VETCares Annual Report

Annual Report | 2018-2022 VETCares Inc. 495 E. Rincon St. Suite 110 Corona, CA 92879 951.444.7361 info@vetcares.org vetcares.org

Humble Beginnings

Growth

Milestones

2016

2016 - 2019

2019

2023

In 2016 the SDP Campaign was established under USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA VAREP, for veteran suicide awareness and GAP funding for alternative/play therapy treatments.

Many veterans and veteran organization were given grants as part of the SDP Campaign under USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA VAREP.

VETCares, Inc. was officially established as its own 501.c3 to expand its programs assisting more veterans across America.

Unfortunately, COVID hit shortly thereafter and we did not fully operate until the fourth quarter 2022.

VetCares first full operational year as an independent nonprofit. We are excited, confident, and looking forward to helping many veterans in years to come.

Thank You: A big thank you to USA Homeownership Foundation Inc. DBA VAREP, our sister

company, for incubating us since 2019. We could not have done this without VAREP National, VAREP Partners, VAREP Chapters, and VAREP Members - your generous and continued support is well appreciated.

Mission: To provide support to veterans empowering them to live successful, sustainable, and fulfilling lives.

Vision: To be an elite and compassionate

provider of sustainable assistance to military, veterans, and their families.

Headquartered in Corona, California with our CampCares based in Paradise Valley, Montana. VETCares, Inc. currently provides our programs, services, and referrals across America.

Core Values: INTEGRITY: We are uncompromising in our adherence to the highest ethical principles in our work.

RESPECT: Treating all people with honest, fairness, and kindness.

INCLUSION: Embrace diversity and create an inclusive environment for all.

COLLABORATION: Work together with other stakeholders to improve the lives of veterans.

COMMUNITY: Foster a sense of camaraderie and support among veterans.

TAble of Contents Featured Story - Operation Restoring Veterans Letter from the CEO and President Featured Story: Warrior Song - Reclaiming your Voice Letter from the Executive Director Featured Story: Operation Shockwave Board of Directors Featured Story: Deep Sea Valkyries - Therapy Through the Ocean Our Impact: Serving Veterans 2018 – 2022 Financial Report Featured Story: Homeownership is the Cornerstone The Demand - Applications Recieved Featured Story: Financial Awareness CampCares - The Edge of Healing

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Featured Story

OPERATION RESTORING VETERANS

Stop, Drop, Push Campaign Grant (SDPG) - 2018

Operation Restoring Veterans Retreat (ORVR), started in 2018 by Ray Perez held its inaugural 3-day PEER Retreat in at held at St. Joseph’s Camp in Flagstaff, Arizona. This outdoor immersive PEER retreat brought veterans together in healing, relaxing, and camaraderie.

“We are going to walk alongside one another, talk with one another and provide support and tools to the participants to provide a positive situation for change in veteran lives,” said Ray Perez, Founder, Operation Restoring Veterans.

Perez partnered with Sandra and the Knights of Columbus, and approached the Stop, Drop, Push Campaign for their location.

SDP granted 80 percent of the funds needed for its inaugural retreat. Jessica Morel, SDP Campaign Director (2014-2018) worked with all involved to make this dream come true.

“I didn’t want to go, I wanted to get off the bus. They thought this would be a good weekend for me to just get away and regroup and maybe make connections and be around with other veterans. They were right.”

Carolyn Carnes, ORVR Participant, Army & Air Force Veteran

The goal was simple have the veterans meet up at a single location, bus them out to the retreat site, provide a relaxing environment for healing to begin. Days were f illed with activities including horse therapy, f ishing, swimming, and hikes. Veterans spent evenings relaxing by the f ire, sharing and listening to each other’s stories, traumas, realizations, and experiences.

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“I wanted veterans to have hope about where they are and where they can go. This retreat allowed veterans to come together to relax with ease around other veterans to share, encourage and become a community to lean on and turn to each other,” said Perez.

Ray Perez credits and thanks SDP Grant to make that happen.

“We have that camaraderie, knowing we are all vets, we can relate to each other easier and relax.”

James McKiney ORVR Participant, Army Veteran

Letter from the

CEO and President This is our f irst annual report. Through facts, f igures, illustrations, and storytelling It shares our story. From inception in 2016 as the “Stop, Drop, Push Campaign” (as part of our sister company, USA Homeownership Foundation Inc. DBA VAREP) to the 2019 transformation into its own organization of VETCares, Inc., only to be temporarily halted by the COVID pandemic which delaying operations until the fourth quarter of 2022.

Despite these obstacles, we have preserved and helped many veterans and veteran organizations along the way.

