A Preview Of What is Ahead in 2023

AHLEY'S HOUSE

As we near the start of our building process, we
wanted to update all our supporters on the actual
progress.
To date we have the actual lot paid in full, we have submitted all paperwork for permits to the city of Eustis for the 2nd time and have secured adequate quotes for all necessary material and labor to begin project.
With the current labor shortages and issues with the supply line, we are currently experiencing a 40% increase in cost, we are therefore forging ahead with a very aggressive fundraising timeline which we hope you will help support.
ASHLEY'S COTTAGE

We have been blessed with the opportunity to acquire
a 3 bedroom 3 bath house in Fruitland Park, Fl. This house will become "Ashley's Cottage" and enable us to move forward with our transition home mission as we move forward with the building of Ashley's House in Eustis, Fl.
After taking ownership on January 16, 2023, we will begin the process of making it our own and converting it into a safe haven for six women veterans. We are super excited to find ourselves on this wonderful journey. We hope that you will continue your generous support of our women veterans. The Villages Daily Sun

2022 In Review!
Hold our 2nd annual New Beginnings Gala 
-Sponsored some incredible service dogs Liberty, Muffin, Valor,  and Koda
-Hold our 8th Orchid Gala honoring women Veterans
-Hold our very entertaining, annual “Elvis Show” to benefit the Veterans in-need program

We held the “Neil Diamond Concert” for benefit mobility & independence for the Veteran community 
-We presented 2 very technologically-savvy all-terrain chairs to two deserving Vietnam Veterans
-We also held a performance with the Texas Tenors to promote mobility and independence among the Veteran community, and also presented an adapted motorcycle to a Iraq Veteran who is an amputee 
- Held  a performance with the “Tenors” at the Sharon to benefit Veterans in-need 
-Joined two other nonprofits in hosting VetFest Lake County, which brought awareness to Veteran and first-responder suicide
-Raised $7,022 for the band “The Resilient,” a group of very talented wounded warriors, to assist with their
Music therapy.
-After three years of Covid restrictions, we were able to go to Walter Reed and throw a Christmas party for our Veterans who were treated there, as well as their children.
-We supported “Camp for Heroes” in North Carolina to benefit Veterans and first responders who suffer from PTSD and other injuries. 

Our 2022 Sponsored Service Dogs
Over the past 8 years we at Villagers For Veterans have sponsored 14 Dogs and this year alone we were able to help 5 Veterans acquire a service Dog.
Muffin (K-9 Service Dog Behavior, Deland , Fl.)
Liberty (K-9 Service Dog Behavior, Deland , Fl.)
Murphy (Patriot Service Dogs, Belleview, Fl.)
Valor (K-9 Service Dog Behavior, Deland , Fl.)
Koda (K-9 Service Dog Behavior, Deland , Fl.)
These Amazing Service Dogs Do an Amazing Job
for their Veterans.
Upcoming Events
January 28,2023
28
Saturday
CRUISIN WITH BOARDWALK- DANCE
Dance at Lake Miona Recreation Center from 6:00-8:50 PM
Villagers Only Event, Must have Villages ID
BYOB/ BYO-Snacks
FREE EVENT* DONATIONS APPRECIATED* 50/50 RAFFLE
Boardwalk Cruising is one of the most popular Duos in The Villages
FEBRUARY 2023
25
Saturday
WE ALL NEED A LAUGH THESE DAYS!
JOIN Villagers For Veterans for an evening of laughter with The Amazing
Juanita Lolita
Lake Miona Recreation Center, 6:00-8:50P
Villagers Only Event Must Have Villages ID
BYOB/BYO-Snacks
Ticketed Event $ 10.00 PP. You can reserve tables of 8
To Purchase Tickets : www.villagersforveterans.org or call 516-220-5068
March
25
Saturday
DANCE TO THE MUSIC* With *"Konnection"
Enjoy an evening of Great Music and Dancing with Connection, one of the best bands to have assembled in our community
Lake Miona Recreation Center, 6:00-9:00PM
Villagers Only Event, Must have Villages ID
BYOB/BYO-Snacks. FREE EVENT * Donations Appreciated
50/50 Raffle.
April
22
Saturday
AN EVENING WITH MEL, THE MISFITS & CO.
(Ralph Dinome)
Mel and The Misfits are seasoned entertainers and Musicians. They perform music spanning the 50's , 60's, 70's and 80's.
A wonderful Way to spend a Saturday Night.
Lake Miona Recreation, 6:00-8:50PM
Villagers Only Event, Must have Villages ID
Ticketed Event $10.00 PP
To Purchase Tickets: www.villagersforveterans.org or call 516-220-5068
BYOB/BYO*SNACKS
May
27
Saturday
DANCE WITH "RE-BOOT"
One of The Newsstands south of 44.
FREE EVENT , Donations Appreciated 50/50 Raffle
Lake Miona Recreation 6:00-8:50PM
Villagers Only Event, Must have Villagers ID
BYOB/ BYOSnacks
Dance to Classic Rock & CountryMore Info
June
24
Saturday
AN EVENING WITH MARY-JO VITALE
Enjoy an evening of wonderful music as only Mary Jo Vitale can present. This Gem of The Villages is here to entertain you while helping us support those that have valiantly served.
Lake Miona Recreation 6:00-8:50 PM
Villagers Only Event, Must Have Villages ID
FREE EVENT, Donations greatly appreciated!
50/50 Raffle BYOB/BYOSnacksMore Info
July
22
Saturday
ALOHA FROM THE VILLAGES*With Ted Torres
ÅKA ELVIS!
Join Villagers for Veterans as They Welcome back one of The Greatest Elvis Tribute Artists. He Looks Like Elvis, He Sounds Like Elvis and He Moves Like Elvis
Villagers Only Event, Must Have Villages ID
Lake Miona Recreation Center 6:00-8:00PM
BYOB/BYOSnacks
Ticketed Event $ 20.00PP To Purchase Tickets Visit
www.villagersforveterans.org or call 516-220-5068
Tables For 8 AvailableMore Info
August
26
Saturday
Petrina*Comedic Singer and Entertainer
Lake Miona Recreation Center 6:00-8:50 PM
Enjoy an Evening of energetic music, a true treat!!!
Villagers Only Event, Must Have Villages ID
Ticketed Event $10.00PP
Tables of 8 Available
To purchase Tickets visit: www.villagersforveterans.org
GO HERE or call 516-220-5068
September
09
Saturday
9th Orchid Gala
Join Us for One of The Premiere Events In The Villages, as we Honor our Women Veterans
Black & White Masquerade Theme
Savannah Center, The Villages, Fl. 32163
5:30-9:30PM
Full Dinner, Dessert & Cash Bar
Live & Silent Auction
Entertainment by Street Talk Band, With Our Favorite Piano Bar Duo
Ronda & Steve Kaplan
Ticketed Event $75.00PP Tables of 8 $500.00
Sept
23
Saturday
Grease Sing Along, Featuring Tight Genes
Lake Miona Recreation Center. 6:00-8:50 PM
Enjoy The Movie, Sing The Songs as Tight Genes Interpret For You!
BYOB/BYOSnacks Popcorn Available
If You enjoyed Mama Mia, You Will love This and So Will The guys.
Dress Like The Movie Optional
Ticketed Event $5.00PP
To Purchase Tickets Visit : www.villagersforveterans.org
or call 516-220-5068 Tickets
October
28
Saturday
Hollywood and The Tropix
Lake Miona Recreation Center 6:00-8:50 Pm.
Enjoy an Evening Of Fun Music and Dance With This Amazing Tatent
Villagers Only Event, Must Have Villages ID
Free Event- Donations Appreciated 50/50 Raffle
BYOB/ BYOSnacksMore Info
November
25
Saturday
Volunteer & Supporter Appreciation
Dinner & Entertainment To Show Our Appreciation To Those that volunteer and those that support our programs
More To FollowMore Info
December
23
Saturday
Veterans Holiday Party
Holiday Treats & Entertainment
More To Follow
January
07
Saturday
SAVE THE DATE!

