This week’s Military Appreciation Monday event was our biggest success to date.  We had a total of 140 people participate and will have raised slightly more than $12,500 once all the co-sponsor checks roll in.  The dinner was held in support of a recently formed group called: Stop Soldier Suicide.  This group was co-founded by Langley High School graduate, Nick Black.  Please read the recent Connection Newspapers article pertaining the the dinner and Nick’s great service to our country by clicking on:  Community Raises Funds for Veterans.

Cosponsors for the evening were:

Bob George

Black Family

Randy Phillips

Stevens Family

Kaihara Family

Redmond Family

Maryann Martell

Grossman Family

Bob Nelson Family

Neil and Juja Sylvestre

Scott and Dave LaMorte

Dawson Richardson Family

Old Brogue

Double Eagle Title

Blackbird Technologies

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

James Gaudiosi – First Heritage Mortgage

Please be sure to check below for this year’s

Wounded Warriors Christmas Gift Wish List.

 

Those of you who attended the MAM fundraiser we held for Thanks USA several months back may remember the extremely poised young girls who founded the group.  Kelsi and Rachel Okun recently appeared on the Today Show to discuss the group and all the people they have helped with college scholarship.  Click on the link Thanks USA – Today Show to watch them in action.  Also please visit the group’s website Thanks USA if you would like to consider making a donation.

Keller Williams Realty holds a RED Day event every year.  This is a nationwide effort to provide support to local charity orginizations.  Since its founding three years ago, the KW Mclean/Great Falls office has been supporting SHARE of Mclean/Great Falls.  We held two food drives at the Mclean Giant and Great Falls Safeway on May 12th and 14th respectively.  Following is a note the office received the SHARE:

First, let me express the deepest appreciation from Share for the huge outpouring of support from Keller-Williams for your 2 ‘RedDay’ events at the McLean Giant on Thursday, May 12, and the Great Falls Safeway on Saturday, May 14. This year marks the 3rd ‘RedDay’ event you have hosted for Share, and it was our best year of donation volume by far. I especially want to commend your organization and preparation for this year’s ‘RedDay’ which made it such a successful food drive for all of us. The enthusiasm shown by you and all the K-W realtors who volunteered was highly evident throughout the day and contagious for our donors. Thanks for bringing so much community spirit to McLean and Great Falls.

Now for the summary of results from each ‘RedDay’ food drive:

McLEAN GIANT THURSDAY, MAY 12

1-Cash and grocery gift card donations:

- Cash & check donations = $141

- Grocery gift card donations = $435

- Total cash & monetary equiv = $576

2-Food donations:

- 160 bins/crates/boxes (food and personal toiletries) x 35 pounds each = 5,600 pounds

- 8 barrels (paper products) x 25 pounds each = 200 pounds

- Total food donations = 5,800 pounds

GREAT FALLS SAFEWAY SATURDAY, MAY 14

1-Cash and grocery gift card donations have not been tallied yet. Derrick left me a large envelope Saturday after completing the food drive in Great Falls. I will furnish you this information by Wednesday, May 18

2-Food donations:

- 40 bins/boxes/bags (food and personal toiletries) x 30 pounds each = 1,200 pounds

- 4 barrels (paper products) x 25 pounds each = 100 pounds

- Total food donations = 1,300 pounds

Included in the food donation tally on Thursday, May 12, were the “Grab & Go” bags prepared by Rick Makely’s staff at the McLean Giant. I recall your accounting that Rick prepared 300 of these bags at the start of the food drive and sold 225 by the end of the day. You purchased an additional 13 “Grab & Go” bags with cash donations for a grand total of 238 bags sold and donated.

The total food donations Keller-Williams provided Share from your 2 ‘RedDay’ events was 7,100 pounds, a new record for your organization and almost double what K-W provided last year. You now hold the 2011 food drive record at Share!! A million thanks for the massive addition to our food pantry. We are confident your donations will provide the bulk of our client needs for the next 2-3 months.

Again, my sincere thanks to Keller-Williams for making your community service ‘RedDay’ event a grand slam home run for Share and for supporting our needy neighbors in the communities of McLean and Great Falls.

Best regards,

Hunter

–

Hunter Pollitt

Board Member

Share, Inc.

