A Year of Assisting Veterans with Wounded Warriors Canada
Since April 2015, Budget Blinds has been actively supporting the valiant mission of Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) to Honour the Fallen, Help the Living. Their commitment to support ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans and their families resonates with the Budget Blinds culture of honouring military veterans. This year with WWC has been a journey of discovery and sharing. Here are some of the 2015 highlights as we look forward to another year of partnership in 2016.
* WWC's story: a tragedy becomes a legacy of caring
In Afghanistan, September 2006, a suicide bomber killed four Canadian soldiers and injured other soldiers, civilians and children. Three Canadian Military Engineers in critical condition were transported to Landstuhl, Germany, for medical care. 20-year-old Sapper Mike McTeague was among the wounded, and he was fighting for his life. Despite good medical care, the glaring need for "a little more of Canada" in regards to personal items and activities to undergird and facilitate recovery become obvious. The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund was established, dedicated to supporting all wounded Canadian Forces members with care packages and other services that went beyond medical ministrations. Today, as Wounded Warriors Canada, the fund is the nations leading non-profit veterans charity focusing on mental health, particular Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Overall, the mandate is to help any veteran in need as they transition to civilian life.
* Salute Our Troops Month, May 2015
Budget Blinds' inaugural Salute Our Troops Month (coinciding with National Patriots' Day) was a special month-long appreciation to U.S. veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members wounded or injured during their time in service. Budget Blinds and manufacturing partner, Springs Window Fashions, producer of our high-quality line of Signature Series blinds, window shades and drapes, committed to donating $15,000 to WWC tho year. Every in-home consultation was an opportunity for the Budget Blinds Style Consultant to acquaint the consumer with the Wounded Warriors Canada ministry.
* Supporting Veterans' Financial Futures
Budget Blinds has programs to assist veterans with becoming franchise business owners. Right now, approximately 10% of the Budget Blinds franchise family is veteran-owned franchises. "The training, discipline, and teamwork instilled in members of the U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces prepare every veteran for a successful role as a franchise business owner. Our goal is to provide significant financial incentives to make a veteran's transition into the civilian workforce a smooth and successful one."- Chad Hallock, Budget Blinds Co-founder.
(For more information about veteran support programs for Budget Blinds and all the franchise opportunities with Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), visit www.homefranchiseconcepts.com.)
* Budget Blinds Donates $15,000 to Wounded Warriors Canada
During the Budget Blinds' annual Canadian Summit in July, the presentation of a $15,000 check was made to Wounded Warriors Canada, to Executive Director, Scott Maxwell, and National Program Director, Phil Ralph. Incorporated into the two days of networking and business empowerment for our Canadian franchisees, this presentation was the culmination of Corporate efforts to promote WWC nationally, along with local efforts by Canadian franchisees interfacing with consumers and their communities.
The Wounded Warriors Canada Family Network
From the Board of Directors to the Provincial Coordinators to the many volunteers, the WWC family is made up of dedicated people from every walk of life who have a heart for supporting veterans. Many have a family or personal military background, others are lawyers, educators, writers, politicians, philanthropists, commissioned officers, Chaplains, retired veterans, engineers, business owners, parents, grandparents...and the list goes on. Some have suffered from PTSD themselves, so they know the staggering impact it can have, and the very real need for healing and wholeness from PTSD.
* Shere Lowe is a Provincial Coordinator for the Province of British Columbia, and has a strong military heritage. Both her grandfathers served in WWI and her father served in WWII. Her husband served 22 years in the U.S. Navy and her son was a member of the Canadian Army and deployed to Afghanistan. She is will acquainted with what it means to serve your country. "After my son returned from Afghanistan in 2010, it was hard to understand and comprehend how difficult it was for him, transitioning from a combat environment to civilian life. I don't believe anything can prepare you for such a radical and quick transition and when there are no physical scars, it can become more difficult for others to comprehend their injuries. I am so thankful for the support that Wounded Warriors Canada has extended to my son and our family."
Budget Blinds is proud to be partnered with WWC and looks forward to another year of making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families through the many programs that WWC supports. It's an ongoing, tangible way to say "thank you" to every veteran for protecting our freedoms and he way of life we enjoy every day.
To learn more about Wounded Warriors Canada, visit www.woundedwarriors.ca or connect with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WoundedWarriorsCanada.
For information on how Budget Blinds is working to support Wounded Warriors Canada, or to make a donation, visit www.BudgetBlindsSupportsWW.ca.
Year end is also the time to thank you, our customers with our Biggest Sale of the Year sale event thats going on now. If you need new window coverings to update your home's style, or you want to increase energy efficiency with the cold weather moving in, now is the perfect time! With a free, in-home consultation your local Budget Blinds Style Consultant can show you blinds, window shades, shutters, drapes and more for any window coverings solution. Call 888-771-2532 today to schedule an appointment!
*Article Originally featured on Budget Blinds Official Blog**
