4 Purple Heart Recipients Need Your Support to Climb Kilimanjaro
KILI CLIMB FOR A CAUSE
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to be part of Sam's Furniture's Kilimanjaro Climb for a Cause happening in August.
The "Kili Climb for a Cause" climbing team, sponsored by Sam’s Furniture in Springdale, Arkansas, includes owners, Joe & Larra Donaldson, a video production team, and ten Veterans - four of which are Purple Heart recipients (single- and double-limb amputees).
This adventure was featured on the March 1, 2020, Fox & Friends show and was originally scheduled for July 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled for August 2021.
WHY ARE WE CLIMBING?
The Kilimanjaro Climb for a Cause was created to inspire all individuals to face challenges head-on and work to overcome them. Summiting Kilimanjaro is a huge undertaking and accomplishment for a person without physical injuries to deal with. For those like our Purple Heart recipients who...
SDIA a Member of the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network to Help Veterans, First Responders Heal
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce that they are a proud member of the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network, a new cognitive health and mental wellness network providing transformative care to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse launched by the Gary Sinise Foundation on February 16. The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network builds on the work of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health and the Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH program. They will establish 20 treatment sites nationwide, including one in Northwest Arkansas where SDIA will deliver the Warrior PATHH program.
“We are incredibly honored to be a member of the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network,” said SDIA founder and CEO, SgtMaj Lance Nutt, USMC (Ret.). “Our mission has always been to engage, assist and empower our nation’s Sheep Dogs (veterans and first responders) to Get Off The Couch™ and live their best lives. Partnering...
SDIA’s Warrior PATHH Training Program is Now Available!
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will host the first Warrior PATHH training class in Northwest Arkansas next month, and we are so excited to help our nation's heroes transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. The March class is full, but we have classes available throughout the year for you to participate in. Here is our class availability: March 13-19, 2021 – FULL
April 14-20, 2021 - 7 spots available May 14-20, 2021 (Female only) - 3 spots available June 23-29, 2021 - 6 spots available September 18-24, 2021 - 6 spots available October 16-22, 2021 - 8 spots available November 15-21, 2021 (Female only) - 8 spots available December 4-10, 2021 - 8 spots available
We want you (and Sheep Dogs you know) to take this first brave step in making peace with your past, living in the present, and planning for a great future.
Interested? Start the process by completing the Interest...
SDIA Partners with BCF to Launch Warrior PATHH Training in NWA
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance is honored to partner with Boulder Crest Foundation to deliver their life-changing Warrior PATHH Training for Combat Veterans and First Responders to Northwest Arkansas beginning in March 2021.
Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) is the nation's first non-clinical program designed to cultivate and facilitate Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). The program focuses on Combat Veterans and First Responders struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and other challenges associated with trauma, and teaches them how to transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth.
In 2021, SDIA will hold this training at Camp War Eagle while a dedicated facility is developed. How It Works This transformative 18-month program begins with seven days of intensive and immersive PTG training that taps into each students' strengths, skills and abilities. Throughout the program, they learn proven techniques to regulate thoughts, feelings, and actions, connect head and heart, and...
Our Mission Continues with Outdoor Adventures
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Office and Northwest Arkansas Chapter have dug deep to find ways to adapt, improvise and overcome many of the challenges presented by the guidance/mandates in place. While we have postponed our large-scale adventures to 2021, #OurMissionContinues! Our reformatted Outdoor Adventures now include groups of 10 or fewer whenever possible, and we press on to keep our Sheep Dogs off that couch. Since June, we have taken more than 60 Sheep Dogs in need on 2-day adventures to experience the thrill of off-roading with razors at Rush Springs Ranch, skydiving at Skydive Fayetteville, rockcrawling with Rockcrawlers 4x4 Club NWA at Byrd's Outdoor Center, water activities on Beaver Lake, and with the recent cooler weather, indoor axe throwing, climbing and more. While it sounds like we're “just having fun,” the camaraderie, peer support and sense of belonging participants feel during these adventures is critical to the overall well-being of each Sheep Dog attending.
