DuPage County Veterans Need our Support
We’ve been helping to provide
it Since 2005
Help us change lives by providing housing, mental health resources, and opportunity to disabled veterans in DuPage County. Join us in making a real, local impact.
Our Vision at WSFDV
As a 501c-3 non-profit whose mission is to help provide housing and other living needs to Disabled Veterans and their families, we play a crucial role in helping disabled veterans and their families overcome the hurdles to accessing housing and mental health support. In addition, we refer and supplement an array of other foundations and organizations that can provide veterans with much-needed services, such as crisis hotlines, counseling, and substance abuse treatment programs. By combining housing stability with mental health support. We try to help address both the physical and psychological needs of veterans in our community.
A History of Support
WSFDV was established in 2005 with a simple but powerful mission: to dismantle the critical barriers disabled veterans face as they transition from military service to civilian life. The challenges facing the brave men and women who serve their country are countless, but homelessness, mental health issues, financial hardships, and inadequate access to support services and resources are among the most dire – and unfortunately all too common. This charity’s founders were moved, in particular, by the struggles of local veterans like Joel Gomez, a paralyzed war hero in need of a safe place to call home. We intend to honor the sacrifice of Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas D. Larson, a student who graduated from Wheaton North School and was killed as a result of enemy action in Iraq and the many other American service men and women heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
With the help of generous donors and ordinary citizens who contributed their time, their labor and their money, people throughout the county helped build and furnish an accessible residence for Joel. An entire community joined together for the singular purpose of removing the obstacles that adversely impacted a veteran’s access to the services and support systems he needed. Their efforts marked the beginning of a legacy of impact.
With the passing of Joel Gomez in 2022, the DuPage community’s legacy lives on. There remains a considerable need for community foundations to help our veterans. The proceeds from the sale of the home generously built by the community will be shared with other veteran charities and foundations to continue battling homelessness and other complex veteran transition issues.
Our mission is far from done. We remain steadfast in our pledge to continue providing care and support for those veterans who need it, and to assist other organizations who share our commitment to improving support systems for veterans with service-related injuries.
“I never thought or hoped anyone could help us the way they did.”
– Algimiro Gomez, father of soldier Joel Gomez, in tearful
appreciation of the town’s efforts on behalf of his son.
Those Behind the Mission
We are grateful to the entire team of veterans, volunteers, political and community leaders, contributors and sponsors for their unbridled dedication to this cause on behalf of our veterans. We also appreciate their tireless efforts to help make the support of veterans more than a single or occasional event, and instead an ongoing endeavor.
WSFDV Board of Directors
| Column 1 |
|---|
| Michelle Senatore — CoFounder and President |
| Robert Quinn — CoFounder and Vice President |
| Michael Diakoumis — Director |
| Steven Fixler — Director |
| Evelyn Sanguinetti — Director |
| Terry Ekl — Director Emeritus |
| Hon. Joseph Birkett — Director Emeritus |
| Manny Favela — Director Emeritus |
Rockin’ For Our Vets CoChairs
| Column 1 |
|---|
| Michelle Senatore — WSFDV President |
| Matt LaFond — Cantigny Executive Director |
| Dan Lussier — Gary Sinise Foundation Entertainment Manager |
Rockin’ For Our Vets Sub Committee
| Column 1 |
|---|
| Bob Quinn — WSFDV Vice-President |
| Mike Diakoumis — WSFDV Director |
| Steve Fixler — WSFDV Director |
| Evelyn Sanguinetti — WSFDV Director |
| Magan Ascher — Cantigny Visiting Services Director |
| Christopher Pieters — Cantigny Food & Beverage Director |
| Gayln Piper — Cantigny Public Programs Director |
| Larry VanKuran — 18th Infantry Regiment Association President |
| Linda Tuisl — Operation Support Our Troops Executive Director |
| Jim Mendrick — DuPage County Sheriff |
| Guy Papa — DuPage County Sheriff Law Enforcement Bureau |
| Joe Rogers — Outrider Industries Managing Director |
| Lisa Weier — First Trust Portfolios and First Trust Cares Foundation President |
| Brenda Watterson (Baird) — Truly Engaging CEO |
| Leah Friedland — Northwestern Medicine Veterans Chapter |
| Jennifer Koziel — Northwestern Medicine Veterans Chapter, US NAVY Corpsman (Ret.) |
| Coleen Geary — Floods Royal Flush |
| Ron Onesti — Onesti Entertainment Corporation |
| Dave Raymond — Sweet Baby Ray’s Catering |
| Duce Raymond — Sweet Baby Ray’s Catering |
| Bryan “Opie” Opiela — Sweet Baby Ray’s Catering |
Join our Mission
Be a part of our collective effort to show our hometown heroes your gratitude and contribute what you can in any manner you choose. When you support WSFDV with a charitable donation, a sponsorship, or by attending our July concert event, you are helping our local veterans find the help they need in finding housing, physical and/or medical care, and showing your appreciation for their contribution to our safety and liberty.
