Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc. DBA Vail Veterans Program

Stated Purpose:
"Provide military injured and their families with innovative and transformational programs that build confidence and improve lives."

Year, State Incorporated:
2006, CO

Since 2004, Vail Veterans Program (VVP) has been offering life-changing programs for men and women defending our country. VVP transforms the lives of wounded Veterans and their families from across the nation by providing innovative and individualized outdoor therapeutic rehabilitative programs that build confidence and improve lives. VVP offers year-round individualized therapeutic, rehabilitative, and wellness programs to wounded Veterans and their families from across the nation. VVP strives to achieve program outcomes that include healthy recovery, personal growth, and the building of lifelong communities of mutual support. Specifically, VVP aims to increase confidence, independence, wellness practices, self-care, inter-family communication, support networks, and physical, mental, and emotional empowerment in Veterans and military families. Participants of VVP gain critical tools for successfully confronting the physical and emotional challenges associated with transitioning to life after a severe military service injury and for discovering a “new normal.” Each day, 22 Veterans commit suicide. Our goal is to provide programs that equip wounded Veterans with healthy coping mechanisms and a strong peer and familial support network, contributing to a decrease in this shocking and unacceptable number.

VVP achieves its mission by hosting veterans with physical and/or invisible injuries (i.e. PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury “TBI”) and their families in Vail, CO, six times annually for adaptive therapeutic recreation and wellness programs. VVP’s signature programs are complemented by a variety of Individual Family Support Programs offered to VVP alumni families year-round. 

Winter Family Program: Veterans participate in private, full-day adaptive snow sports lessons with certified Professional Ski & Snowboard Instructors of America. Family members enjoy child and adult group lessons and access to childcare services. Participants engage in group meals and evening activities. This four-day, five-night program is hosted in Vail, CO for up to 25 wounded Veterans and their families. 

Winter Mountain Adventure: Wounded Veterans benefit from four full days of private adaptive snow sports lessons with certified Professional Ski & Snowboard Instructors of America. Family members reconnect by learning new skills together and creating lifelong memories through group meals and evening activities. This four-day, five-night program is hosted in Vail, CO for up to 35 wounded Veterans and Military Caregivers. 

Family Support Program - Black Mountain Ranch: Through a partnership with Black Mountain Colorado Dude Ranch in McCoy, CO, VVP hosts three alumni families for a week of western fun and connecting in a safe and comfortable environment. This all-inclusive family trip is customized to each individual family and includes a stay in a spacious cabin. Activities offered at the ranch range from the adventurous to the connective and include ?y ?shing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, backcountry camping, and much more. From cattle roping to singing songs around a camp?re, families create lifelong memories.

Family Support Program - Red Box Legacy (Hawaii): This weeklong, all-inclusive family trip is customized to a VVP alumni family in need. Activities offered range from the adventurous to the educational. From surf lessons and zip-lining to dolphin encounters and a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, families reconnect and create lifelong memories.

Summer Program: Wounded Veterans and their families reconnect as they take part in adaptive adventures including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, and fly-fishing. A wellness day, with yoga, meditation, and acupuncture, provides participants with coping mechanisms that long outlast the duration of the program. Participants benefit from socialization with peers experiencing similar challenges. This four-day, five-night program is hosted in Vail, CO for up to 25 wounded Veterans and their families. 

Golf in the Rockies: Up to 14 wounded Veterans play five days of championship golf courses and attend golf clinics with PGA professionals in the Vail Valley, promoting connection with other Veterans over a shared passion. Group meals and evening activities encourage the development of enduring friendships that provide support into the future.

Resilience Training: The Resilience Training is a follow-up to the Veterans Path to Success program, led by professional trainers from the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute. This course allows wounded Veterans to continue on their healing journey by learning unique methods of stress management, including reframing the discomfort of stress to leverage personal growth, performance, and wellness. By confronting stress head-on, participants are prepared to positively address the challenges associated with transitioning out of the military after a service-injury and adjusting to their “new normal.” This three-day, three-night program is hosted in Vail, CO for up to 25 wounded Veterans.

Veterans Path to Success: This two and a half day program is hosted at the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute (HPI) in Orlando, FL for up to 20 wounded Veterans and focuses on performance psychology, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Participants learn how to expand their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in order to sustain increased engagement, performance, and resilience. This training program assists wounded veterans in acknowledging their “old story,” while helping them to identify their “new story” for future success outside of the military.

Military Caregiver Reunion: This is a follow-up program to the Military Caregiver Retreat, focused on resilience. Up to 25 alumni of the Military Caregiver Retreat will learn about health and wellness in a safe and comfortable environment, while connecting with others confronting similar challenges and learning sustainable coping mechanisms. Activities include resilience training with Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute professional trainers, yoga, meditation, empowerment training, outdoor adventures, and group meals.

Virtual Programming: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an expressed interest from VVP alumni for continued support after program culmination, VVP has begun working closely with partner professionals in health and wellness to offer Virtual Programming for our participants from across the nation, at no cost. Online trainings promote sustained program outcomes after participants have departed Vail, CO and returned to their routines at home. Virtual content is presented three times each week and focuses on topics requested in post-program surveys completed by our participants. Specifically, virtual program content include health and wellness, nutrition, mental health, and financial services, as well as fitness, nutrition, and meditation.

OUR MISSION CONTINUES: In light of COVID-19, Vail Veterans Program is excited to launch a new interim program called, OUR MISSION CONTINUES. This offering will provide novel ways to support veterans, caregivers, families and patients of our partner military hospitals in their communities. The vision of OUR MISSION CONTINUES is to offer direct grant awards in the following categories:

·       Emergency Financial Assistance
·       Mental Health Support
·       Health & Wellness
·       Military Caregiver Support
·       Educational Opportunities
·       Pay it Forward
·       Family Experiences

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc. DBA Vail Veterans Program's program expenses were:

Chief Executive
Jennifer Brown, Executive Director

Compensation*
$195,382

Chair of the Board
William Jensen, Community Volunteer

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
4

* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc. DBA Vail Veterans Program's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds

Programs: 81% Fundraising: 9% Administrative: 9%