Submitted by Dr. Honora Norton, Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Public Image Chair
Per Sun Lakes resident, Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Rotarian Stan Kaufman, the folks at Western State Bank (Chandler Blvd. and Alma School Road) stand strong in their commitment to helping the San Tan Rotary Foundation’s work with Valley veterans and their families.
The annual Hooked on Healing Veterans Motorcycle Ride fundraiser has been held since 2016 with the help of Chandler Community Western State Bank. Rotarian Kaufman is a ride organizer and San Tan Rotary Foundation President.
Over the past six rides, the San Tan Rotary Foundation has raised and been able to share almost $60,000 with the Phoenix program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. This program is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities.
Project Healing Waters has touched over 400 wounded veterans and their families since the program began here in the Valley in 2012 – see www.projecthealingwaters.org.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHWFF) began in 2005 serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, PHWFF has expanded nationwide, establishing its highly successful program in Department of Defense hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics.
This year’s ride held October 23rd also benefitted the “Yuletide4Heroes” program sanctioned by the Arizona Patriot Guard Riders organization. This program is aimed at providing Holiday dinners, Christmas trees, children’s gifts, and more to more than 200 local veterans and their families – see www.azpgr.org.
The 2021 Ride was presented by Western State, Bank, as well as, Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, Healing Vets, Mesa’s Desert Wind Harley-Davidson, Albertsons/Safeway and Lunde’s Peoria Volkswagen.
For more information about opportunities to volunteer, donate items to either of these programs, or participate in the 2022 ride on 03/05/22 - see www.healingvets.org or contact Stan Kaufman, at stankaufman238@gmail.com ; for more information about the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes – see www.sunlakesrotary.com