P. O. Box 210

McLean, VA 22101

703-284-2179

www.ShareofMcLean.org

Hello and happy holidays to all, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your support this year to make the holidays a little brighter for the families of injured and killed in action veterans.  The “Our Military Kids” organization provided me with a Christmas Gift Wish List of 26 veterans’ families including 65 children this year.  Thanks to your help, packages are on the way for 16 of these families.  We are down to just 10 families left on the list, but now we are headed into ‘crunch time’.  With limited time left to buy, wrap and send gifts we must find people or organizations to support these last 10 families within the next week. If you have been thinking about committing to help…. if you can find room in your heart and your wallet this year…. please let us know before time runs out for these families.  One of the wounded veterans I spoke to last week was so thankful when we told him his family would be receiving support with Christmas gifts.  He mentioned that he was especially grateful because last year his kids did not get any Christmas gifts.  Let’s not let this happen again for any of these families who have sacrificed so much for all of us. If you would like to help make this holiday season a little bit brighter for the children of our injured and killed in action servicemen and women, all you have to do is respond to this email.  You can adopt one child, a family or simply make a cash donation.  Nancy and I will gladly purchase the gifts still on the list if you do not have the time.  Simply give me a call or drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com. These are the children still available for ‘adoption’ :

1. Vaughns Family

Jordan (6): Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System MobiGoCarrying  Case MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars, NASCAR, Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10): Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15): Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots, Size 10, Color:  Black

2. Ellis Family

Juliann (13): New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver (Purchased through Cash Donations)

Jesse (16): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold (Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

3. Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9): Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7): Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple Kleopatra

(4): KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

4. Broesch Family

Bella (7): Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4) Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo Wii Uno Attack Game Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green) (Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams) Magic Tree House Books

Taylor(15): Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s (Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams), Vanity or Maurices, Gift card for gas, Solia 1″ Flat Iron

5. Summers Family

Amber (11): Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10): Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8): Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

6. Byrd Family

Nailah (14): Ipad or Iphone (or a gift certificate to the Apple Store or to the AT&T Store to go toward either of these items)

Nia (13): Dell Laptop (pink) (or a gift certificate to the Dell Store to go toward it)

7. Mitchell Family

Zac (18): a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box (To be purchased with donated funds.)

Jerret (8): Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6): (Adopted by Susan Wisely – Keller Williams)   A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Finally, we would like to thank the following who have already come forward to show their support. The Copito Family, The Borland Family, The Hoernig Family, Rick and Amy Buchanan, Jane and Doug Hanscom, Gene and Laura Smith, The Brugel Family, Mary Burnette, Mark and Carolyn Stys, John and Sally Burns, P.C. Martin, Dave and Pava Cohen, Joan Fiander, The Weaver Family, Louis and Chris Wise, Kofer and Suzanne Black, Richard Moxley, Sue Long, Beatriz Duque Long, Elizabeth Gaffney, Paul Norman Family, Dave Lesser Family, Chip Bay Family, Shiner Roofing and Siding, Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler – Legenter LLC, Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance, Jill Grossman – LSA Title, Tim Heil – Keller Williams Realty, Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank, Laura DeSimone – DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC, Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Susan Wisely – Keller Williams, Alison Sherman – Keller Williams, Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams,

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season,

Nancy and Bob Nelson (703) 999-5812

You Really Need to Read the Following

I spoke with Juan R and had a wonderful conversation.   He told me a little about his background and got choked up during our phone conversation.   His children had no presents last Christmas. He expressed how grateful he was with whatever they were going to receive this year.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in the program. You always get so much more back than you give. It makes me feel very thankful for everything that my family has and I am so happy to share. I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving!

Tami Harsanyi

Please be sure to check below to see what families are still in need of gifts this year.  I do want to remind everyone that these families are all across the country.  The Juan’s family is located in New York.

Thank you Tami and everyone else who has adopted a family.

Once again Santa and I are teaming up with Our Military Kids in an attempt to bring some extra holiday cheer to children of our injured service members and their families.  We’ve compiled a Christmas Gift Wish List for these SUPERHEROES.  I’m hoping everyone will check out this list and consider purchasing one item, serving as Santa for an individual child or even sponsoring an entire family.  The latter is a great option for a company or office to consider.

The list below will be posted until Christmas and will be updated over the next few weeks.  Please give me a call or drop  an e-mail to: Santa@bobnelsonteam.com and let us know how you would like to brighten a family’s Christmas day.  Once you have done so, we will give you the contact info for the family to allow you to send your gift(s) directly to them.  I would also encourage you to click on the link above and visit the Our Military Kids website to learn more about this wonderful grassroots organization.