We are established to support military, veterans, and their families due to hardship. Our programs are designed to achieve short-term objectives while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our focus areas include suicide prevention education, alternative therapies gap grants, home buyer closing cost grants, emergency f inancial assistance, military sexual trauma resources, domestic violence grants, and outdoor healing adventures for those rediscovering purpose and tranquility.

Within this report, you will read about the impacts of your contributions. Every story and statistic represents hope and healing that supports veterans. We carry out our duty with gratitude to honor supporters like you who have allowed us the incredible honor and opportunity to give back to those who have sacrif iced so much on our behalf.

I am proud of our staff, volunteers, leaders, and board, for their time and dedication to our mission. I am especially thankful for the support f rom VAREP Nation and its partners for supporting us all these years.

We look forward to many more years of serving communities across America.

Respectfully Submitted,

Son Nguyen

“As a PEER Support Organization, it is our duty as patriots to create an inclusive and diverse community for veterans in need.

Our PEER specialists listen with ‘lived experience’ while the PEER support groups allow participants to speak freely while rediscovering their warrior within. There is no time limit to reintegration, just patience and a wellplaced trust in the process.”

Son Nguyen

Navy Veteran, CEO & President VETCares, Inc.

CEO & President 2

Featured Story

WARRIOR SONG

RECLAIMING YOUR VOICE

Stop, Drop, Push Campaign Grant (SDPG) - 2019

Air Force Responder Veteran Veronica Maderos worked in the Pentagon when 911 occurred.

After these traumatic events, Veronica started collaborating with Warrior Song, a non-prof it Music Therapy Organization, that helps veterans turn their service members and veterans’ stories into music.

Veronica was helping Warrior Song f ind military and veteran stories to help other veterans heal while she was also writing her own story. For several months she worked with a songwriter who helped move her narrative along to an artist who then put her song together for her. Veroncia included her experience of walking back into the building still on f ire into her song.

“I’m a pentagon responder and survivor.

The day after the 911 attack I actually had to go back into the building when it was still on f ire.”

In 2019, Veronica, working with the artists she connected with f rom Warriors Songs, pushed her song into production and it was to be released on stage live by an artist in Wisconsin. However, she could not fund the trip to attend the live release.

We heard her story and the SDP Committee granted Veronica the funds she needed to complete the trip to Wisconsin.

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Veronica Maderos 911 Pentagon Attach Survivor

Letter from the

Executive Director From a single grant program in 2016 (Stop, Drop, Push Campaign), we have grown out f rom under our sister company (USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. dba VAREP) to VETCares, Inc. (2019). We are proud to be serving veteran needs across America.

Our programs, through 2022 include: Stop Drop Push Grant (SDPG) - SDPG is a collaboration with organizations around the United States that offer holistic alternative therapy to help with the healing process of our veterans. SDPG provides gap funding for veterans’ travel, lodging, food, and fees associated with attending alternative therapies across America.

Calloway Closing Cost Grant (CCCG) - Statistics show sustainable homeownership brings financial stability, less stress, and strong family bonds.

CCCG is offered to qualified first-time active-duty and veteran home buyers who need a hand up when purchasing a home. Named after Sr. Chief Robert Calloway, a real estate agent and deacon, an original VAREPer who served in different posts including the VAREP national board. He is missed but his legacy lives on.

Military Veteran Emergency Grant (MVEG) - Everyone has tough moments when they need a hand-up. This grant assists qualif ied active-duty or veterans with critical needs such as: overdue bills, rent/mortgage, groceries, auto payment/insurance, auto repair, child & dependent care, and critical baby items.

CampCares - After working with many alternative therapy organizations, we designed CampCares as outdoor healing PEER therapy retreat which include hunting, f ishing, backcountry hiking, conservation, equine therapy, and meditation programs that are immersed in nature’s solitude to heal the soul.

Vehicle & Property Donation Program (VPDP) - For us to be sustainable, and in addition to the generosity of our individual, community, and corporate partners, we accept vehicles and real estate properties across America. The money from these donations go directly to our veteran programs.

This report will statistically give you more details of our programs and highlight some heart-warming stories of the veterans and veteran organizations we have helped along the way.

We are grateful to every single donor, every volunteer, our partners, and sponsors who have helped stand up VETCares so we may march forward to serve and improve the lives of those who have served us.

“There is nothing more rewarding than being able to provide education, sustainable solutions, resources, and grants to veterans that have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

The transformation of the lives we touch are heartwarming. We thank all our donors for their support as VETCares continues to blossom while assisting one veteran at a time.”

