About Us

Founding Board

Kevin and Audra, Craig and Michelle. Two brothers and their wives. Two ride and two don’t. All four solid Wisconsinites. Parents to a collective mass of five amazing people. One lawyer, one nurse, one government employee, one communications consultant. Not one of us served, but all are grateful to those who have protected our freedoms, and continue to do so, on our behalf. Looking to combine two long time passions of Veteran support and motorcycle riding, Kevin had been looking for a way to make a large, impactful difference in a small number of lives rather than a slight difference across many. In the fall of 2014, he read an article on the therapeutic benefits of motorcycle ownership amongst Veterans with PTSD, particularly when faced with different challenges upon returning to civilian life.  Choosing to specifically focus on Wisconsin Veterans, Kevin’s vision came to life and Hogs for Heroes was born.

Working in conjunction with everyday citizens, businesses and other veteran’s organizations, we have already seen tremendous results for Wisconsin Veterans. Hogs for Heroes is truly a grassroots effort, impacting the lives of our veterans and those that support them. Please join us on our journey as we continue to positively impact the life of another deserving Veteran rider.

Our Advisory Board

Enlisting volunteer members of our community, an Advisory Board collaborates with and provides direction to our Founding Board in three primary areas:

  1. Participate in decision making as it pertains to the selection of a Veteran candidate in the gifting process.
  2. Advise on any operational or strategic matters brought to them by the Founding Board.
  3. Serve as community liaisons, fundraising advocates and organizational ambassadors for Hogs For Heroes throughout the state of Wisconsin.
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Latest News

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 to change one life a year. Right on plan, we gifted our first bike in May of 2016…and with the close of our 2022 riding season, our tiny force had put a total of 31 injured Wisconsin Veteran riders back on the road with a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycles that they choose.

Riding is an alternative therapy and our gifts are the tools by which one gains its healing benefits: they are NOT awards for service achievements, popularity or simply thank-you gifts. They are meant to help redirect, if not save, struggling Veteran’s lives by returning them to The Road. The past three years have been tough on everyone and despite this, you, our amazing Supporters, helped us change more lives than we ever thought possible. With your support, we will put another NINE Veterans back on the road during 2023’s riding season. That’s nine more lives fractured in service that will regain peace, freedom and control from riding. That’s nine more families who will benefit from their loved one’s healing gains. And that’s nine more Veterans that will reconnect with the supportive brotherhood found in riding…all because a motorcycle re-entered their lives.

WE GIFT MORE THAN JUST A MOTORCYCLE
We work year round to raise funds for bikes and are currently fundraising for our 2024 Giftings. FOLLOW 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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2023’S LAST RECIPIENT: SUPPORTING #40 Bryan Knez of Oostburg, WI dreamt of nothing but service to his Country since he was a young child listening to the stories of war and service from his father, a Vietnam Veteran, and his grandfather, a WWII Veteran. Pride, patriotism and glory flowed through his household, as did immense pain. When he was old enough, Bryan joined the Army National Guard his junior year of high school and focused as a Unit Supply Specialist for his next four years. Frustrated with the lack of employer support and searching for his purpose, he joined the Inactive Ready Reserves list while he evaluated his options. In 2002 a call from an Army Reserves Recruiter gave Bryan the chance to become the MP he wanted and the likelihood of combat deployment. What Bryan didn’t realize was that he was joining an Army Garrison Support Unit, and before he could even reclassify, he received orders for a 30 month domestic deployment to Fort McCoy, WI where he worked as an Armorer. Although proud to contribute to our war’s effort, he “wasn’t over there” and he felt slighted and guilty—emotions he still carries today. While on active duty a knee injury would require three surgeries, prevent his MP training, remove his chance for combat deployment and end his plans for military retirement. There began his life of pain and financial struggles until he decided to pursue his law enforcement dream. Now a Sheboygan County Deputy Sheriff and forging a good path for himself, managing his pain remains a constant, but managing his own mental health and stress management has become harder since he had to sell his motorcycle in 2021. Hogs For Heroes admired his dedication to service and felt our gift could help Bryan stay on path he’s carved out for himself. Catch Bryan’s story of service and strength by clicking here. Join us for his Presentation of Keys Ceremony on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm at West Bend Harley-Davidson. Click here for event details.

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BACK ON THE ROAD: #39 John Olen II, of Appleton, WI, joined the Navy for the discipline and guidance his wayward life needed. To get out of mopping one day, he attended a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard meeting and advanced in their selection process, eventually becoming one of the chosen few. Stationed in Washington, D.C., he joined a prestigious group of men who would ceremoniously honor our Fallen and our Veterans in the last capacity our nation can offer at Arlington National Cemetery. He estimates that he presented in over 750 funerals during his two-year term, bearing the physical pains the job inflicted and enduring the emotional anguish of family in attendance, all of which settled deeply within to build the PTSD he suffers today. He went on to serve as a Corpsman, started a family, and got his first motorcycle. Riding helped him manage the deep depression he couldn’t acknowledge; but as divorce became inevitable, John lost the bike he thrived on. For additional income, he joined the Army Reserves in 2016 for the next six years; and after he found himself spiraling and at his lowest point of desperation, he reached out for support. Years of therapy, a new love and a combined family have returned joy, but here are still days where dad can’t be dad and life’s challenges are harder to endure. Hogs For Heroes admired John’s strength and courage, and believed our gift of wind therapy would enhance his healing. John received his keys on August 19, to a brand new Street Glide that was fully paid for by the fundraising efforts of Wisconsin Tavern League members across the state. Read John’s story here.  Read John’s story here.

