COMMUNITY LEADERS
Amount Donated by INI Sips to WVFV: $500.00
Organization: Work Vessels for Veterans, Inc
Contact: Honorable Cathy Cook
Phone: 8605364418
Email: Cathy@wvfv.org
Website: WVFV.ORG
WORK VESSELS FOR VETS started with the gift of a lobster boat to an injured Marine who was starting a commercial fishing business in RI. Since that award in 2008, WORK VESSELS FOR VETS has awarded over $3.4 million worth of equipment to 2400 injured veteran-entrepreneurs in all 50 states.
The pandemic made fund-raising difficult, yet our waiting list for assistance grew to over 100 injured vets. Concurrently, major foundation diverted their annual grants from veteran programs to programs to feed the hungry during this time of crisis. WORK VESSELS FOR VETS sent out over $20,000 in emergency funds to many previous awardees who were struggling to keep their new businesses open.
What has been some feedback you have received from some of the recipients of the work you do?
We hear over and over that our gift of that one critical piece of equipment has made all the difference in successful start-ups.
We always need more funding to purchase the equipment needed by the injured veterans on our waiting list who dream of self-employment.
How can people in and around your community help with your mission?
First, support INI Sips, as they are a past awardee from WORK VESSELS FOR VETS. And if you can, donate through our website www.WVFV.org.
To the best of our knowledge, WORK VESSELS FOR VETS is the ONLY nonprofit solely dedicated to the mission to award equipment to injured veterans who are starting a business.