Carla Lemon Executive Director

With Gratitude,

Carla Lemon

Executive Director VETCares, Inc.

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Featured Story

OPERATION SHOCKWAVE

Stop, Drop, Push Campaign Grant (SDPG) - 2018 Keeping in mind that VETCares was not off icially established until 2019, in 2018 we were operated by our sister company USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA VAREP as a featured program, the Stop, Drop, Push Campaign. VAREP Phoenix volunteer chapter approached the SDPG Committee to consider an organization called Operation Shockwave.

Operation Shockwave’s mission is veteran suicide prevention using complementary and integrative healing modalities.

The SDP Committee thought their missions aligned, and granted funds to Operation Shockwave to conduct live training seminars.

Operation Shockwave’s focuses on three elements in changing and saving veteran lives:

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Leading and empowering veterans to choose life, by being examples of living a successful life with purpose;

2. Program looks at the veteran’s socioeconomic, cultural, and risk factors to target the specif ic challenges of each veteran and provide direction to each, to improve their lives; and

3. Provide tools and lessons to convert the

leadership skills learned in the military, into becoming successful leaders in their community. Utilizing skills they already know allows for quicker results.

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Sustainable Success = Results!

We are honor to have been a part of veteran suicide prevention through training leadership programs and advocating for empowerment.

“The SDP Grant will help us hold more leadership unit training and prevent veteran suicide through stability and community leadership reintegration.”

Andrew Jones Founder, Operation Shockwave

Board of Directors RUBEN M. PEÑA Patriot | Chairman As a San Antonio native, Ruben M. Peña has played an integral role in the development of this city. Licensed since 1978, he has been actively involved in the local real estate market serving both residential and commercial clients. The knowledge gained through his life experiences, both personal and professional, has been used to serve his profession and his community.

A commitment to community service has always been a high priority. Mr. Peña has shared his expertise generously, as a Licensed Texas Real Estate Instructor and as an advisor to many local governmental agencies and charitable organizations.

ALVIN TONEY U.S. Navy Veteran | Board Member Alvin Toney is the owner of Broker and Owner of BST Realty Inc. located in Riverside, Ca. Since 2005, BST Realty Inc. has been serving the needs and meeting the expectations of thousands of home buyers, sellers, and investors throughout California. Whether you’re a first-time or experienced home buyer, seller or investor, our realtors and professional staff understand that the most important attributes of any real estate transaction are your needs, interests and goals!

G-II VARRATO U.S. Air Force Veteran | Board Member “G-II” is retired USAF. As a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Phoenix, Arizona and business partner at Lori & G-II’s Real Estate Team, Lori & G-II have continually been ranked in the top 1% of REALTORS® for all Arizona, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, for the past 17 years and have been ranked 6th in the state in overall production and are ranked in the top 2% of all Coldwell Banker Agents in the United States since 2011. Lori & G-II are ranked as the No. 1 Short Sale REALTOR® team for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Arizona.

In September 2013 G-II led the real estate industry to successfully overturn FHA ML 2013-23 which would have eliminated Limited Disclosed Dual Agency on all FHA Short Sale transactions. ML 2013-23 was ultimately replaced with ML 2014-15 which allowed millions of FHA home owners to be represented by competent Short Sale real estate professionals.

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Featured Story

DEEP SEA VALKYRIES THERAPY THROUGH THE OCEAN

Stop, Drop, Push Campaign Grant (SDPG) - 2019

Deep Sea Valkyries offers deep sea diving retreats that seek healing veterans f rom their injuries on all f ronts - mental, physical, and spiritual. Though they are not able to heal veterans in one week, the program can start the process to shift the trajectory of life and move towards healing.

In 2019 Deep Sea Valkyries reached out to the Stop Drop Push Committee to sponsor Retired Master Sargeant Veteran Bruce Cooper to attend their program, which incorporates 25 hours of group dynamic trauma counseling specializing in PTSD along with their diving retreats.

Cooper served in the Army and Army Guard for 9.5 years and then with Idaho Air National Guard for a total service of 15 years. He is wheelchair bound with his disability rapidly deteriorating.

“I’m still transitioning. When you have been where a lot of combat guys have been there are a lot of ghosts that follow you, so transitioning doesn’t seem to end. Deep Sea Diving is important to me as I have a whole lot less pain. And so, physically, and mentally the pain goes away. It’s a huge thing.” said Cooper.

The SDP Committee granted Bruce Cooper the funds to cover the entire trip with Deep Sea Valkyries.