Hurricane Laura Disaster Response Missions 1.0 & 2.0
SDIA's Hurricane Laura 1.0 Disaster Response Team (DRT) worked hard last week assisting people in the DeRidder, Louisiana, area. The Team of 53 volunteers from Arkansas (Central and NWA), Florida, Kansas, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas:
assisted 1,608 people (including 168 Veteran and First Responder families); cleared 66 properties of 265 downed trees; mucked-out and performed mold remediation in 6 homes; covered 111 structures with tarps; and distributed 8,046 lbs of food, water and supplies.
Despite the work done, there is much more to do. SDIA will be deploying a second DRT to Louisiana Sept. 14-18, 2020. The DRT will conduct chainsaw operations, tree & debris removal, tarping structures, mucking-out homes, distributing food/water, and other recovery tasks. If you are available to deploy and are not high-risk for COVID-19, please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. After registering, you will be added to the list of DR volunteers and will receive deployment...
SDIA Deploying Disaster Response Team for Hurricane Laura Recovery
Overnight Hurricane Laura slammed into the Texas/Louisiana coasts with Cat 4 strength. The need for assistance in recovery is great, and Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is responding. SDIA will deploy a Disaster Response (DR) Team from Sunday, August 30, to Friday, September 4, to the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area to perform chainsaw operations, trees & debris removal, tarping roofs, and other assistance as needed.
The Northwest Arkansas DR Team, along with volunteers from other SDIA Teams and Chapters, will depart from the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s at 10:00am on Sunday, August 30.
Those who are not high-risk for COVID-19 and are willing/able to deploy next week, may register to volunteer at this form.
While this is a challenging time for most Americans, SDIA would greatly appreciate the public joining their DR Team by making any financial donation possible. No donation is too small - and every bit will help SDIA assist those affected by Hurricane Laura and...
SDIA’s Silent Auction Bidding Now Open!
Get a head start on your Christmas shopping! We've collected hundreds of high-quality Silent Auction items from local businesses and national companies and they're ready to take your bid! We've got something for everyone on your list with a variety of children's toys, home decor, household, outdoor, entertainment, fitness, and pet items and so much more.
Browse the Silent Auction items item by item, or by item category - you can even add items to a watch list while you decide on a bid. Just click or scan the QR code at left, or visit www.SDIA10.givesmart.com. (Winners are responsible for picking up items or paying shipping costs.) BIDDING WILL CLOSE AT 8PM ON AUGUST 25.
DID YOU KNOW The CARES Act passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 crisis - best known for its Payroll Protection Program SBA loans - also has provisions that increase the tax-deductibility of donations to charities. During 2020,...
Come Celebrate with Us on October 9!
Join us for SDIA's Outdoor Celebration October 9, 2021 Village on the Creeks - Rogers, AR Doors Open 4:30pm Program Begins 6:30pm VIP Reception 9:00-10:00pm
Join us for a night of celebrating 11 years of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and our nation's heroes! Over the past 11 years, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has grown into a national 501c3 nonprofit. With your help, SDIA has been able to engage, assist and empower thousands of Sheep Dogs in need by helping them #GetOffTheCouch. This is accomplished through our three programs:
Outdoor Adventures to engage them with camaraderie and healing; Warrior PATHH training to assist them in learning to transform their struggle into strength; and Continued Service where Sheep Dogs are empowered to discover the power of "Helping is Healing" as they serve others through Disaster Response Missionst and community service.
The Celebration will be held in the courtyard area between the shops, and will also have Sheep Dog vehicles and family-friendly activities in the parking lot. We'll have...
SDIA Hosting 10th Anniversary 10K Ruck March June 27 in Honor of Fallen Heroes
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is ready for their 10th Anniversary 10K Ruck March at a new location – Lawrence Plaza in Bentonville – on Saturday, June 27, 2020, from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Funds raised from the event will allow SDIA to continue its mission to help Sheep Dogs (Veterans and First Responders) Get Off The Couch™ and continue serving through their Disaster Response Mission, Outdoor Adventure and other programs.
Along the route, SDIA will be honoring five fallen heroes, including Fayetteville’s own Officer Stephen P. Carr, 27, who was killed in the line of duty on December 7, 2019. He was hired by the Fayetteville Police Department in April 2017, and was a patrol officer assigned to the Dickson Street Entertainment District. Officer Carr was known as a "gentle giant." He was calm, fair, and truly cared about the individuals he served in the entertainment district. The other honorees are:
Sergeant 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, died...