Hogs For Heroes came to life in late 2014 with a small family vision and our nonprofit designation. We raised our first dollar in the spring of 2015 and hoped to reach our goal of giving one Harley a year. Right on plan, we gifted our first bike in May of 2016…and with the close of the 2020 riding season, this small family nonprofit put a total of sixteen injured Wisconsin Veteran riders back on the road with beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
We work year round to raise funds for bikes to gift during Wisconsin’s riding season. These pandemic times have been tough on everyone and, in preparing ourselves for a leaner year of gifting motorcycles, we hoped we could gift two. Instead, we will be gifting at total of SIX Harleys in 2021! That’s six more struggling lives changed…because of your amazing support. And six more shopping trips to let them choose the bike of their dreams. Stay tuned as we canvas Wisconsin returning freedom to those who fought for ours! And from the bottom of our hearts…thank you.
LIKE US & SHARE US on Facebook—this is how we communicate most news! The more others know what we’re doing, the faster we can make our vision a healing reality for another injured WI Veteran rider.
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INTRODUCING RECIPIENT #19: Army Sergeant Neal Long in De Pere, WI is our third WI Veteran to receive a Harley from us in 2021! After 9/11 rocked our world, Neal realized what his life direction needed to be and enlisted in the Army two weeks later and specialized in Military Police. After three one-year deployments in four years to Iraq’s combat zones, Neal unfortunately learned the crushing blow PTSD takes on one’s life, career and family. Having grown up around bikes and working as a service assistant at a H-D dealership before deploying, Neal experienced the value in connecting with the road. He bought a bike right out of service, and along with counseling and medications, did what he could to combat the demons he had acquired. He sold his bike two years later to support his growing family’s needs…and hasn’t been in a position to afford another since. Hogs For Heroes thought it was time this man reconnect with his personal release and the support it provides. Neal found his love on Vandervest H-D showroom floor: a 2019 Road Glide in Twisted Cherry with just 6,800 miles on her! Learn more about Neal’s story by clicking here.
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“UNBELIEVABLE NEWS”… Fox News and their Fox & Friends First morning program flew a crew out, with Anchor Todd Piro, to interview our Hogs For Heroes family and recipients as we handed over our 18th set of keys to Marine Veteran Rick Erickson on May 23, 2021. National attention? Us? UNBELIEVABLE!
Take a few minutes to watch this compassionate production on our mission’s efforts and impact by clicking here. #honored.
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MEET RECIPIENT #18: Marine Sergeant Rick Erickson, of Wisconsin Dells, is the next WI Veteran receiving a Harley and it’s healing benefits! After beating cancer he enlisted at age 25 and, one year later, volunteered to deploy to Iraq’s deadliest combat zone for six months that would forever change his life. The first thing he did when he separated from service was buy a motorcycle…and ride to free his mind. He rode for 12 years, until 2 years ago when he sold his bike to pay for a necessary remodel project. Hogs For Heroes thought it was time he regain wind therapy to help smooth out his rough road. Unique to this bike, it’s been fully paid for by the generous 2020 fundraising efforts of the Tavern League of Wisconsin! Rick found his dream, a white 2017 H-D Street Glide, on Wisconsin Harley-Davidson’s showroom floor, and we handed him the keys at a special ceremony at the Keg & Patio in the Wisconsin Dells on Sunday, May 23, 2021. Learn more about Rick’s story by clicking here.
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LEARN ABOUT PAST RECIPIENTS! Miss the stories of our past Recipients? Catch them below by simply clicking on the Veteran’s name button.
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CATCH OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER! Find out the latest happenings and updates in our most recent Hogs for Heroes newsletter. Read it here!
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“PINCH ME AGAIN” NEWS TO US…THE HOGS FOR HEROES GOLDEN ALE IS BACK FOR 2021 AND ROLLING OUT TO A BAR NEAR YOU! #HONORED to have the partnership of Captial Brewery and the Tavern League of Wisconsin supporting us again! This limited release craft beer is a fabulous Golden Ale, light and full-flavored, and specifically created to express the partnership’s deep gratitude to Veterans and support those who served. The beer flew off shelves last year and had people searching the state for it! Ask your favorite bars and stores to bring it in!
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SUPER COOL NEWS: Once again, our Recipients came up with a way to express their appreciation for the healing gifts you made possible in their lives. In addition to the decals they previously made, they recently chose to have license plates that designate their gifting number for those who want them. Watch for WI motorcycle plates on the road that read H4H 1-16 (i.e. H4H 6), with hopefully more numbers to come. And please note, Hogs For Heroes does not ask Recipients to tag their beautiful bikes (or themselves) in any way. They choose to do it.
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THE “THIS JUST DOESN’T GET OLD” NEWS: In November, 2019, our Founding Family was surprised by a party our Recipients, their spouses and our Board members threw to honor us. We still choke up over this. NBC15 Madison was on hand to capture the surprise moment and tell us our nonprofit had been selected for their regional “Making A Difference” Award! This beautiful piece was created and narrated by NBC News Anchor John Stofflet and his skilled team, and features our first recipient, Sun Prairie Marine Scott Kruchten. And the cherry on top… it won a coveted Edward J. Muir journalism award in 2020. Catch the video here.