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“I love working with combat vets. I was a medic and I’ll always be a medic. I have a medic’s heart. There’s a lot of guys out there that hurt, hurt physically and mentally, and I’d love to see them understand a little bit about getting rid of the pain and learn how to get rid of the pain, scuba diving can help them out on that.”

Bruce Cooper Deep Sea Valkyries Participant & Army Veteran

Our Impact:

Serving Veterans 2018 – 2022

2018 Total Amount Awarded

Type of Grants Awarded

$11,305

7 SDP Grants

2019 Total Amount Awarded

Type of Grants Awarded

$12,901

4 SDP Grants

2020 Total Amount Awarded

Type of Grants Awarded

$651

1 SDP Grant

2021 Total Amount Awarded

Type of Grants Awarded

$13,031

7 Grants 3 SDP | 4 MVEG

2022 Total Amount Awarded

Type of Grants Awarded

$23,698

12 Grants 3 MVEG | 2 CCCG | 4 SDP | 3 CampCares

TOTAL:

$61,586 8

Financial Report – 2022 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

Assets

2022

Revenues and Support

Cash and cash equivalents

$105,413

Direct Public Grants

$27,500

Inventory

$2,775

Affiliated Organization Contribution

$275,500

Security Deposit and other assets

$5,272

Property and equipment, net

$22,398

Total revenues and support

$303,000

Right of Use of Operating Lease

$171,035

Total assets

$306,893

Liabilities and Net Assets

2022

Current Liabilities: Accrued expenses Other liabilities

$11,275 $745

Current portion of Lease Obligation

$46,239

Total current liabilities

$58,259

Long term Lease Obligation

$126,166

Total Liabilities

$184,425

Total net assets Total liabilities and net assets

2022 EXPENSES Program Services $110,207

Fundraising $65,427

Management & General

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2022

Operating Revenues Donations and sales of furniture

$27,500

Individual business contributions

$25,875

Car sales commission

$1,410

Total operating revenues Total revenues

$59,088 $362,088

Expenses Program services and expenses

$65,427

Management and general expenses

$63,986

Fundraising expenses

$110,207

$122,468

Total expenses Operating increase in net assets

$239,620 $122,468

$306,893

Net assets, end of year

$122,468

2022 REVENUES Direct Public Grants Aff iliated Organization Contributions Donations & Furniture Sales Individual Business Contributions Car Sales Commission

Featured Story

HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE CORNERSTONE

Military Veteran Emergency Grant (MVEG) - 2021

Air Force (Fire Fighter) Veteran Saundia served 6 years as a f iref ighter then 6 additional years as contract f ire f ighter. During that time, she was deployed several times and as a contractor worked in Iraq 4 years straight.

herself in a situation where the company chose not to work with her through the challenges and let her go.

Given that she had just purchased a home and car, her savings was depleted and, while working through the disability and seeking During Saundia’s service she had a daughter employment, she fell behind in and wasn’t home often. She “I would have lost my her mortgage payment. She was leaving her daughter with many different providers and home without this help. knew she needed help and reached out to VETCares Grant noticed her daughter’s mental I’m really excited to Committee. health was dipping out, wasn’t happy and wasn’t engaging with her anymore.

After 12 years, she chose to leave the f iref ighting career and took a job that provided more stability and time with her daughter. The new job provided good income to purchase her f irst home and f irst new car.

save my home. Huge relief, I’m over the moon, this weight was listed off my shoulders and you helped me to get past this.”

Saundia MVEG Grant Receipt

Saundia was granted the funds giving her a hand-up in her time of need. This grant enabled them to get back on their feet sooner, without additional getting further behind, which could have led to possibly losing their home with additional missed payments.

Air Force Veteran

In 2021, unexpectedly, her service disability took a turn for the worse and needed time off f rom work to improve her situation. She found

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The need:

Applications received 2018 – 2022

PA RADISE VA LLEY , M T

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27

26

6

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Featured Story

FINANCIAL AWARENESS

Military Veteran Emergency Grant (MVEG) - 2022

A Semper Fi Fund case

“I’m retired thinking I manager connected Marine Veteran Dervin with could do a lot and could stand on my own 2 feet.

VETCares in 2022 to assist him with food, rent, a water I was taking on one job bill, and f inancial literacy. task after another after another and started Derwin found himself in ignoring my real injuries dire straits after personal challenges post-service inside myself. When I transitioning. It seemed one was able to go back to thing after another just kept working, I was in debt him f rom getting ahead. with delinquent bills He said, “The military really helped me out to put my and needed a hand-up.”

receive financial literacy

head on right in becoming

seems hopeless. The same is

Derwin

a young man. Since post-

MVEG Grant Receipt

service, transitioning has

Air Force Veteran

been challenging and I

counseling with USA Homeownership Foundation’s HUD Counseling team.

