Here we are here on Veterans Radio and we have a really great opportunity today. We're talking
with representatives from the Wounded Warrior Foundation and they're going to be talking to
us today about the upcoming National Non-profit Day which is going to be on Saturday the 17th.
The Wounded Warriors work with many corporations in helping with fundraising for the community,
of course, and we know that the Wounded Warriors are designed to help veterans mostly from the
post-911 generation of veterans, but of course it's all across the country and they're doing
really great things. So joining me real quickly today we've got, and I'm hoping I'm going to
mess these names up too badly, but I've got Brea Todd from the Wounded Warrior Project.
I've got Brian Tucker from CSX and I've got Olivia Parker from Parker's Kitchen. Is that correct?
So I'll start off with Brea. Tell us about the programs and services that are offered to veterans
through the Wounded Warrior Project. So Wounded Warrior Project offers free programs and services
to warriors and their family members. In those programs focus in areas such as mental and brain
health, financial health and wellness, connection events, advocacy efforts, as well as physical
health and wellness. And we serve warriors in their communities and we meet them where they are in
their recovery journey. And how are we doing this corporate partner? Where did you come up with this?
Yes, so we've been really fortunate to work with corporate partners such as CSX and Parker's Kitchen
for a number of years and there's many ways in which a corporate partner can work with us,
ranging from engaging their employees to sponsorships. You'll hear later about how they
engage with our programs specifically and also how they engage their customer base. So we work with
corporate partner in a way that makes sense to them and they help us further our mission
and really amplify our efforts. Well, I know it's really hard. As a small non-profit sales,
you know, working with corporations has always helped us out greatly. You know, once they find
out what the mission is, it seems like everybody's, oh, this is a great way to help veterans and,
you know, just the corporate name is always helpful, I think. Isn't it for you?
Absolutely. When a trusted brand such as CSX or Parker's Kitchen aligns with our brand and you see
their name next to Wounded Warrior Project, I think it just goes a long way and it really
instills faith and trust, as you mentioned, within the customers, within warriors in the community
that maybe aren't familiar with Wounded Warrior Project and also with the employees of those
organizations as they get behind the efforts to support us. Right. It absolutely helps with that
credibility. You know, people, sometimes people are a little cynical out there, but you know,
when you get a brand name that says, you know, the Wounded Warrior Project is a great organization,
that's really going to be helpful. So let me kind of shift over here to Brian. And Brian is the
Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement and Sustainability with CSX. So Brian, how did you
get involved with the Wounded Warrior Project and what is it that's helping CSX?
Well, at CSX we like to think that service is really part of our DNA. Every day, the 23,000
railroaders of CSX, the men and women of our company are hard at work serving America's economy,
keeping goods and moving across the country. But service does really runs even deeper than that.
People are surprised to know that about one in five of our employees is actually a veteran. And,
you know, to recognize this, we've taken this commitment to serving those who serve by partnering
with organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project to provide support and resources to
America's heroes, the veterans who served this country so selflessly.
Well, I know, and how are you utilizing this program with the Wounded Warrior Project?
Well, we engage with the Wounded Warrior Project in a number of ways. And what's so great about our
partnership and what's so great about the Wounded Warrior Project itself is that they've grown
with us. We've grown our partnership over the years to do a number of things. But one of the
things that we're really excited about is the Warriors to Work program, specifically the drone
certification program that we have with the Wounded Warrior Project. We all know that the
veterans often struggle with that transition from service life to civilian life. And through the
drone certification program, we're able to ease that transition by providing them on the job,
training with our experts, our equipment, and help actually get them certified drone,
certified drone, as drone pilots through this program, which will help them get employment,
either with CSX or another company, and also help them even start their own companies,
which we've actually seen. So there's been, we've trained over 50 Warriors over the years that we've
done this program, and it's just been wildly successful and something that we hope grows even
more. Well, I think it's just terrific what you're doing to help these veterans with their
transition, you know, that the amazing skills that they learn while they're in the service,
many companies don't want to, you know, don't want to deal with that transitional part of their,
you know, when they get out and the skills that they're bringing with them. And it sounds like
CSX is doing a great job. Thank you for doing that. Well, thank you. Veterans make the best
railroaders, as a fact. Well, they do know how to follow orders, that's for sure. So next up is,
I've got Olivia Parker, and she's a communications outreach manager for Parker's Kitchen. So first
of all, Olivia, tell us what Parker's Kitchen is, and then tell us how you got involved with
Wounded Warriors. Yeah, so Parker's Kitchen, we have 90 stores across Georgia, South Carolina,
in Florida, where convenient store chain, family owned and run, you know, with being a big business
across a pretty vast footprint. We really think we have a duty to give back in big ways to our
communities that we're in. And the heroes pillar, which is where our partnership with Wounded Warrior
Project came from, you know, we really wanted to focus on finding the right partner. And it took
us a lot of, you know, looking. And finally, we started our partnership in March of this year,
our first kind of step to action with Wounded Warrior Project was doing a roundup campaign. So
our customers were able to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar to give back
to the Wounded Warrior Project. And then our foundation is matching 25% of all customer donations.
