Our Story
MEET US
In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs released a heart-wrenching statistic: an average of 22 veterans per day take their own lives. This devastating reality hit close to home in 2016 when a friend reached out to our founder about a Navy veteran on the brink of suicide. After spending the night on the phone with this veteran and his wife, we realized that our community in Brazoria County lacked accessible resources for veterans and their families.
Inspired to make a difference, our founder and a few friends decided to take action. On Flag Day 2016, we announced a small walk in our hometown of Lake Jackson. We called it a “hike” and planned a 3-mile route. Our goal was simple: create a family-friendly event open to everyone in the community, bringing people together to show support for our veterans.
To our amazement, about 150 people showed up for that first hike. The outpouring of support was incredible, and after the event, friends, family, and community members eagerly asked when the next hike would be. Their enthusiasm inspired us to go further, and in January 2017, VOW22 became an official nonprofit organization.
Our mission has always been clear: to prevent veteran suicide and raise awareness by providing the counseling and resources veterans and their families need and deserve. We also understand the importance of supporting the entire family unit.
Just six months after that first hike, we held our second event, which drew an incredible crowd of 500 veterans and supporters. From that moment on, VOW22 has grown into a vital resource for the veteran community, offering counseling programs, camaraderie-building events, and emotional support initiatives.
What started as a small act of support for one veteran has blossomed into a movement of hope and healing. Together, with the help of our community, we are committed to ensuring that no veteran or their family has to fight their battles alone.