Year-End Giving: A Call to Action for Warriors & Quiet Waters
12/17/2024
As the end of the year approaches, it's a time of reflection and gratitude. As the CEO of Warriors & Quiet Waters (WQW), I find myself reflecting with immense pride on the journey WQW has embarked on since our founding in 2007. Just two years ago, we launched Built for More – a transformative program that has achieved what we designed it to do: launch combat veterans on a path of post-traumatic growth, thriving, and purpose. The data from our Built for More Impact Evaluation and the Warriors’ stories are a testament to what we can achieve when we marry resources with vision and hard work. However, despite these victories, the WQW Team and I are driven by an incredible sense of urgency to do more for more combat veterans.
Currently, we face a staggering challenge: since January over 1,600 veterans have added their names to our waitlist and are awaiting the chance to apply to Built for More. This demand outstrips our current annual program capacity ninefold, underscoring a critical gap between the needs of our veterans and our ability to meet them. As CEO, it’s my responsibility – my duty and my mission – to bridge this gap. Our Year End Appeal is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a crucial step towards scaling our capacity to double what it is today.
For Warriors & Quiet Waters, the Year-End Appeal is a critical lifeline that sustains our ongoing efforts and primes us for the future. If you haven’t already given, please take a moment to look within yourself and make our mission a priority in your year-end giving. Community support is vital for us to accomplish our fundraising goal – let’s dig into the reasons why.
Why the Year-End Appeal Matters
The final months of the year are a significant period for philanthropy, with nearly one-third of annual giving occurring in December alone. For many, this surge in generosity is driven by the holiday spirit and the closing tax year—making it an optimal time for our supporters to contribute. For WQW, the funds raised during this time are pivotal. They not only help us cover our operational costs but also ensure we enter the new year with robust financial health, ready to continue our mission – and grow our impact – without pause.
The Impact of Your Contribution
Every dollar raised in our Year-End Appeal goes directly towards empowering post-9/11 combat veterans through Built for More. Your contributions fuel this highly-impactful program. By helping us to meet – and hopefully exceed – our goal of raising $385,000, your end of year contributions ensure we can plan confidently for the future and hit the ground running in 2025 to unleash thriving veterans that make America stronger.
A Personal Appeal from WQW’s CEO
When you choose to support WQW in your year-end giving, you’re not only ensuring we can meet our commitments to the Warriors currently in our Built for More program, you help us gain momentum – gathering energy and making progress to close the gap between the demand for Built for More and our capacity to serve all the veterans who have applied for this life-changing program. The more generous you can be, the more energy you feed into the momentum that will carry us into the future and enable us to do more for more combat veterans. This is critical given the immense demand for the Built for More program.
Empowering Veterans Strengthens America
When you choose to support WQW, you're investing in more than our organization—you're bolstering the fabric of our nation. Thriving veterans bring leadership, resilience, and innovation back to their communities. They inspire and lead, creating ripples of positivity that strengthen our society, and inspire future generations to serve. Your support helps us unlock this potential, ensuring that our combat veterans are not only self-sufficient, but vibrant contributors to national security and prosperity.
How You Can Help
As you consider your year-end giving, think about the impact your donation can have. It's more than a tax deduction—it's a contribution to a cause that returns tenfold to the community. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Donate: Every contribution, large or small, makes a difference.
- Spread the Word: Share our mission with friends and family and encourage them to support us. Awareness is key to our growth and success.
- Engage: Volunteer, attend our events, serve as our ambassadors. Your time, skills, and care are just as valuable as your donations.
Our appeal is this: Let your generosity make a meaningful impact. Choose to support Warriors & Quiet Waters, and together, we'll continue to equip veterans with the tools they need to thrive. Remember, your support is not just a gift, but an investment in the strength and resilience of our nation's heroes and our Republic.
Thank you for considering Warriors & Quiet Waters in your year-end giving plans. Let's make a lasting impact together. Join Us!!!
