VETS ON TRACK FOUNDATION

A Virginia Non-stock Corporation

“Drive 4 Vets” Community Outreach Programs

Executive Summary

F O U N D A T I O N

Executive Summary

There are approximately 25 million veterans in the United States. After courageously serving their country, nearly six percent of them live in poverty; many face homelessness and are in desperate need of help. Approximately six million are disabled, many are struggling financially, and a high number need treatment for depression, and other psychological issues.

Their families are stressed. Divorce rates for military veterans are at record levels. Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Suicides are at an all-time high, and now these conditions are affecting their spouses and children.

Now, more than ever, our veterans who are returning to their communities after serving during one of the most challenging times in our country’s history need our help.

As an organization, Vets on Track is working diligently at the grass-roots level to re-connect veterans to their communities and vice versa. Our mission is to help these veterans as they reintegrate back into civilian society. The well-being of military families is an important indicator of the well-being of the overall active duty force. At a time when America is at war and placing considerable, sustained

demands on its troops and their families, it is especially important to address the family, home, and community challenges facing our all-volunteer force.

For years to come, military families and Veterans will continue to face unique challenges, and at the same time will also have great potential to continue contributing to our communities and country.

As veterans come home, it is important that we all do our part to understand their perspective and help in their transition back into civilian life, especially since many of these veterans will be starting their lives over, many with new families.

Despite the sacrifices they have made, these veterans aren't looking for special treatment – they just want to be accepted back into their communities, and continue to lead a productive life. There is not a shortage of support in this country for our veterans and their families. The

issue has always been “how do we connect” veterans and their families to their

communities, and the needed support? The Vets on Track Foundation is providing carefully designed programs which meet some of the most challenging needs of our veterans.

Background

It’s a fact that less than 1 percent of Americans serve in uniform today, but they bear 100 percent of the burden of defending our Nation. Despite this low number, their impact is powerful. Almost 75% of 18-29 year olds personally know someone who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Currently, more than 2.2 million service members make up America’s all-

volunteer force in the active, National Guard, and Reserve components. Since September 11, 2001, more than two million troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Fifty five percent of the force is married and 40 percent have two children. Only 37 percent of our families live on military installations; the remaining 63 percent live in over 4,000 communities nationwide. Multiple deployments, combat injuries, and the challenges of reintegration can have far-reaching effects on not only the troops and their families, but also upon America’s communities as well. These challenges should be at the forefront of our national discourse…”Together We Can Make a Difference.”

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“Warriors and their families come home to communities, not to federal agencies. So it is at this crossroads of national obligation and social welfare that a new understanding of military wellness and support must take root.”

_________________________________ Rick Ecker

CEO / President Vets on Track Foundation

Objectives

Through our “Drive 4 Vets” Community Outreach Programs, VOTF will deliver the support our veterans need…right in their own backyard! Through special partnerships with local, state and federal government agencies and non-profit partners, the VOTF will address some of the most critical issues facing our veterans and their families.

Additionally, we will help reunite veterans with their communities all across the country; and create an open referral network system within non-profits and veteran support organizations so that by working together, we can deliver support when and where it’s needed.

Mission

Through the “Drive 4 Vets” Outreach Programs, we connect past and present service members and their families to needed resources through our Veterans Resource Summits, and help

tackle veteran homeless issues through our Fresh Start Program. We work to improve life for ALL veterans and their families…with special attention being made to our Little Hands Project – working with families who are dealing with terminally ill or special needs children.

Vision

We want to be a financially stable organization that can provide needed resources to address specific individual needs; help get veterans and their families off the streets and into a stable home environment; and provide on and off track entertainment opportunities to active duty military, veterans and their families. When needed, have the financial means to provide assistance for those families who are facing extreme hardships due to unforeseen medical expenses.

Organization Summary

VOTF was born in early 2013 out of necessity – a need to provide direct support to our veterans. The Vets on Track Foundation is a federally certified 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our Federal ID number is: EIN: 46-3805203. We advocate on behalf of all military veterans and their families, through our pro-active outreach efforts.

We are driven to increasing public awareness while providing education to our veterans regarding real issues affecting their lives…we use motorsports and other sporting platforms to promote and accomplish the mission.

VOTF’s “Drive 4 Vets” Outreach Programs

There are more than 70 million reasons why we created the Vets on Track Foundation and its “Drive 4 Vets” Outreach Programs…and it all boils down to this – to simply “Improve the Lives of our Veterans and their Families.”

Our main focus through our “Drive 4 Vets” Outreach Programs is to raise awareness about the critical needs of our veterans and their families; directly deliver support where it’s needed, and help our homeless veterans with their transition back into a home.

• The Vets on Track Foundations’ featured program, “The Veterans' Resource Summit,” is all about the veterans and their families; a way to connect them with needed support. From local, state and federal veteran support agencies to non-profits and companies that provide a helping hand to veterans, we will bring ALL parties together to address the critical needs facing our veteran communities.

• The Fresh Start Program works with veterans and their families to help with the transition from living on the streets to living in a home, or for those who may just need a little extra support. As we travel the country with our motorsports teams and participate in our grass-roots outreach programs, we will ask for community support in collecting much needed items to fill each new veterans home with fundamental pieces – it’s the simple things that make a house a home and provide these vets with a Fresh Start!

• Through our Little Hands Project we want to help our military families by providing financial assistance to those families burdened with unexpected expenses centered on children diseases and those with special needs. It’s enough to serve our country in the military…let us help ease the burden at home!

In Summary

It is vital that American communities better understand what our veterans and their families are facing – and use that knowledge to simply, positively, and productively help those families address the challenges that service to our country has imposed upon them. The Vets on Track Foundation, through our “Drive 4 Vets” Community Outreach Programs, is taking a step forward in providing the necessary support our veterans need.

We remain optimistic about the future of our veterans and positively encouraged by the reaction from communities all across the country to support the “Drive 4 Vets” Community Outreach Programs. We must keep that momentum going, so that our ability to link veterans and their families to existing programs, and the ongoing development of impactful, supportive services, will continue to play a vital role in the greater success of our veterans, and this Nation.

The Bottom Line

Our program isn’t geared for

only a select few – we cater to

ALL veterans and their families.

By working together, we have

the capability to address the

issues facing our veterans… one-

on-one! We may not be able to

change laws that could better

address concerns for our future

veterans; but today, we can help

change lives, and increase

awareness all across the nation.

But like most programs, we can’t

accomplish our mission without

the support of volunteers, the partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, non-profit

organizations; and the financial backing of corporate America.

Vets on Track Foundation was created to better serve our veterans and their families. We need to raise $1.8M dollars to fund our 2015 “Drive 4 Vets” Outreach Programs. The Vets on Track Foundation relies on the generosity of the American public, corporations and organizations to help raise the needed money to support our “Drive 4 Vets” programs.

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“On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.”

-- Dan Lipinski

_________________________

Rick Ecker, CEO, President

Vets on Track Foundation

(540) 842-6304

Rick@VetTrack.org

DC Headquarters: Vets on Track

P.O. Box 186

Garrisonville, VA 22463

www.VetTrack.org