Spark. Something that activates: a factor that sets off or acts as a stimulant, inspiration, or catalyst.
Finding a passion in life is a challenge that we all face, but there are times when it's
Especially difficult -- which often comes at a transitional period in our life. For many veterans, this means the period of time when they exit the military and return to the civilian world. Recent studies underscore the VA's shortage of mental-health programs that are supposed to support an estimated 300,000 post-9/11 Veterans who have psychological wounds, namely, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
Forecasting this reality, I have an answer for any American who asks the question, "How can I help veterans?"
Help them find their spark and then ignite it.
Veterans personify the diversity that is America. They come from every state, every ethnicity, race and religion. This diverse list also includes their passions and what makes them happy. War entails dealing with a constant threat to personal safety, but it's also isolation from family, friends and the familiar. For many who have deployed since 9/11, their experiences have caused their passions to fade. In their place, many veterans find themselves devoting great time to the television, video games, internet and the like.
For many with post-traumatic stress disorder, they are relying on these outlets to cope with psychological stress---but not other people in their community.
Technology has made it incredibly convenient to live isolated from people in the community. In the process, many veterans struggling to process their combat experiences have missed friendship opportunities and lost "that something" that fills them with excitement. Whether it is physical fitness, music, art, cooking, animals or a myriad of other passions, these men and women need to ignite that spark.
Research in the field of Positive psychology has discovered that social relationships are the number one driver of happiness and life satisfaction. Money, where you live and how attractive you are have a marginal impact on happiness if you lack meaningful relationships in your life. One of the most common ways a friendship forms is over a shared passion or experience. This, I believe, is where the American people can play a critical role for veterans---and one that comes naturally.
Herein lays the biggest obstacle, though.
How do "Andy and Annie American" who enjoy hiking know that Sergeant (Retired) Jones, who lives three miles away, used to hike before he acquired post-traumatic stress from two deployments to Iraq?
Team Red, White & Blue is a recently formed nonprofit that is tackling this obstacle to successfully reintegrate wounded veterans. "Team RWB" is working to support wounded veterans in this personal way---by connecting them with reliable, passionate people in the communities where they live. Currently operating in Houston, Detroit and Washington, D.C., the organization is expanding to eight other locations in the coming months. As more wounded veterans come forward to join Team RWB, friendships will form over shared experiences and discussions. Taking in football games, running together, going to pottery classes, riding horses, going on hikes, playing the guitar, taking cooking classes: American communities all over the country are primed to ignite these sparks.
Words of affirmation and appreciation are great. They really are. They certainly make service members and veterans feel good in the moment. But authentic social interaction and shared experiences with people in their community are what many wounded veterans need.
So, while Veterans Day reminds us to say thank you, hopefully this year, it will also be a time to start expressing thanks through action.
Point 1: Don't sweat the financials... this is not a Sean Hannity production. The IRS 990 will be out and on the website soon enough. You nay sayers will have nothing more to say at that point. So hold the criticism until you are ready to graciously applaud when it is posted.
The author, however, was the one who mentions RWB. You didn't simply write an article which ended in "Author, Founder of Team RWB a veterans non-profit...etc." You promoted your organization. So, its fair to ask questions about the organization, regardless of the original intent of your article.
To some of those who replied -- There are a lot of people who simply cannot donate enough time to build a meaningful relationship, perhaps they're involved in other charities or they have a disablity of their own, so they prefer to donate money toward the cause. They would like to support those who do have the time to dedicate. A lot of people can't simply "get involved" to find out what RWB is actually doing. That's not a feasible suggestion and frankly, it should not be necessary to find out what an organization is doing.
Regardless of how they were written, legitimate questions were raised and if there was no truth to a particular assumption you can simply dissuade the assumption instead of being rude about it.
.
In any case, you are no Ben Franklin.
In addition it's a valid question to ask who is helped and where the money goes as the other readers have mentioned. There are too many non-profits out there that exist to support themselves, intentions start out one way and end up another.
http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy-news/article/Katy-area-tourney-benefits-Team-RWB-which-2192670.php
The issue I have is the professionalism with which these questions are being asked. If ones has a question about TeamRWB, there are courteous ways to ask. Several people who have posted have levied false accusations in a disrespectful way. It's valid question to ask where the money is spent; our IRS 990 will be posted soon. But it doesn't change the fact that those who are asking about the money missed the entire point of what I wrote---and it highlights the fundamental misunderstanding that many Americans have about how to support wounded Veterans. Money won't solve the problem; compassionate people willing to spend their time with them will. But that point is lost on many people.....which tells me that Team RWB has a lot of work ahead of us. Which we will undertake with fervor in the years ahead.
