Successful Campaign for Our Wounded Warriors!

We are so incredibly happy to announce that Serve Our Willing Warriors has officially received our check in the mail for the matching donation campaign carried out by In A Perfect World Non-Profit Organization. For quite some time, In A Perfect World has aspired to empower children to become compassionate, socially conscious and responsible leaders.

The Check from IAPW + Company. We are one step closer to making the retreat happen for wounded warriors + their families. 

Having looked already at the wounded leaders of our nation, they now looked to support their children by empowering them in the recovery process. After speaking with Manuela Testolini about the need to show these children appreciation for their sacrifice, she became a full supporter of Serve Our Willing Warriors mission to not only serve the soldiers but their families as well.

  

 Manuela Testolini, Founder of IAPW Empowering Children before setting eyes to empower the children of our wounded veterans 

Because IAPW aims to provide the opportunities to express themselves artistically about their needs + dreams, we look to bring in the best to design the children's rooms in the Bull Run Warrior Retreat to allow them the opportunity to be creative themselves.

 

May we never forget to pay tribute to the children of our wounded vets. Their sacrifices make this country whole and safe. 

Because of we reached our goal of 5k, they went over + beyond in matching our raised donation and doubled the efforts! 

Thank you to In A Perfect World for setting an example for our community + globe at large! You truly make the world a better place.

It's Almost Here -- SOWW's 2nd Annual 5K / 1 Mile Walk-Run!

 Time to lace up those shoes and get registered!

Just click on the flyer below!

We look forward to seeing you there!

GoFund Me for Warrior Retreat is launched

As of Friday February 28th Serve Our Willing Warriors has officially launched their GoFund Me page!

here: http://www.gofundme.com/6zalb0

This effort is aimed to draw the community together to support the dreams of the wounded warriors to have a little "slice of heaven" with their families at our Bull Run Warrior Retreat home. There are things that we take for granted that these soldiers simply cannot.

……Just imagine mom – in her haven cooking in the kitchen 

and dad – flexing his muscles at the barbecue grill –….just like “home.” 

These are the things our warriors crave for and can have again with your help.

They were willing to make incredible sacrifices… as well as their families. Many returned home with loss of limbs, while many others returned with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – injuries we cannot physically see. During the past seven years of spending time with our recovering warriors at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir hospitals, it became quite apparent that having time away from the cold hospital rooms with family was absolutely priceless – true healing for the soldier’s soul.

What will your donation go toward? 

Your funds are needed to completely renovate this 11,000 sq ft retreat home for our wounded soldiers and their families. Going forward with building permits in hand, this house will be fully handicap accessible: 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 15X30 kitchen, plus, installation of an elevator, which will be accessible from each level. Most importantly, your donation will provide a “Home-Away-from-Home” for our nation’s heroes and their families in the scenic Bull Run Mountains. 

Serve Our Willing Warriors' , 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, vision is to create a peaceful retreat where recovering warriors can come and share a mini vacation to get away from the grind of daily rehabilitation at the Bull Run Warrior Retreat at no cost to them. Our current goal is to host our first family the July 4th 2014. 

Willing Warrior + Mother Visit Bull Run Warrior Retreat

 Just a few years ago, Army Sgt. Robert Scott was fighting for his life.  Sgt. Scott  enlisted in the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq with his Military Intelligence Company in 2007.  During a  2009 mission, he was severely wounded in a tanker blast. This Willing Warrior engaged in a battle for his life that included surviving blood clots that resulted in Sudden Cardiac Death, a three and a half week coma, multiple blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.  Though his prognosis was very bleak, he beat the odds.

So imagine how special it was to welcome Sgt. Scott and his mother, Valance Scott, to visit the Bull Run Warrior Retreat this January.

Sgt. Robert Scott with his mother, Valance Scott, and SOWW co-founders John + Shirley Dominick inside the family room of Bull Run Warrior Retreat.

  

The mother and son duo toured the house and shared their much-appreciated  ideas and feedback regarding the general plans for the retreat. Sgt. Scott was particularly interested in the entertainment area and expressed his preference for gaming equipment and an air hockey table (versus a ping pong table).  He also made valuable recommendations for our Bull Run Warrior Retreat Awareness Campaign at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir Community hospitals.

 

SOWW Secretary Stacey Plaugher made notes of Sgt. Scott's thoughts and recommendations regarding the retreat and future stays by other Willing Warriors + Families.

Sgt. Scott is currently receiving continued treatment at Walter Reed at Bethesda and Vocational Rehabilitation Treatment at the Washington, DC Polytrauma Unit for Veterans.  It was a privilege to meet him and his mother.  We really look forward to inviting them back to the Bull Run Warrior Retreat once we are fully operational.

God Bless you Sgt. Scott!  

We are so grateful for your service and sacrifice!

Stay Warm . . . Inside + Out!

Well, apparently the groundhog DID see his shadow this year!

At least all the snow makes for a good excuse to spend time keeping warm with loved ones.  So as we celebrate an entire day dedicated to love,  I thought I would share a wee quote on the subject.

The following is an excerpt from Henry Van Dyke's poem,  

The Three Best Things (Work, Love, Life).

"For love is but the heart's immortal thirst 

To be completely known and all forgiven."

(And that pretty much sums it up!)