Operation Hat Trick is a proud partner of CreatiVets, a non-profit organization that empowers wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music.

 

CreatiVets brings veterans to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville where songwriters, mentors and country artists listen to stories these veterans have never told before. Thus begins the healing process. At the end of their songwriting session, a deeply emotional, powerful song has been written. It is then produced and posted on YouTube. A new song is released every month on the 10th. 

 

OHT is the sponsor of the CreatiVets songwriting program in Rome, Maine at the Travis Mills Foundation retreat where veterans, songwriters, mentors and country artists spend 4 days telling stories and writing songs. On the final night, a concert is held featuring the songs that have been written.

 

As one Vietnam vet said to me,"I've held on to these stories and memories for over 52 years.  I've never told anyone about what I experienced in 'Nam but here I was able to finally tell them, and you have no idea how that felt. I can finally begin to heal."

 

You can enjoy CreatiVets' latest song below! 

 

Pictured Above: The 38 Challenge in action!

 

OHT has supported The 38 Challenge since 2022. The 38 Challenge's mission is to eliminate suicide through challenging the stigma associated with seeking help and showing vulnerability. Their purpose is for members of society to voluntarily place themselves in an uncomfortable situation and to lean on one another when suffering. They believe this same approach must be taken in order to break the mental health stigma ingrained into warrior culture.

 

Brandt McCartney, President & Executive Director of The 38 Challenge, recently sent us a video of what OHT's support has meant to him and this very personal mission of his. Please see the below video to watch and click on the following link to learn more about this important organization. 

 

Pictured Above: Travis Mills & Dot Sheehan at the 2023 TMF Building Strength Gala

 

The Travis Mills Foundation hosted its 3rd Annual Building Strength Gala on Sept. 9, 2023, some of the OHT team was lucky enough to attend. 

 

This year, the night of live music, moving speeches, and incredible food, drink and celebration raised nearly $500K in support of its mission to serve post-911 recalibrated veterans and their families!

 

We invite you to click the following links below to watch a recap of the Gala on our social channels and to read an article put out by our friends at TMF, which includes the detail from Travis' speech that night - and more! 

 

Pictured Above: Megg Thompson, Dot Sheehan & Travis Mills at the 2023 TMF Building Strength Gala