Hite Family:

(Adopted by the Wesbrook Family)

Davonate Hite (10):

Zipfy Mini Luge SKU ID #268227

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 2.0 SKU ID #265211

Discovery Deluxe Touch Screen ATM Machine SKU ID #862

Jensen Family

(Adopted by Mary Burnette)

Halle (14)

A necklace

Tiani Family:

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

Olivia (13):

gift cards to various mall stores

Zeppie (11):

Wii games, Rip Stick G

Phoenix (9):

Zhu Zhu Pets and anything NASCAR

Rocco (6):

Cars Wii Game, remote control car

Joiebelle (5):

Strawberry Shortcake Doll, Pink scooter

Dax (newborn):

any clothes size 3 months and up

Vaughns Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Jordan (6):

Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System

MobiGoCarrying  Case

MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars,

NASCAR,

Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10):

Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15):

Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots,

Size 10, Color:  Black

Ellis Family

Jesse (16):

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold

(Purchased through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Juliann (13):

New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12):

(Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver

Brown Family

(Adopted by Debbie and Robert Copito)

Dylan (8):

New Bright 1:14 Scale Mud Slinger – Hummer Sand

Stormer #075445  (*These are Toys R Us #’s)

Exclusive San Diego Comic Con 2010 Halo:  Reach 5 inch

Action Figure – Noble 7 #509096

True Heroes Helicopter Playset :786686

Mega Bloks Halo Wars Magnetic Warriors:  Silver UNSC Flame Marine (29679) #675418

Halo:  Reach Series 1 6 inch Action Figure – Jorge #819021

Halo Wars Collection 4.5 inch Action Figure – Sgt. Forge #592841

Madylan (2):

Disney Princess Super Play House Tent #073126

Disney Princess-edition Disney’s The Little Mermaid Sing Along Boom Box #517523

Yo Gabba Gabba Toodee Cuddle Pillow #434678

Disney Princess Shopping Cart #650555

Yo Gabba Gabba Toddler Blanket #434686

Yo Gabba Gabba Boom Box Theater #035020

Hill Family

(Adopted by the Nelson Family)

Makale (14):

Itunes card

Call of Duty Black Ops for Xbox 360

Xbox 360 controller

Dreyson (7):

Lego Kingdom King’s castle (7946)

Lego Kingdom’s Prison tower rescue (7947)

Moriarty Family

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

all items from Toys R Us Big Christmas Book

Kaleigh (11):

Bop it Bounce Game – 6 slammin ball bouncing games

Teacup Piggies Fashion Runway

Lalaloopsy Blue Hair Doll

Digital camera

Madison (5):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (pink)

Leapster Toystory 3 Game

Lalaloopsy Purple Hair doll

Barbie Pampered Pups Salon

First Act Discovery 30″ Acoustic Guitar (pink/purple)

Emerson (3):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (green)

Fisher Price Grow with Me Cook & Care Kitchen (pink)

Cozy Coupe Shopping Cart (pink)

You and Me, My Kitty and Me Doll

Little Mommy Sweet As Me Doll

Rivera Family

(Adopted by Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler- Legenter LLC; and Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, and Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance)

Justin (16), Oseas (9), John (7):

Disney Movies, Tickets to the AMC Movie Theatres, Clothes from Old Navy; or whatever the donor would like to give to these boys

Schwartz Family

(Adopted by Jill Grossman – LSA Title)

Morgan (18); Allissa (17); Kaylie (12); Jeffrey (9); Isaiah (7); Lindsey (5):

Gift cards for clothing/gift for each child to Target, Walmart or Meijer.

Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9):

Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7):

Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple

Kleopatra (4):

KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

Chism Family

(Adopted by Rick and Amy Buchanan)

Gavin (9):

Lightsaber Room Light

Death Star Planetarium

Lego Star Wars AT-AT Walker

Perez Family

(Adopted by Tim Heil – Keller Williams)

Yaniliz (6)

Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Horse and Carriage

Leapfrog:  Leapster Explorer with Tinker Bell and Sponge Bob Learning games (these gifts are in the Toys R Us Christmas Book)

Cummings Family

(Adopted by The Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center)

Gabrielle (10):

Ipod Nano with Multi Touch (pink or purple)

Maximus (9):

Ipod nano with Multi Touch (blue or boyish color)

Broesch Family

Bella (7):

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4)

Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo

Wii Uno Attack Game

Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green)

(Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams)

Magic Tree House Books

Taylor (15):

Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s, Vanity or Maurices

(Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams)

Gift card for gas

Solia 1″ Flat Iron

(Purchased by the Bob Nelson Team)

Garcia Family

(Adopted by the Borland Family)

Rebecca (10):

Bed Bath & Beyond – Vanity Set (black)

Rachel (7):

Nintendo DSI (pink)

Jordyn (6):

Toys R Us – KidKraft Deluxe Wooden Easel Espresso (Item #819509)

Jenna (2 1/2):

Toys R Us – Just Like Home Parkview Modern Wood Kitchen (Item #230906)

May Family

(Adopted by Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank)

Chelsea (10)

Digital camera, Sony Cibershot Pink, Model #W310 (pink); available at Best Buy

Fasnacht Family

(Adopted by the Brugel Family)

Blake (3):

Toy Story 3 Blu Ray Combo Pack

Mater’s Tall Tales Blu Ray Combo Pack

Cars Piston Cup 500 Track

Cars Toon Monster Truck Wrastlin’ Playset

Summers Family

Amber (11):

Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10):

Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8):

Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

Plybon Family

(Adopted by Gene and Laura Smith)

Liam (13)

Fishing stuff from Cabelas

Three forks Fly Rod and Reel Combo with Fly Line, length: 7’6″, reel model 456, 3 pieces, line weight 3, rod model 763-3, handle 3

Halo video game Noble Map

Byrd Family

(Adopted through Donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Nailah (14):

ITouch

Nia (13):

Kindle

Treacher Family

(Adopted by Laura DeSimone
DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC)

Nina (10):

Littlest Pet Shop Rescue Tails Center

Guesstures Charades Game

Zhu Zhu Pets:  Wild Bunch with Nutters hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut

Grant (6):

Paper Jamz Guitar

Paper Jamz Drumz

Creepy Crawlers Bug Maker & Refill

King Zhu with Tull Hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Crocodile

Loopz Game

Mitchell Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Zac (18):

a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box

Jerret (8):

Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6):

A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Miranda Family

(Adopted by the Hoernig Family)

Anthony 17:

Armani aqua di Gio

Gift Card to Express $75

I Touch 8 gigs

Angelina 15:

Ipod Touch

Baby Alive Bouncin Bubbles

Baby Alive Changing time baby

Baby Alive Baby all Gone

Cool pix camera with touch screen if possible

Footlocker gift Card $100

Joseph 13

Game Stop Gift Card $25

Safe to lock my stuff up in (cause my brothers steal my pepsi)

Remote for my xbox 360 wireless if possible

Headset for my xbox 360

Ricci 12

I pod Touch

Drum set

Lego City passenger plane

Lego City Police Headquarters

Mostly I want the I pod Touch

Cheri 10

Animal Planet Radio Control Black Spider

Baby Alive changing time baby

Phineas and Ferb alarm clock

Star Wars radio control Millenium Falcon

(All in the Toys R us catolog)

Thank you, Santa Tell Ms. Claus Howdy from Cheri!!

Gasca Family

(Adopted by Mark and Carolyn Stys)

Matthew (4)

Blue Vtech V Reader Reading System with the V Reader Toy Story

Leap Frog Reading System Tag with the tag book Sponge Bob

Lowery Family

(Adopted by the Hanscom Family)

Cameron (5):

Fisher Price Smart Cycle/Extreme Physical Learning Arcade System with game

Clothes:  Shirts Size 7; pants size 6 or 7 with adjustable waist

Damian (16):

Games for X-Box 360 or Gift Card for X-Box Live

Clothes:  Shirt Size medium (men); pants – skinny jeans; skating clothes

This month’s Military Appreciation Monday’s dinner will be supporting the Yellow Ribbon Fund.  This is our second time raising money to help out this great grassroots organization.  Please be sure to click on the above link to learn about what they are doing to support our nation’s bravest men and women.  They do us proud.  As always, the dinner will be at the Old Brogue in Great Falls with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30.  Be sure to call from reservations since we have had overflow capacity at several of the dinners.  Last month we had a 110 percent match.  Please let me know if you would like to sign as a co-sponsor (10 percent match) of the dinner tab.

