YETI Supporting Our American Veterans

One of the coolest things about working with brands in the western industry is learning about what they are doing to make a difference in their community. It’s no surprise that YETI is a major supporter of all things veteran. This is why I wanted to dig a little bit deeper into how YETI makes a difference in the veteran community.

Folds of Honor

One of the organizations that YETI partners with is Folds of Honor. Their mission is to honor our veteran’s sacrifices and help educate their legacy. The story started when Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney was coming home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard when he came home he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled.

It was on that same flight that the pilot announced they were carrying the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt. Colonel Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Among that same group was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob. Since then, Major Rooney has committed his life – through the Folds of Honor – to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Jacob Bucklin became the first Folds of Honor scholarship recipient in 2007.

Heroes and Horses

Another organization that YETI is proud to partner with is Heroes and Horses. This organization has set out to provide alternate solutions to combat veterans that are working through their physical and mental pain after leaving the service. These solutions don’t include things like prescription medications or traditional psychotherapy, but instead, the opportunity to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner strength, and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service. Their approach isn’t,

“just about healing “battle wounds,” it’s about taking a look at what’s going on with each person as a whole. We address the physiological components by creating a whole-food eating and physical fitness routine, then we work on the mind through an interactive daily leadership course—all happening simultaneously. You can’t just “treat” one part of a person and expect them to thrive, you have to look at how everything works together.”

Below is a snapshot of one of the tools they use to get these veterans out of their heads and moving towards healing. It’s called “uninterrupted data”. Essentially, they are asked a question on the first day of their program, then asked the same question again towards the end. The transformation speaks for itself. YETI is proud to supply this organization with several of their products, ranging from coolers to mugs to essential gear for backcountry pack trips.

And More…

These are just a couple of the organizations that YETI is involved with, if you want to see a full list of YETI’s partners, you can do that here. It’s not hard to tell that YETI takes pride in its range of partnerships. Everything from conservation organizations to veteran organizations, they partner with folks who share the same core values. Remember, when you need something to withstand the test of your daily adventures, choose YETI.