1st Annual Watercraft Expo Brings to the Community Together to Support Isle of Wight Veterans

IVET Volunteers together before the 1st Annual Watercraft Expo held on July 18, 2015. Newport News, VA – July 29, 2015 – The Institute for Veterans Education and Training (IVET) along with the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club hosted the 1st Annual Isle of Wight Military Benefit and Watercraft Expo on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Over $12, 700 was raised from the community to support local military families.

"Many people in the community and beyond teamed together to raise over $12, 000 for local veterans and military families, " said Brigadier General (RET) Jeffrey C. Horne, IVET CEO. "This show of support and dedication to our nation's veterans can and should replicated in every community across the nation."

Sponsors for the event were Smithfield Foods, Times Publishing, BassPro, Tracker Boats, Lighthouse Inflatables, Troy Marine, Norfolk Marine, Trident Marine, Captain Max King Marine, Sound Wave Custom Sound, Casey Marine, Winning the Training Game, Walls Insurance Agency, GC Commercial, The Woman's Club of Smithfield, Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 8545, Kiwanis Club Smithfield, American Legion Post 132, Nansemond River Power Squadron, Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, The Arts League and East West Realty and Rescue Dive Specialist.

Many volunteers participated in the planning and execution of the event. "I was motivated to participate in planning and executing this military family benefit because I am a retired Army veteran and I have seen the need for family assistance personally" said Thomas Orwlowski, Volunteer. "I will do all that I can to help the families who have given so much for this country."

Proceeds of the event will support veterans, their spouses and/or children who are seeking to further or advance their education. Application procedures will be posted on iowvets.org and ivetsolutions.org on August 1, 2015. Scholarships will be awarded on October 1, 2015.

About:

The Institute for Veterans Education and Training is an educational non-profit enterprise established in 2010 that is devotedly assisting military members, regardless of background, to find career and life happiness and balance. Its mission is to improve military recruiting and retention into education and business ventures to create win-wins for industry and for the men and women that have served this country valiantly. IVET believes it can prove that military members, supported by effective transition programs, are the best employment product in the Nation.