Current cosponsors are:

Baran Family

Nelson Family

Norman Family

Carillon Capital

The Old Brogue

Julius Fleishman

Grossman Family

Gary Kaihara, DDS

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Thanks to all our great supporters, the Military Appreciation Monday event raised nearly $4,000 for Operation Second Chance.  We had nearly 100 people turn out for the dinner to include several servicemen and women currently stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  One of the greatest parts about the evening was that two of the most desirable door prizes were won by one of our visiting vets.  He walked away with a two day stay at the Lodgecliffe on the Choptank Bed and Breakfast and a fabulous apple pie from B. Sweet.  The four star lodging is donated each month by Dawson Richardson at Merrill Lynch.  B Sweet has donated two pies for each of our last two events. The wife of another vet won the biggest prize of the evening, a beautiful pendant donated by Adeler Jewelers.

If you have a chance, please be sure to give a big thanks to our co-sponsors and door prize donors.

Co-sponsors include:

The Old Brogue
LSA Title Services
Gary Kaihara, DDS
The Grossman Family
Julius Fleischman
The Norman Family
The Nelson Family
James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage
Carrillon Capital

Door Prizes for this month were donated by:

Adeler Jewelers

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Dominion Title

PF Chang’s

Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build

State Farm Insurance

Great Falls Exxon

B. Sweet Pies

National Veterans Golden Age Games

This month I am moving a little outside the norm for MAM by raising funds for our veterans who are over 55 years old. I am particularly excited by this effort since it gives us a chance to say thanks to the Vietnam Era vets and those who came before them. The request for this event came from Julius Fleischman, one of our newest co-sponsors. Julius fought in the European Campaign during WWII.

Date: September 27th.

Where: Old Brogue – Great Falls, Va.

Time: Two seatings – 5:30 and 7:30.

Please be sure to make a reservation by calling: (703) 759-3309.

As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls. Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (A 100 percent match this month) of your dinner tab to The Golden Age Games.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com or call at (703) 999-5812.

You can also show your support through:

A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to The Golden Age Games)

B. Our buy a vet dinner initiative. We hope to have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.

C. Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Veterans Administration.

Please come out strong to show your support. This is our first time back after the summer and I’d love to have a huge turnout to show our active duty personnel and veterans just how much we appreciate their service.

If you have a chance, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors.

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

Julius Fleischman

The Norman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

Carrillon Capital

Previous Co-Sponsors

The Heil Family

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

and our door prize donors:

Adeler Jewelers           Dominion Title

PF Chang’s                      Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Elite Fitness                   Fitness Together

Turner Framing           Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build     Pinkman Baseball Academy

Legenter LLC.               State Farm Insurance        Downs & Assoc. Insurance

Please read the following to learn more about the Golden Age Games and their importance to our veterans.

Celebrating its 25th year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games offer sports and recreational competitive events for Veterans 55 years of age and older. It is the largest sports and recreation competition for this age group of military Veterans in the world! The Games continue to serve as a showcase for the rehabilitation value that wellness and fitness provide in the lives of older Americans.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are an outgrowth of the historic involvement in geriatric programs by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For many years, VA has put major emphasis on health and fitness with the goal of Veterans living healthier, longer lives. Many of the events began as recreational activities at VA hospitals and nursing home care units across the country. Inspired by the health and fitness movement for America’s senior citizens, the Games extend that concept to our nation’s aging Veterans. In 1985, the first National Veterans Golden Age Games took place in Albany, Georgia, with 115 competitors representing VA medical facilities across the United States.

A “fountain of youth” for the rapidly aging Veteran population, the Games provide a multi-event sports and therapeutic recreation program for eligible Veterans receiving care at any VA medical facility. It is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national seniors’ program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This event truly reflects VA’s mission – to provide quality programs and health care for America’s aging Veteran population. It has become one of the most progressive and adaptive rehabilitative senior sports programs in the United States and the world.

Over the years, competitive events at the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been adapted to meet specific needs of the participants. The Games have separate age groups and gender divisions. Additionally, because many Veterans also face medical challenges, events were added for those who use wheelchairs and those who have visual impairments. To accommodate the varying degrees of physical conditioning, motor and cognitive skills of the participants, basic competition rules were adapted. The modification of rules and use of adaptive equipment in many events allow non-ambulatory and visually impaired Veterans to participate, in separate divisions where needed and with ambulatory and sighted Veterans when possible. This has made the National Veterans Golden Age Games a truly adaptive therapeutic sports competition that has become a model for other local, state and national senior sports events.

Since 2004, the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been a qualifier for the National Senior Games, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Through this partnership, gold, silver and bronze medalists in certain events have the opportunity to compete further, among America’s elite senior athletes.