Run in the NWA Turkey Trot 5K & Provide Christmas Gifts for Children
Most children cannot wait for Christmas morning to arrive. Seeing the gifts under the Christmas tree, opening them and playing with desired toys and games is what childhood dreams are made of. But for hundreds of children of military and first responder families in Northwest Arkansas and across the United States, there won't be gifts to be opened. You can help change that! On Thanksgiving morning (Thur., Nov. 24) from 9:00 to 11:00am, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will host its 9th Annual Turkey Trot 5K at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers. Your participation in (or donation to) the NWA Turkey Trot provides the funding needed for our Christmas Outreach program, which gives the children of struggling Sheep Dogs gifts of toys, clothing, and necessities to open at Christmas. “As this event grows and raises more funds, we are able to help more and more children of Sheep Dog families have a merry Christmas,” said SgtMaj...
The 2016 Holiday Season is Upon Us – and We Need YOUR Help!
The holiday season is upon us once again. Most Americans live well enough to enjoy the holidays, but for many of our nation's Veterans and First Responders (Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and EMS professionals), that is not the case. These courageous men and women put their lives on the line for us each and every day, giving us the gift of protection and security. It's time for us to give them and their children the gift of happy holidays. Over the next couple of months, SDIA Teams and Chapters throughout the US will be working hard to raise money and secure donations for our two Holiday Programs benefiting Sheep Dog families in need.
The Thanksgiving Outreach program provides a complete traditional Thanksgiving dinner including a turkey, ham, vegetables, sides, and pie. Meals are provided to Sheep Dog families in need of assistance who have applied and been approved by Team/Chapter leadership. Donations in the amount of $60 will feed one family.
Our...
Patriot Day 2016 Events Recap
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and a few of its Chapters recently held Patriot Day events to honor the lives lost and those injured in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and provide an opportunity to show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all our nation’s Sheep Dogs. This year marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While events were free to attend, donations received will be used to provide Sheep Dogs in need with Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts for their children. SDIA's Northwest Arkansas Chapter, Arkansas River Valley Team and Central Arkansas Chapter joined together for a special day honoring the fallen at this year's 6th Annual SDIA Patriot Day event, held in Little Rock Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, which were commemorated with a special Centennial Celebration at the event. A proclamation from Little Rock...
Don’t Miss Out – SDIA’s Patriot Day Events are This Weekend!
Don’t miss out on the fun as we honor the fallen and show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s Sheep Dogs – those who serve (or have served) in our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS professions. If you live in Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Northeast Oklahoma, or Eastern North Carolina, we hope you will check out their respective Patriot Day Events! Proceeds from all events will fund SDIA's Holiday programs, so the more money raised means more struggling Veteran and First Responder families will have happy holidays. (Click these links for more information about out Thanksgiving Outreach and Christmas Outreach programs). Held in September each year, SDIA's Patriot Day events honor the lives lost and those injured in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and provides an opportunity to show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all our nation's Sheep Dogs. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS...
Rafting & Racing Inspire Sheep Dogs
They started arriving in North Carolina on Thursday, August 4, and by Friday, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) had 70+ veterans, first responders and supporters gathered to participate in their Western North Carolina Chapter’s Adventure Weekend. This annual adventure culminates in running the Asheville Spartan Super, and for 30 of the participants, the race would be a test of how far they had come since being injured in combat or the line of duty - and a reminder that no matter the obstacle, they can overcome it all with their brothers and sisters by their side. The Sheep Dogs started their weekend with a hearty breakfast at the Dixie Diner in Hendersonville on Friday morning, followed by white water rafting on the Nantahala River.
James Hurn, Deputy Sheriff with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, summed up the experience the best. “I thought it was going to be a typical rafting trip,” he said. “But I quickly learned that when you...
Skydiving Events Renew Spirits of Sponsored Sheep Dogs
Ask someone if they want to skydive, and you are sure to get one of two adamant answers – “YES! Let’s do it!” or “Are you CRAZY?! Why would I jump out of a perfectly good airplane?!” Fortunately for the willing, both the Northwest Arkansas Chapter and Michigan Team of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) recently held skydiving events – with the others enjoying the excitement and camaraderie with their feet firmly on the ground. While some members of SDIA have jumped as part of their military training, not all did. For those who stayed on the ground or in the plane, skydiving may provide the rush of combat or other intensive training in a very new way. This was the case for sponsored first-time skydiver USMC Cpl Justin Denslow at the Michigan Team’s July 3 event held at Skydive Tecumseh. After being diagnosed with PTSD upon his return from Afghanistan, Cpl Denslow tried various treatments/training to manage his symptoms...
SDIA’s Unforgettable Adventure at Yosemite National Park
After 5 days of camping in and exploring the vast and magnificent Yosemite National Park, the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) group was tired, but refreshed and invigorated by their experiences. As special guests of the National Park Service as they celebrate their 100th anniversary, the 60+ Sheep Dogs and family members who participated in this Outdoor Adventure were treated to upgraded camp sites, a special tour, and the opportunity to discover all this incredible park has to offer. From May 29 through June 2, SDIA guests visited Tuolumne Meadows, swam at snow melt Tenaya Lake, summited waterfall peaks, and hiked and explored the meadows, ponds, rivers and mountains surrounding them. A highlight for many was the private guided tram-ride tour of Yosemite Valley by the Park Rangers; during the tour, Rangers thanked our sponsored Sheep Dogs for their service and for honoring the Park by spending Memorial Day week in Yosemite.
For all who were there, being unplugged from technology,...
SDIA Combat Wounded Member’s Social Media Videos Getting Attention
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to share that one of our Combat Wounded Veteran Members, Jose Luis Sanchez, was featured on CrossFit HQ’s Facebook* and Instagram* page on Wednesday! Sanchez's Facebook and Instagram posts showing his training, perseverance and hard core resolve at Warrior Fitness Center caught their attention. In October 2011, SSgt Jose Luis Sanchez had no idea how drastically his life was about to change. While conducting a foot patrol in Afghanistan, Sanchez stepped on an IED, resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, and an extremely damaged, but salvageable, right leg. For the next four years, Sanchez would struggle daily to accept the man he had become. He hid from the world – physically and emotionally – because he feared how others would see him…his injuries. Yet he vigorously pushed himself in physical therapy so he would walk again. Then he began CrossFit, and physically pushed himself further than he...
Don’t Miss SDIA’s 5th Annual Patriot Day Event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015
We all see children watch with excitement and fascination when emergency vehicles race by, sirens blaring and lights flashing. To them, First Responders and Military are larger than life and true heroes. Imagine how excited they would be to sit in a First Responder vehicle, put on some Military gear and learn first-hand what their heroes do on a regular basis. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to give them this opportunity at their 5th Annual Patriot Day event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015, from 9:00AM to 4:30PM at the Bentonville Municipal Airport. Proceeds from the event will provide funding for SDIA’s Thanksgiving Outreach program, which provides a full Thanksgiving dinner to identified Sheep Dog in Need families.
The Northwest Arkansas 2015 Patriot Day event is free to the public – thanks to Sponsors like Walmart, Propper, Zantac, Heritage Indian Motorcycles of NWA and Tyson – and will be a fun, educational day for...