Photo Credit: vettix.org
(OPGOV GLOBAL) -- Veteran Tickets Foundation (VETTIX) was founded in 2008 by Michael A. Focareto III, a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Forcareto noticed empty seats at Super Bowl XLII and wanted to provide those seats to troops and veterans. VETTIX started out as a small grassroots effort, which has evolved into a national nonprofit that is currently serving millions of members. Per the VETTIX website, over 40 million free events have been distributed to veterans, active military, first responders, and their families.
People who are eligible for this program include those currently serving in the military and their families, all Honorably Discharged Veterans and their families, and all immediate family members of any Troops Killed-In-Action. The enrollment process is quite simple. Qualified personnel can go to the link vettix.org/signup_start.php to sign up. There are five steps to enroll after going to the link:
· Choose your account type (Currently Serving, Honorable Discharged, Severely Wounded, etc.)
· Fill out the registration form (provide personal details, contact information, and military service to include branch, rank, and service dates)
· Verify your military service (Must verify through ID.me. You may be required to upload your DD-214, orders, or a valid photo)
· Confirm email settings. It is recommended to add noreply@vettix.org and support@vettix.org to your contacts to be sure you will receive emails
· Submit and wait for verification. Once approved, you can start by requesting free or discounted tickets for events
The mission of VETTIX is to “Give Something to Those Who Gave.” The Core Values of VETTIX are patriotism, support and recognition, quality of life, and family. On the VETTIX home page, the reason they offer this service is: “Our military shoulders unique burdens of stress and sacrifice. 16.6 million Veterans have served during wartime. 3.6 million Veterans have service-related disabilities.”
VETTIX also states that “2.5 million Service Members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost 1 million have served multiple deployments. Since 2002, over 52,000 Americans have been wounded, over 1,500 are now amputees, and over 6,800 have been killed in action. We want to honor and support those that served and sacrificed so much.”
"Wounds of war, both mental and physical, can stay with our veterans the rest of their lives. Giving to our veterans and supporting the transitions back into their families and communities, is a gift of gratitude in which we all can take part.”
When a “free” ticket is claimed on VETTIX, the only cost is a delivery fee, which is typically between $11-$14. Participants are allowed up to four tickets. Other events may be listed at a discounted fee. VETTIX also awards “virtual coins” to participants who post a “thank you” on the website after or while attending an event. These coins can be used in a lottery for special events like the Super Bowl or NASCAR.
VETTIX offers tickets for events such as concerts, comedy shows, monster trucks, and musicals, to name a few.
Photo Credit: vettix.org
Focareto is quoted on his LinkedIn page as saying, “I never imagined I’d create and become the CEO of a thriving national nonprofit. Today, we’ve grown into the largest veteran-focused nonprofit in the United States.”
“The journey has taught me a few things: pursue your passion relentlessly, be patient, protect against scope creep, don’t fear failure, and above all, build a team of people who think differently but pull in the same direction.”
To add to or correct any information in this report, please get in touch with me at james.b@lead4earth.org
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