Successful reintegration does not always happen on a specif ic timeline, nor does it look the same for any one veteran. Time marches on, sometimes just getting through each day, other times, barely treading water and the worst of times, falling behind to where getting caught up true for healing. Impacts of reintegration challenges can happen at any time beyond

knew I needed help.”

service and show up in unexpected ways.

The VETCares Grant Committee awarded

VETCares was so pleased to be able to offer

him with the needed funds to cover his

Derwin a hand-up to get back on his feet

immediate delinquent rent, bills, and gift

and provide a path for stability in the future.

card for food.

Derwin said the most important part of VETCares was that they referred him to

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CampCares is a featured program

CAMPCARES THE EDGE OF HEALING CampCares Veteran Healing - 2022

CampCares, a featured outdoor PEER

VETCares held its f irst CampCares retreat

therapy retreat of VETCares, Inc., is

in July 2022 in Pray, Montana. CampCares’

designed to provide outdoor PEER therapy

cabins are nestled in the Montana valley

retreats including hunting, f ishing,

and surrounded by majestic mountains

backcountry hiking, conservation, equine

with a river running. Fly f ishing has

therapy, and meditation programs that are

shown to change lives by learning this

immersed in nature’s solitude to heal f rom

new sport successfully. This recreation

past traumas and quiet the soul.

teaches techniques that feel unnatural in presentation, requires patience, listening

As our Founder and President stated in his

and practice. Practical skillsets for

letter, we are a PEER support organization

reintegration and healing.

focused on providing holistic programs for veteran assistance and healing.

CampCares is a vital part of a veteran’s reintegration and healing journey. We

in the beauty of this place. We

know that healing is an ongoing process

share in traded war stories back

and while traditional medical methods are

and forth, talked about families,

effective, they are more powerful with the elements of PEER support groups to listen

relaxed amongst one another in

and share lived experiences. The guided

shared experiences. First time on

outdoor retreats with the PEER specialists

the Yellowstone River, man, the

set the tone during the 10-day advance prep work, 5-day retreat, and a 45-day post-retreat and debrief completes the

scenery is gorgeous. You don’t get to see this beauty every day. A bad

CampCares retreat program. We plan to

day f ishing is better than a good

launch a CampCares alumni PEER network

day at work.”

for continued support in the future.

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“Here at CampCares you can relax

James Army Veteran, CampCares Participant

Day One

Days Two and Three

We approved three participants and they

The next 2 days are spent floating the wild

arrived a bit uneasy, anxious, and unsure

and scenic Yellowstone River with the

of what to expect. It takes courage to hop

professional guides. No phones, no work,

on a plane and travel to a destination you

no electronics, no responsibilities, no bad

most likely have not been, participate in

memories . . . just calm, fun, excitement

experiences that are unfamiliar to you, and

and the occasional whoops and hollers of

be immersed in programs where you rely

a “Tight Line”. After a full day on the river,

on volunteers and coaches that you barely

the veterans return to camp for nourishment

know. As the beauty of the country starts

and fellowship around the campfire, under

to take hold of their souls, the attendees

the star filled canopy “Big Sky” recapping

mindset slowly morphs relaxing them.

lessons of the day and discussions on

This can be seen through body language,

healing, goals moving forward, and tools

communication, and eagerness to know

to take home to continue the process of

what’s next.

healing upon returning home.

Morning breakfast and reflection prior to departing in the afternoon to fly home.

No words can capture how elated we are to have held the f irst successful CampCares.

We graduated three participants, but more importantly, the veterans receive what they traveled for . . . a safe space in an outdoor

Local professional guides are up next, f ront and center sharing the art of fly f ishing with the participants. This seems diff icult at one point, and before they know it, the participants are casting and pulling in their f irst catch at Sage Lodge’s beautiful practice pond. The ear-to-ear grin of success is amazing and indescribable f rom their f irst day of instruction.

setting for veterans to openly share, let their armor down, discuss amongst each other their shared and collective experiences, how they have transitioned, and where they are headed.

Thanks to generous donations, the retreats are at no cost to the veteran participants.

We look forward to expanding the program and the number of camps each year through your generous donations so that we may continue to serve Veterans on the “Edge of Healing.”

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F E ATURED PRO G RAM S:

PA RADISE VA LLEY , M T

VETCares Inc. 495 E. Rincon St. Suite 110 Corona, CA 92879 951.444.7361 info@vetcares.org vetcares.org

2018-2022 VETCares Inc. Annual Report