TEXAS TENORS AT THE SHARON
MORE INFO TO FOLLOW
A Message From Our Founder
HONORING THOSE THAT SERVED
Since its inception on January 15, 2015, Villagers For Veterans has worked non stop to provide those that served with tools and services needed for their healing.
Through our 100% Volunteer organization, we have raised over 2 million dollars. These funds enabled us to provide 33 All Terrain Chairs and Vehicles, Sponsor 15 Service Dogs, Facilitated The Travel of over 100 women Veterans To DC Memorials, Built an ADA Smart House for a quadriplegic Woman Veteran, assisted countless Veterans with small financial grants, and is currently working to get our women veterans off the streets into a safe and loving environment. "Ashley's House" & "Ashley's Cottage".
We value your support and please take comfort in knowing that none of this would be possible without you.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE VETERAN AT A TIME
How You Can Help
  • Financial Support is always needed and greatly appreciated
  • Volunteers, Volunteers, Volunteers
  • In-Kind Donation
  • Grant Writers
  • Committee Members
  • Supplies and Products for Auction Baskets
  • Office Help (We currently all work from home)

Homeless Women Veterans
Fastest Growing Demographic
In Today's Military
Jennifer Badger had been out of the Navy for more than a decade when the circumstances in her life led her into homelessness.
When she enlisted in May 2001, she was looking for a change and a way out of her hometown of Fulton, Missouri. She became an intelligence specialist and deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2002 on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington.
In 2005, she decided to transition back to civilian life. She had become a single mother and wanted to raise her son without worrying about deploying again.
In the years that followed her separation from the military, circumstances and choices led Badger down a troubled path of drug addiction, abusive relationships and depression. She went to prison in 2019 and got high the day she was released.
At that point, she said her family had given up on her.
“I lost everything,” Badger said. “I lost all three of my children. I lost everything but my life.”
With nowhere to go, she became homeless. She slept on friends’ couches. She continued to use drugs. She eventually nearly died from an overdose.
Badger’s story is one in a concerning trend among women veterans.
With women now comprising 15% of active-duty forces and 19% of reserve units—a number that continues to rise—they have become the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population.
Yet, the availability of services offered to women veterans at risk for homelessness has not kept pace with their increasing numbers.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, women transitioning from the military can face many challenges when returning to civilian life that put them at risk for homelessness: single parenting, domestic abuse, psychological aftereffects related to military sexual trauma (MST) or combat, substance abuse, employment and affordable housing.
Mobility & Independence
There are few things that can restore a veterans sense of freedom. Providing LTC Natalie Vines with an all terrain track chair gave her the ability to move around her property with greater ease, Knowing that
Natalie was safe and in no pain while using her chair, it allowed her husband to tend to the needs of their home.
Small token to show this wounded warrior how much we appreciate her service and sacrifice.

DINING OUT BINGO
2ND MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT WILDWOOD
COMMUNITY CENTER
5:30-8:45PM
GIFT BASKETS ARE
ALWAYS APPRECIATED
GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR
MONEY
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
2518 Burnsed Boulevard
Box 303
The Villages, FL 32163
All Financial Reports and Tax Returns can be obtained by contacting Marie Bogdonoff at 352-751-7611 or by email