The Veteran Suicide Epidemic
Danny O’Neel was born and raised in Northern California. Signing up for the Army on 9/11 as a Forward Observer at 19, and it drastically changed the course of his life. Instead of climbing the corporate ladder, he quickly climbed the ranks to sergeant and became a squad leader in only 17 months. Though Danny thought he would be headed to Afghanistan, the Army had other ideas, instead sending him to Iraq – twice. Though the first tour was mostly uneventful, the second trip to Sadr City was a deadly year. Nine of Danny’s brothers lost their lives that year. Sadly, 15 members of his unit have taken their own lives in the aftermath, including his company commander.
Danny now works as a peer mentor, helping his fellow Veterans come home from the battlefield; and as a motivational speaker. His mission to continue serving is not just inspirational, it’ll motivate you to get in the fight!
3RD ANNUAL SWING AGAINST SUICIDE GOLF TOURNAMENT Join us for our 3rd Annual Swing Against Suicide Golf Tournament! We are so thrilled to be hosting our golf tournament again at Sierra View Country Club! The proceeds from this tournament will go to support our programs to increase access to mental health for our veteran and first responder population. Our tentative schedule is as follows: 9:00am Check in begins- enjoy complimentary coffee and donuts and participate in the chipping and putting contests! 10:00am Shotgun Start- Food and drink available on course! 4:00pm Tournament finishes and winners announced! Click HERE to sign up
Link to register: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/KRYHPpiRnZIi2mxqAu5JYw Link to Donate: Must select Fire or PD. https://app.99pledges.com/fund/warfighter
Operation Christmas Warfighter Overwatch, in partnership with Boys Team Charity, is teaming up to adopt military/veteran families this holiday season. We are looking forward to an amazing gift distribution event on 12/10/23 in Folsom, complete with a winter wonderland with free family photos with Santa and/or a vintage truck. A hot cocoa bar, letter writing to Santa and gift/holiday meal pick up. We would love your assistance getting this into the hands of the families in need. Please share with any veteran/military member or group in your network. Click this link to apply: https://forms.gle/HkD627J1ck1UqU4N6
2nd Annual Swing Against Suicide Golf Tournament
There is a growing body of evidence that shows that spending time in nature can significantly improve mental health. Numerous studies have found that spending time in outside can reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall well-being. We promote this idea through Warfighter Overwatch's programming by organizing Squad Recons that feature physical activities, Valhalla Hikes , and more. Nature is the great equalizer - it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, or where you come from. It's harsh, unforgiving, and has a way of humbling those who experience it.
Did you know that one of the key factors in suicide prevention is connectedness? Studies have shown that positive social relationships and community connections can significantly buffer the risk factors in people's lives. The Family Recon Gift Drive was created to bolster the connection Veterans and First Responders have with the people they love most - their family. We are seeking family experience gift donations. Some examples include: Family portraits Museum passes Zoo passes Attraction/Amusement park tickets Theater tickets Movie passes Painting/pottery classes Game night kits We will be delivering these gifts to First Responders in our community so that they can create lasting memories with their loved ones this holiday season. Let's get some awesome gifts together for them to show our support! We are accepting donations for family activities until Dec. 17th ! Donations can bet dropped off at Kinetic Ink Tattoo Company , or you can email donations/gift cards to info@warfighteroverwatch.org !
Join Warfighter Overwatch this #GivingTuesday and help us spread a little love to Veterans and First Responders! Giving Tuesday started in 2012 as a global day of generosity, held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Last year, nonprofits in the U.S. alone raised $2.7 billion . This year, Warfighter Overwatch provided a myriad of resources to more families, departments, and individuals than we ever thought possible - and we simply could not do it without you - our generous donors and volunteers! This #GivingTuesday , help us finish 2022 strong and consider donating or volunteering for an upcoming event! If you're discovering Warfighter Overwatch for the first time, here's a brief overview of our programming. 100% of your donation goes directly to funding these programs and helping more Veterans and First Responders in our community. To stay updated on what how we're impacting these communities and how you can help, join our newsletter .
On Saturday, Warfighter Overwatch hosted a hike for members of Sacramento Fire Department. We chartered a bus that picked up the firefighters in Downtown Sacramento and drove to Pacifica. Once there, they hiked San Pedro Beach to Devils slide. After the hike, we hosted the guys for lunch at Humble Sea Brewing Co. (which we highly recommend!). We couldn't have asked for better hiking weather, and the camaraderie and fresh sea air was a nice break for these firefighters who are working increased mandatory overtime. These guys are trained to grind it out, no matter how tired they are. These hikes are an exercise in doing just the opposite - slowing down, taking a look around, and enjoying nature with your support system. Furthermore, human well-being is linked to nature in a myriad of ways, and there is a growing body of empirical evidence that suggests spending time in nature can have a significant positive impact on mental well-being . Nature connectedness is also associated with a reduction in risk factors and burden of some types of mental illness. The last, and perhaps scariest thing evidence suggests is that opportunities for experiencing nature are decreasing for many, as we get more concentrated and urbanized. This means it's never been more important to get outside and engage with nature! If you or your department are interesting in planning a hike with Warfighter Overwatch, send an email to info@warfighteroverwatch.org !
Squad Recon highlight reel by Ryan Gwiazdon.
We are thrilled to announce that Assemblyman Kevin P. Kiley has selected Warfighter Overwatch as a 2022 Nonprofit of the Year! Each year, California Assemblymembers and State Senators are invited to honor a Nonprofit of the Year for their district. The honorees serve communities throught the state and address a wide range of issues - from food insecurity and climate change, to at-risk youth, education, domestic violence, mental health and more. We are incredibly proud to be selected.