BoweryBoy, you made a statement "The only people who benefit from the organizatiÂon are the members of Team RWB who are sponsored to attend races and events at no cost to themselvesÂ" and then backpedal with you are only as informed as Team RWB has allowed you to be. Well, ignorance does not excuse stating a blatant lie as though it were fact. I understand the desire for complete transparency especially if you want to donate any money, but until then- Mike's fulltime active duty military by the way - feel free to find a local chapter and see how you can donate your time and energy instead.
Comparing WWP and Team RWB is like comparing apples to oranges - WWP is an organization that has been around for 5+ years that provides awesome services to our wounded veterans and they expense millions to fund those services. As stated, Team RWB received 501(c)(3) status just last year - while fundraising to assist with the advocacy programs, the focus of what is asked to be donated is time, not money! Yes, it is important for those who have donated money to see where it is going and that is being addressed (see below), though I will say that those of us who have donated our time and sweat can clearly see where the money is going and who it is helping.
Many Team RWB athletes wear the symbol proudly and at the same time raise money for other organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project. There is no contest for your wallet between them. Please feel free to search for Team RWB on Facebook - there are chapters all over the country - in order to see some of the events. Some are simply to remind the public of the challenges that face our wounded veterans - if this causes them to donate their time or money, it doesn't matter whether it's to WWP, Team RWB, Special Operations Warrior Fund, etc.
As someone who believes strongly in our military, the sacrifices made by its members and their families and also someone who knows what a difference it can mean to show up for a race and follow the flag carried by Team RWB in order to get over the finish line - I encourage bowery boy take the opportunity to register for an event (pay the fee the way that every other TRWB athlete does - out of their own pocket), put on a red shirt (it doesn't have to be purchased from TRWB) and meet the very individuals that you are so quick to criticize.
It's unfortunate that you missed the message so clearly delivered by this post - it sounds as though you could use some of the kindness, comradery, passion and support that TRWB inspires... the good old fashioned way. Through face to face contact, words of encouragement and community.
Congratulations to TRWB and it's members for all of the finish lines you've crossed, personal goals set and accomplished, relationships forged and smiles shared.
My point is that before one makes accusations, they should look into the person/organization they should be well educated on who they are criticizing. That said, your point about the IRS 990 is valid and that will be resolved in the next week. And the public will see that the only compensation anyone in Team RWB's leadership receives is in the feeling we get at the end of the day---that we have made progress towards changing the way the American people support their wounded Veterans.
Lastly, I am most disappointed that some readers have missed the entire point of this blog. I never once mentioned money or fundraising. That's because we don't focus on that; we focus on inspiring people to get personally involved. Unfortunately, some folks have missed that message and that's unfortunate.
When you see that IRS 990, you will see that NO ONE in Team RWB is paid. We all work on this mission because we are passionate about making a difference. So our administration costs are almost non-existent.
That said, the previous comment was not valid, as it accused Team RWB of spending tax exempt money on people other than wounded veterans. He/she said, "The only people who benefit from the organizatiÂon are the members of Team RWB who are sponsored to attend races and events at no cost to themselvesÂ." That is slat out wrong.
Furthermore, to that point, if that individual checked into Team RWB before making that accusation, he/she would have found this story on NPR that profiles the impact we're having in Washington, DC: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/12/137139836/group-bridges-civilians-military-gap
Or this story, as profiled by The TODAY Show on Memorial Day weekend, where we are supporting double amputee Mark Holbert: http://tinyurl.com/43xdvbo
Many organizations provide their IRS-990's (or comparable information) on their websites so that the public (from whom you appear to be soliciting donations) can evaluate the organization and determine whether they believe that their donation is going to the cause that they believe they are supporting. Team RWB does not provide this information on its website. That would be the only way to show exactly how the money raised is being spent by your organization. I would encourage you to disclose that on your website. (Incidentally, emailing the founder for this type of information would not be transparent.)
A description of how this money is actually spent and how much, if any, goes to "administration" would also go a long way in assuaging any concern over the disproportionate number of family members who appear to be on your board.
Just some food for thought. You could be completely honest in your representations, but instead you are leaving people to guess. You are calling it "uninformed," but that's RWB's fault, not the public's. It is unfortunate, but you wouldn't be the first organization to be raising money and doing questionable things with it.
Feel free to contact me at mike@teamrwb.org if you have any further questions---and to stop uninformed comments like the ones you made in this post.