Heroes' Movement

Our goal for 2022 is to raise at least $500,000 to support the current number of Veterans enrolled in the program. Once Veterans enroll in the program, they tend to see the benefit and will increase the regularity and frequency with which they attend workouts. Ideally, we will raise enough to expand to more cities across the country. Ultimately, we aim to grow to support free small group coached workouts available at multiple cities in each state.

Additionally, we would like to develop an app and technology to support healthy choices, track workouts, and monitor mental health. From there, we hope to generate networks and connections with other non-profits that enable us to connect Veterans with a wide range of services to support healthy, meaningful lives.

The strategies are straight forward:

Hired a new grant writer this year.

Having our gym partners engage with their communities to host events and fundraisers.

Looking into corporate sponsors.

Seeking new donor sources.

Increasing visibility on social media and elsewhere.

We are small, but growing non-profit. We have reviewed our functioning as an organization and identified some areas for improvement including: optimizing return on time and effort toward grant acquisition, better engagement with our gym partners to participate in fundraising or contribution to the cause, and improving our organizational structure. It is for this reason that we are interested in increasing our transparency through opportunities like those offered by GuideStar to share about our organization. Finally, we have identified reliable donors who believe in our mission; we are working to grow these types of relationships. However, we are aware that building some of these relationships take time and we are committed to demonstrating our sincerity and integrity in the process.

In early 2020 we were sponsoring close to 400 veterans every month, it has been a slow road back. As of Jan of 2022 we are serving 140 veterans, our goal is to ramp up to 500 veterans actively training with us by December.

Each of these Veterans has a unique story in how he or she came to and benefits from the program. Here is a testimonial:

I'm writing this on behalf of the Heroes' Movement and Physical Culture gym. I am an Army combat veteran. I served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and was among some of the best trained soldiers in the world. When I got discharged from the military I was not concerned with physical fitness or keeping healthy. I had real issues with alcohol for many years. Up until recently I chose to change my life! Through fitness I have learned there is more to life than alcohol and destroying my body, and hurting others in the process. I was referred to Physical Culture by a local Law Enforcement officer who attended some of their training and put me in touch with the gym. The staff explained to me that there is a non profit organization that provides free training for veterans. I thought this was too good to be true and contacted Heroes' Movement and they confirmed it and had me all signed up. I have been training with them courtesy of Heroes' Movement for a couple months now and I can honestly say it's the best decision I have made in a long time. The staff is the best I have had the pleasure of working with. The training facility is absolutely top notch, clean, and always has a positive vibe! I have been involved with many different gyms and trainers and I can say without a doubt in my mind that the staff at Physical Culture is the among the best I have ever trained with. And this is all through Heroes' Movement. Too many veterans take their live's everyday because they have no where to turn. Heroes' Movement gives them an option! I wish I would have had this opportunity many years ago. But the opportunity is here now, and I intend to take full advantage of it! I appreciate everything the Heroes' Movement does, as well as Physical Culture for stepping up and allowing me and the other veterans who attend the chance to have a better life. It has truly changed my life and I hope others will take advantage of it!