TEMPE, Ariz., August 2, 2016 — The Veteran Tickets Foundation (“Vet Tix”), a national nonprofit supporting the veteran and military community with free event tickets, is excited to announce that it has partnered with ScoutComms, the nation’s leading communications, advocacy, and philanthropic strategy firm supporting veterans and military families, to expand its reach and positive societal impact among veterans and service members.
Vet Tix works with sports team, entertainers and venues to distribute unused tickets to over 400,000 military and veterans members (“Vet Tixers”) who have been verified as service members or veterans through official military records, and has given out over 2 million free tickets including 561,000 tickets in 2015 alone. Within the next six months, Vet Tix expects to surpass 500,000 members and increase its many opportunities for members.
“Vet Tix has developed an effective and efficient process for helping connect veterans, service members and their families with their local communities by providing free tickets to popular concerts, sports events and cultural activities,” said Vet Tix co-founder and CEO Michael Focareto, a Navy veteran. “By working with ScoutComms, we aim to broaden our reach to offer opportunities to veterans and service members in all regions of the country and to encourage other organizations to support our cause and follow in our footsteps.”
Vet Tix will work with ScoutComms to increase awareness of its unique ability to bring veterans and service members closer to their families and communities through entertainment opportunities; encourage veterans and service members to become Vet Tixers; and expand its operations so that it is able to offer tickets to Vet Tixers living in every major region of the country.
“As a certified B Corp and registered benefit corporation, ScoutComms seeks to work with the companies and nonprofits that are clearly committed to and having a positive impact in the veteran and military family communities,” said ScoutComms Founder and CEO Fred Wellman, an Army veteran. “Vet Tix falls firmly into this category. We rarely see a nonprofit that is able to channel more than 95 percent of its revenues directly into programs, but they’ve maintained this high standard of excellence for years, all while delivering services that have a positive, immediate impact on the lives of those who have served our country.”
The idea for Vet Tix was born when Focareto was at the 2008 Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona and learned that the members of the military color guard would not be allowed to watch the game, even as he sat next to an empty seat. From that experience, an idea grew to help put veterans and military members in empty seats at games and events across the nation.
Vet Tix events include those at very small venues all the way up to professional sporting events and top-selling concerts. Vet Tix also help veterans and their families attend events they otherwise could not with the “Hero’s Wish” program, where veterans and active duty personnel and their families can post requests for events and donors can provide tickets or money toward the purchase of tickets to events.
Vet Tix is ranked as the 2016 Top-rated Nonprofit in the United States by GreatNonprofits. All money donated to Vet Tix goes directly to buy tickets for veterans and service members, and more than 95 percent of all Vet Tix revenues are spent on program costs.
ScoutComms CEO Fred Wellman was named Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year by Virginia’s Small Business Development Center network for 2015, and recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Virginia’s Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year in 2014.
To become Vet Tix members, veterans and members of the military and their families can visit http://www.vettix.org to create a free account and request tickets.
About Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix)
Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation supporting our military community. Vet Tix has provided over 2 million free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities. Our military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities, and eventually, into civilian life. Attending events improves morale, strengthens family bonds through shared interests and encourages service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life. In gratitude for their service and to support their reintegration, Vet Tix is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much. Donations are eligible for tax deductions. Please visit our web site at www.VetTix.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About ScoutComms
ScoutComms, a Certified B Corp and a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, is the nation’s leading communications, advocacy, and philanthropic strategy firm dedicated to providing services that support veterans, service members and military families. We work with Fortune 500 corporations, veteran-owned businesses, non-profits, and other organizations to help them increase and sustain their positive impact for those who have served. Our mission is to empower veterans and military families through communications grounded initiatives and collaborative partnerships that lead to greater awareness of veterans’ needs and expands their access to resources promoting their economic, physical and mental well-being. ScoutComms is one of the first B Corps in the world focused on veteran and military community issues. Please visit our web site at www.ScoutCommsUSA.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
