Ahmadi, MD, MS, Ramin Ebrahimi, MD et al "American Journal of
Cardiology". published online 02 May 2011. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.02.34
Combat
PTSD
Disease
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www.operationvetfit.org
MISSION
Physical & Mental Operation Vet Fit provides a free
24/7 fitness center, personal
training, group fitness seminars,
team oriented motivational fitness
events, and stress reducing
outdoor and social excursions for
returning combat veterans and
their affected family members;
especially those suffering from
Combat PTSD, TBI, and other
visible and invisible service
connected disabilities.
Social
Additionally, we
continue to serve as a free liaison supporting veterans with service-connected
disabilities by assisting in the process of locating, accessing, and navigating the many
available veterans benefits currently being offered.
We shall continue to work within our served communities to aid in civilian life
reintegration through social service, mentoring programs and volunteerism while
identifying and engaging in opportunities geared toward fostering a sense of continued
and improved purpose amongst our member veterans.
www.operationvetfit.org
www.operationvetfit.org
EXECUTION
Bricks and Mortar - The first location, Private
Studio Fitness, is located in the heart of downtown
Bethel, CT. It is a beautiful 3,000+ Sq., 24/7 Fitness
center with full security and surveillance measures in
place as well as a crowd capacity control mechanism.
The facility provides a full line of industrial high-end
cardiovascular equipment. Commercial grade freeweights and cable machines. All necessary apparatus
are available to safely and effectively implement a
guided, safe and effective fitness program for our
combat veterans.
In addition, the facility provides flat screen TVs in
front of all cardio equipment with cable as well as
Direct TV, sports and news packages. Wi-Fi access is
free of charge and Pandora radio is streaming through
the facilitys controllable audio system via an IPad that
stands ready for general use by patrons.
Electronic key fob access and automated 24 hr.
surveillance provide a safe and easily accessible point
of entry. Automated lighting and complete climate
control provides for ease and comfort during use.
Complimentary fresh towels, free coffee and refueling snacks and drinks are always available.
5Ks
Golf Outings
Veterans Recognition Dinners
Veterans Social Luncheons
Camping Trips
NCAA Basketball games
NCAA Football games
River Rafting Trips
Sports Car Races and Events
www.operationvetfit.org
www.operationvetfit.org
FINANCIALS
Operation Vet Fit is proud to announce that it continues to utilize an all-volunteer force to fund,
design, implement, and manage the entirety of its charity.
Grants, $2,600
Contributions,
$37,033
Membership
Dues, $41,949
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$110,000
$105,000
$100,000
$95,000
$90,000
Revenues
Expenses
2012-2013
$97,008
$95,101
2013-2014
$117,277
$99,719
2014-2015
$102,701
$93,755
Scholarships Awarded
(2014), $2,000
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Valerie Plue
- Substance Abuse Resistance Advocate
Valerie is Vice President of Business Development for
Williams Lea, a global corporate information solutions
firm headquartered in NYC. Prior to joining Williams
Lea, Valerie spent the majority of her career in
publishing at Grolier publishing working her way up
from an input clerk to Vice President of
Manufacturing. Valerie's skill set include supply chain
management, process re-engineering, budget
management, vendor negotiation and procurement.
Valerie is on the Board of Directors of Success
Residential, a sober house for men in the Danbury area
and also serves on the board of Directors of The
Fellowship Center, a sober club in Danbury where 12
step meetings are held several times daily. Valerie is
knowledgeable in navigating local detox facilities, sobering centers and rehabs that specialize in
addictive behaviors.
In addition to her experience with the above facilities, Valerie has been in recovery for 15 years and is
active in helping others to get and stay sober.
Valerie is enrolled in a college level Drug and Alcohol Recovery program of study to become a
counselor.
Valerie's brother Ray, served in the US Army and is a Vietnam combat veteran. Valerie's fianc, Tom
served as a paratrooper and medic in the US Army and is also a Vietnam combat veteran. Her
father, Raymond was also a combat veteran in the US Army.
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Tracy DeLuise
-
Joyce Allen
-
Since the founding of Operation Vet Fit, Joyce has been a major
supporter, both as volunteer and donor. Joyce provides weekly
group Spin classes and assistance in fundraising activities.