So I'm thrilled to say that in the first four months, we have been able to donate over $300,000
to Wounded Warrior Project, which will be going back to help empower the lives of veterans and
their families within our footprint across Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.
I'm stunned. I'm listening, 300,000 in a quarter. That is truly awesome. What a great
opportunity for a Wounded Warrior Project and of course for the people that they helped too.
But what a great way to promote Parker's Kitchen. So I mean, I'm in Michigan, so I'm not that familiar,
unfortunately, with your organization. But I hope that many more people should pick up on this.
Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, I think our customers are always kind of looking
and customers just around the country are looking to big brands like ourselves to really figure out,
you know, who are the right people to really volunteer and give back to. And we just really
want to help, you know, get our customers ingrained in giving and kind of having this camaraderie
approach. And, you know, us as the brand really making sure that we have a good duty of spreading
awareness on who Wounded Warrior Project is and helping people realize exactly all of the programs
that they offer and how they, you know, really help rehabilitate the lives of service members.
You know, when they do come back, I think it's just an amazing mission. And there's so many
great organizations out there. But, you know, the success of our campaign is just a testament to
the organization Wounded Warrior Project. People really want to get involved and give back because
they are just that great. And they do so much for local veterans and their families.
Well, I think that's that's the kind of the great idea. So I'm going to come back up to you,
Brianna. So how would if I were a corporate, which I'm not, but if I were a corporation
owner, how would I get involved with the Wounded Warrior Project? Sure. It's a really easy step.
Just go to WoundedWoyearProject.org and you'll find an area called Ways to Give. And whether
you're a company or an individual looking to help support the mission, right there, you'll find a
way to connect with us. And I would say that's the same for warriors and family members as well.
They can find all of our programs and services listed there in ways that they can engage with us.
Well, it's it's sounds like I mean, it's an additionally great project that you are doing
to, you know, spread the word that, you know, so many people are not aware that that veterans
have some issues sometimes when they're transitioning out of the military into civilian life. And
the Wounded Warrior has been around for quite a while now. And in a reputation is is great.
And I really encourage our audience to go to the Wounded Warrior's Project and find out how you
can become involved, not only on the corporate level, but on the individual level. And of course,
there's so many services there that are available to the veteran and their families. So I would
really encourage people to go to Wounded Warrior Project to see how you can help each other.
And maybe they'll be able to help you too. Is there anything else that any of you would like to add?
I would just echo that sentiment. I mean, we've partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project now
for over six years. And they're a tremendous, tremendous partner. They're doing great work
in the community addressing so many needs of people who are very deserving.
Okay. Olivia, last word. Yeah, I just I want to encourage people to get out there and,
you know, give back, you know, sometimes you feel like you need to give in a monetary form.
There's so many ways to volunteer through this organization as well. So just taking that first
step is probably the best thing to do. And I really encourage everybody to look more into the
Wounded Warrior Project. Yeah, check it out. Brea, last word from you.
You know, I think as we're coming up on National Nonprofit Day, it's really an opportunity for
individuals, companies, and everyone to take a look at what they're currently doing. And if there
is an opportunity or an area of interest in which they can step forward and help make a difference,
there's a lot of people out there with a lot of needs. And I know that there's many people that
are willing to step up. And so I would just encourage everyone to do that, especially as we
walk into National Nonprofit Day. Okay. Thank you all very much for joining us here on Veterans
Radio and helping us to spread the word for you for the Wounded Warrior Project and their corporate
giving plans. So thank you very much. I look forward to talking to all of you at some time again in the future.