USVET.fund – How We Fundraise and How We Help Veterans
USVET.fund – how we fundraise and how we help veterans and veteran organizations from North Texas and across the country. From the local VFWs and American Legions to veterans organizations such as Roll Call Fort Worth or Texas Fallen Project. Discover how USVET.fund is veterans helping veterans.
Roll Call Gala
Veterans Completing the Circle
There is a unique approach that USVET.fund uses in order to complete a circle. As you will see below, our consignors are veterans who may have disabilities such as PTSD. Or they may have a side job making wood crafts, forging knives, or some other skills. When asked to create or draw a new piece of artwork, the veteran now has project. Maybe this project helps ease the mind of that person with PTSD. Perhaps this project helps fund the extra income a veteran needs in order to make it through the next month of bills.
As we take these items into consignment, the USVET.fund turns these consignments into showcase events such as live auctions. These live auctions are staffed by veterans and people who support veterans organizing and making the event happen. Therefore once again giving a person a project, giving a group of people the opportunity to serve others.
A recent fundraiser for Roll Call Fort Worth help raise over 10,0000 to help the mission of Roll Call to provide meals at the monthly luncheon where over 300 members attend for fellowship.
Now the USVET.fund partners with other veterans organizations. So we know these organizations are looking to do the same community-based events to create e’spirit de corps, creating projects of hope for many, remembering veterans who have served our country well and also giving veterans a path to move forward. These event partnerships bring people out of their homes helping them to break away the every day monotonous task of business and invites many to participate in an environment where they feel welcomed.
During the process we begin to complete the circle for those funds raised going back into communities, helping veterans, keeping other veteran organizations alive with funding and replenishing the projects that start at the beginning of the circle with those veterans who create things within their minds and turn them into works of craftsmanship and art.
Experienced Auctioneers with Heart
To begin with, USVET.fund organizes and conducts fundraiser auctions for veterans and veterans organizations. Heading up the USVET.fund auction team “America’s Auction Team” is head auctioneer, USVET.fund president and reality TV star Myers Jackson America’s Auctioneer. Additionally, Myers is a United States Marine Corps Veteran.
Myers brings his over two decades of auction experience with him to help raise necessary funds in these fundraiser auctions. Of course various additional auctioneers have been joining Myers for auctions since the organization’s induction in 2017. Such auctioneers as: fellow auctioneer from Texas Flip and Move, Heather Kaspar; Patrick ‘Doc” Breen; Jeremy Henthorn of North Carolina; and Melissa Falls, to name a few. Myers and these auctioneers bring not only their experience and charisma to these auctions, but their hearts of passion for our nation’s heroes.
Made By Veterans
Next, Myers and his team put together the auction. This process includes stocking the auction with inventory. Now you may ask, where does this inventory come from? All across the country is the answer. In fact, this part is where veterans are continuing to help veterans.
USVET.fund partners with veterans and veteran owned businesses by consigning their creative works to sell in fundraiser auctions. Many veterans are creating art and products as a means of hobby, therapy or income supplementation. These items are then sold in the fundraiser auctions and 50% of the gavel price goes back to the veteran artist. So, not only are USVET.fund auctions helping the veterans organization, but they are also helping the veterans who create the items sold in the auctions.
Veteran Artist Consignors
As a matter of fact USVET.fund’s veteran consignors come from all branches of the military. Meet a few of our veteran consignors:
- Artist and Desert Storm Army Combat Disabled Veteran Monique “Mo” Cooksey. A US ARMY Veteran, Mo was deployed in Desert Shield/Desert Storm with the 201st MI Battalion’s tactical unit. As a disabled Veteran, Mo’s therapy is creating captivating art through a style known as acrylic ‘pour painting’. Mo continues to serve her country and community as Sr. Vice Commander of VFW Post 2772 in Sherman, Texas and in the Grayson County Veteran Service Office. Mo’s paintings feature a variety of colors, themes and sizes to fit into many decors.
- US Army Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Jeremy Jackson (no relation to Myers) consigns his hand Drawn Art to USVET.fund. Jeremy was serving in Fallujah, Iraq when he was shot by a sniper resulting in the loss of use of his left hand and arm. Jeremy suffers from PTSD and his art is more than just a hobby…it is therapy for him. He supplies hand drawn art of the purple heart, Don Graves, Fiske Hanley, and Conan and his handler, amongst many, many others.
- High Meadow Ranch Whittler Ben Bivens. Though not a veteran himself, Ben’s dad served in the Pacific during World War II. Ben’s craftsmanship is hand carving Angle Crosses from Oakwood. These crosses vary in size. Ben donates his portion of his commission to other organizations or uses it in advancing the initiatives of Kline United Methodist Church Children’s Choir. He is a heartfelt supporter of the USVET.fund.
As well as multiple others. Supplying hand made crafts of many sorts. Or veteran owned businesses supplying items such as Taiga coolers.
Veteran Artist Consignors
Receiving Help and Giving Back
Furthermore, not only do these fundraiser auctions benefit the veteran consignors, they also benefit veterans and veteran organizations such as the Woody Williams Foundation. This foundation, founded by Medal of Honor recipient and Iwo Jima survivor Hershel “Woody” Williams, aims to install Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments throughout the country in cities and states commemorating the men and women from those communities who gave the ultimate sacrifice in war. To date there are 86 monuments installed in 160 active communities in 50 states. 74 monuments are in progress.
Additionally, in its beginning, USVET.fund was made aware of the medical needs of an army veteran from Kansas. A post depicting Lance Sparkman’s challenging struggle was made on a social media post. USVET.fund researched Lance, his service to our country and his situation.
Lance had been traveling from Kansas to Houston for medical treatments. The costs of medication and travel were taking its toll on him and his family. USVET.fund stepped in donating $5000 to Lance to cover travel expenses. The gesture was so unexpected and touching to Lance. So much so that Lance would reach out to Myers and become a volunteer with USVET.fund. Today, Lance lends his hand to helping with set up and tear down of auctions. As well as helping ring during auctions and finding and signing other veteran consignors.
Lance Sparkman
Contact USVET.fund Today
Moreover, Covid hurt many individuals and businesses last year. As things begin to return to normal, many organizations are finding themselves in need of financial help. Organizations such as VFWs, American Legions, etc. As a matter of fact, USVET.fund teamed with Roll Call Fort Worth several weeks ago to help raise funds. If you are a veteran who crafts art of any sort, or a veteran organization needing help regaining funding following the pandemic, contact USVET.fund or Myers. Let’s talk about how we can help you and let’s keep veterans helping veterans.
USVET.fund Mission Statement