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INTRODUCING #38: Joshua Hameister, of Sun Prairie, WI, joined the Marine Corps in 2003, asking for Infantry and the fastest deployment possible. The Assaultman found himself on a MEU that took him to Iraq and placed him in the midst of hostility, explosive violence and death…and upon leaving combat, he deeply buried everything he saw and did. After separating Josh still wanted to serve and protect; and rather than reenlist, he chose to become a Police Officer. The tolls of combat from long ago began affecting every part of his life today; and in the fray of finding himself, he left his profession, divorced and lost the bike that “saved his life”. Hogs For Heroes believed our gift could help Josh move along on his rough road and he received his keys on July 15 during the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Celebration at Milwaukee H-D. Read Josh’s story here.

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CATCH THE STORY ON #37! Marine & Army Veteran Earl Beaudry, Jr. of Plover, WI regained the healing benefits of wind therapy on June 24, 2023 following Wisconsin’s International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 139 Benefit Ride for us, the same group whose 2022 fundraising efforts fully sponsored this Harley. Not only did this Purple Heart Recipient serve 24 years of active duty, he served them as an Infantryman with five combat deployments and deep physical and mental wounds as a result. Having sold his beloved Harley to return to Wisconsin to care for his aging father in 2021, he’s been unable to afford another bike since. Hogs For Heroes believed reconnecting Earl with a Harley and riding that “is oxygen for my soul” would help him on his healing journey and ease his transition back into civilian life.

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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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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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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.

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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 1-31 (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.

Application & Selection Process

Once we have raised sufficient funds to purchase a Harley-Davidson, we open up our application process.  Only during that time, Wisconsin military Veterans can nominate themselves, or be nominated by someone well known to them.  Selecting one Hero is the most difficult part of the work we do; and yet, the most exciting and rewarding. Using an application process and an Advisory Board of informed and involved community members, we will select one applicant who meets the following criteria:

Each time we are ready to accept completed applications, the below links will be active and provide you further detail as well as the ability to print off, complete and mail in all the required components. We will use every means at our disposal to “blast out” the good news of our open application period and give you a specific time frame in which to share the opportunity with a qualified candidate and/or complete the process. Our Advisory Board will meet to review all applications received and postmarked by the deadline date. They will then select one Hero to receive a Harley-Davidson.  We will notify our candidate and work with a local dealership to select the motorcycle best suited for our Veteran’s needs.  We will gift our motorcycle as a symbol of gratitude from the many who contributed at a public event.  Just as we did for the open application process, we will notify our supporters of the gifting celebration so that all may honor our Veteran Hero.

Ways to Get Involved

Donate…

It is our mission to gift a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a deserving Wisconsin hero. We are humbled by the donations of our supporters; your generosity makes this vision a reality. You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Help Raise Money on Your Own…

Because we are a small grassroots organization, we depend on our supporters to spread the word to raise awareness and funds. Consider hosting a third-party event and share your proceeds with Hogs for Heroes.  In the past year, the amount of third-party fundraising events has been incredible, with businesses, clubs and veteran’s groups sending us donations from sponsored rides, golf outings and events. The list of ideas can be just as creative as you wish: club cook-outs, motorcycle rides, garage sales, golf outings, chili cook-offs, bowling events, bake sales, car washes, brat stands, cafeteria change collections, restaurant dining for causes…The list goes on.  We’d love to post your group’s efforts on our site to help promote the event and your business.

Spread the Word…

Like us, tweet us, post us, copy us, forward us, link us, blast us and just plain talk us up…the more others know what we are doing, the faster we can make the vision happen for our Veterans.

Display Our Brochures…

Have a business that is likely to interact with Veterans, loyal Americans or motorcycle enthusiasts? We would be happy to send you some brochures to display.

Make an In-Kind Donation…

Goods and services allow us to greatly enhance our fundraising and/or advertising possibilities and reduce our operational costs. Large items for raffles, food or drinks for events, printing services or event hosting capabilities—- the list goes on for us and gives you a great tax break along with a marketing presence.

Volunteer Your Time…

It’s hard for us to get around the entire state, that’s where social media and the generosity of others comes into play. Consider sharing your talents, manning a booth, talking to your local community groups, or reaching out to those who may be interested on our behalf.

Invite Us In…

Have a community event or festival coming up that you think would embrace our mission? Have a business, employer or a club that is looking for their next benefactor? Consider inviting us in and providing us with a little space and time on your agenda.

Have Another Idea?

Just contact us – we’d love to hear from you and help make your plan happen!

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Our Supporters