Country Nights, a fundraising event for veterans, was held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Palm City. The event brought together members of the community and supporters of veterans' causes to raise money and awareness for the needs of those who served in the military.
The event was organized by DDS4Vets, a local nonprofit that provides support and resources to veterans in the area. The organization wanted to do something special to help veterans in need and decided to host a night of country music, food, and fun to raise funds for their cause.
The highlight of the evening was an announcement by John Galanti, Director of Sales/USA of Armed Forces Brewing Company. Galanti announced the keynote speaker of the DDS4Vets 2023 Believe in the Mission Gala will be Ray Cash Care. Care is a Navy SEAL veteran with multiple combat tours who also provided security for various government agencies. Cash has turned his passion and SEAL Team experience to the world of self-improvement and team building.
Michael Gier, an award-winning director and producer and DDS4Vets Business Production Advisor, spoke about the importance of community support for veterans and the need for continued resources to help them deal with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) in their post-military life. “There are successful alternative treatments available that can help our veterans suffering from PTS and our goal is to make everyone aware of these life changing options”, Gier stated. Gier’s powerful speech moved many attendees to tears and inspired them to support DDS4vet’s efforts.
At the end of his speech, Gier made a big announcement that brought loud applause. He announced that he would be working on a theatrical feature film titled “Wounded Heroes”. The film will be entertaining and dramatic with flashback war sequences in Iraq and Vietnam, portraying the challenges faced by service members and their families when the service member comes home. DDS4Vets will receive investor profits from the film which will give them an income stream for years to come.
In addition to Galanti’s and Gier’s speeches, the event featured dog trainer Michael Colton speaking about the need for service dogs for veterans dealing with PTS. Colton introduced the veteran he is currently working with, Michael Gretzon, and his new dog Shylah. Attendees also enjoyed a delicious barbecue dinner by Bonner Catering and had the opportunity to taste beer samples from Armed Forces Brewing Company.
Overall, the event was a great success, raising money and awareness for veteran needs. The funds will be used to provide critical resources and support to veterans in the area, including service dogs, counseling services, and financial assistance.
The success of Country Nights is a testament to the power of community support and the importance of giving back to those who have served our country. DDS4vets plans to host more events in the future to continue their mission of helping veterans in need, and they hope to inspire others to do the same.
About DDS4Vets:
DDS4Vets is a 501c3 non-profit in St. Lucie County that serves veterans all over FL. Our mission is to bring positive, lasting solutions to our military veterans and their families. We aim to bridge the gap between veterans and the services they are entitled to. For more information, please call 561-246-0566 or visit www.DDS4Vets.org.