In addition to her volunteer assistance at Operation Vet Fit, Joyce
is an avid competitor that has both placed and won multiple
Marathons, Half-Marathons, Biathlons, and countless local,
national and international athletic events.
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1 WORLD WAR II
1 KOREA
25 VIETNAM
6 SOMALIA
6 BOSNIA
1 BEIRUT
5 GULF WAR
24 IRAQ
26 AFGHANISTAN
2 WORLD TRADE CENTERS
SEPTEMBER 11 , 2001
1 SANDY HOOK
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FIRST RESPONDER
TH
1 SILVER STAR
15 PURPLE HEARTS
6 BRONZE STARS
ARMED FORCES
BRANCHES REPRESENTED
-
3 AIR FORCE
44 ARMY
11 NAVY
31 MARINE CORPS
1 NYPD
1 FDNY
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MEASURES OF SUCCESS
Fitness Facility Besides our veterans utilizing the
facility for over 2,000 workouts in the last year alone,
the facility has also served to carry out a variety of
community-based functions to foster a sense of
purpose for our volunteer veterans and assist in postservice reintegration; including but not limited to:
Toy Drives - For the
annual Dorothy Day
Santas Workshop that
provided toys to over 800
needy families in the
greater Danbury Area last
Christmas.
Food Collection - For
our area charity,
Brotherhood in Action,
which provides food to
those that cannot afford
to buy their own. Our
food collection program is
ongoing and our collaboration with other area charities to help the poor,
hungry, and needy is both essential for the success of our community
but equally for the successful reintegration of our volunteer combat
veterans during these events.
Advocacy
Services During the last year, Operation
Vet Fit invested a substantial proportion of
its volunteer efforts toward the advocacy of
a WWII Combat Veteran that was exploited
by the State of CT Probate Court System.
Through our collaboration with our elected
State and Federal leaders and other veterans
agencies like Purple Heart Homes, National
Veterans Service Foundation and Work
Vessels for Veterans, we rescued Louis J.
Russo from an involuntary conservator that
was assigned by the CT Probate Court
whom stole his life savings, scrapped his
personal property, illegally rented out his
home, and kept him in a nursing home
rather than a free VA hospital.
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September 15th 2014 2nd Annual Golf Outing and Combat Veterans Recognition Dinner.
This is our only fall fundraising event where we provide our combat veterans with a free round of
golf, tournament style. Included in this day long sequence of recreational events are breakfast, a BBQ
cookout lunch, followed by a combat veterans recognition dinner.
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GRANTS
Operation Vet Fit continues to apply
for hundreds of thousands of dollars in
grant funds to continue and expand its
mission and services. Even with broad
federal and state endorsements large
grants have been unattainable thus far.
Here is an overview of our grant
request efforts, successes, and denials.
Grants Applied For 2014-2015:
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FORWARD THINKING
For the upcoming year,
Operation Vet Fit is
planning a major
relocation and expansion
of services in what we
are calling Bridge the
Gap Our goal is to be
able to reach as many of
our active duty service
men and women that are
preparing to transition
back into the civilian
world; To provide them
with the information,
contacts, and liaisons
they will need to be most
successful following their service in our various combat theatres.
To accomplish this next mission we will be selling our fitness center in Bethel CT and relocating our
headquarters to South Carolina where we will have closer proximity to many of the east coast military
establishments and active duty personnel.
Simultaneously, we will be negotiating
the sale of the donated OVF fitness
center assets to one of our very own
veteran members who has generously
agreed to keep the fitness center free
and available for our existing 91 current
veterans.
As a result, OVF will have its first
official satellite fitness center location
and our first OVF member fitness
center owner.
And yes, I still envision an OVF center in every State of America being operated by a purpose driven
combat veteran still looking to serve his fellow combat theatre veterans.
Our motto: Per Aspera As Astra meaning, through hardship to the stars. Our call to arms for
every combat veteran to believe and seek to find that purpose that drives effort while inspiring the
next generation to greatness, fulfillment and achievement.
This is who we are this is what we do!
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