From the President — August 2, 2026

Good morning,

As I sat down to write this week’s message, I couldn’t help but smile. The past couple of weeks have been a wonderful reminder of what makes The Veterans Club so special. Time and again, our members and supporters show up for one another in ways that continue to inspire me.

Our 2nd Annual BBQ was a tremendous success, with 73 veterans, first responders, family members, and friends gathering for an afternoon of great food, live music, and even better conversation. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Dan and Nancy Blanchard for once again opening their home to all of us, and to the many volunteers who spent countless hours preparing the food, setting up, serving, and cleaning up afterward. It was a true team effort, and one that perfectly reflected the spirit of our organization.

That spirit was on display again this week during the benefit fundraiser for Nancy Blanchard. Through the generosity of our community, more than $22,000 was donated through The Veterans Club to help Dan and Nancy during this difficult season. It was a powerful reminder that our mission extends beyond weekly gatherings. We are a family that stands beside one another when life becomes challenging, and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone who contributed, volunteered, or simply showed up to offer encouragement.

As we celebrate these successes, our Board of Directors is also looking toward the future. Recently, The Veterans Club received a generous $2,000 bequest from the estate of a local veteran. After thoughtful discussion, the board voted to use those funds as the foundation of our first endowment account.

An endowment is one of the most important financial tools a nonprofit can establish. Rather than spending every dollar that is donated, an endowment creates a permanent investment whose earnings help support the organization’s mission year after year. Our goal is simple: ensure that The Veterans Club will always have the financial resources to continue serving veterans and first responders long after today’s leadership has passed the torch.

To open the account, we must meet a $5,000 minimum deposit. Thanks to the recent bequest and another generous matching gift, we have already reached $3,000. We now need $2,000 more to establish this permanent fund.

If you would like to help create a lasting legacy for The Veterans Club, I invite you to visit our new Endowment Fund page. There you’ll learn more about the purpose of the endowment and the different ways you can contribute. Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to securing the long-term future of an organization that exists to ensure no veteran or first responder has to face life alone.

Thank you for believing in our mission. Whether you attend a Patriot Pour, volunteer at an event, lend a helping hand, or make a financial contribution, you are helping build something that truly changes lives.

Have a wonderful week, and I hope to see you around the coffee table soon.

Ed Bejarana
President, The Veterans Club