Today we’d like to introduce you to Perry Yee.
Perry, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Active Valor was created to try to fill a need that we have seen in the lives of many veterans (including myself) that we have had the great opportunity to work with. My personal experiences and struggles that I encountered after discharging from the military back in 2011, led me to want to make a change in my own life and in the lives of others that were going through the same issues. It was difficult coming from a community where there is so much drive behind what you do and always having a purpose, to being on the other end where now there is no real mission in life.
A lot of veterans that we work with do have good jobs, a family and steady income, but there’s one thing that veterans yearn for which is that sense of service. The different programs that we offer with Active Valor were designed to give these men and women a chance to serve their country again, just in a different manner. We want to show these veterans the value of who they are and what they have accomplished in life and show them that just because they don’t wear the uniform anymore, their efforts and service is still a huge need in our communities.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a very challenging (but rewarding) road so far, especially without having any background in business or running one for that matter. Starting up a non-profit took a lot of research and understanding of something that I was very unfamiliar with. I am still to this day learning new things and different ways to approach what we are looking to accomplish. One of the most important things that lead to our success, was being driven by passion and trying to keep a positive attitude no matter what the circumstance.
One of the hardest challenges was just trying to figure out what it was we were going to do. I believe that most people always want to “make a difference” in this world, but rarely know what that even looks like to them. For us, it was finding out how we could make the most impact and to have it on multiple fronts.
Active Valor – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
With our mission at Active Valor, we wanted a way to combat both mental and emotional struggles that veterans may experience after they leave the military. We first started with our K9 outreach program which was designed to help these vets battle the mental stresses and anxiety.
The best thing that helped me personally when I got out of the service was when I got a dog. Originally being from the east coast, and now living in San Diego, I am far from my whole family. There was a huge lack of a good support system, which I believe is a very bad situation. I had fallen into a really bad place where I secluded myself from everything around me. I literally would go 3 or 4 days without even seeing another person. It wasn’t until I got a dog, where it now forced me to get out of my home, have responsibility for more than myself, and gave me that little bit of companionship that I was missing.
This is a feeling that I wanted to be able to share with other people that might be facing the same issues. Our focus is to give our vets a good excuse to get out of their homes, meet other like-minded veterans and to help build new relationships that they may not of otherwise. As an added bonus, they also get free training for their dog from behavioral experts with a lot of experience. Plus being in San Diego, they get to enjoy the amazing weather and scenery we have pretty much year round.
Our “bread and butter,” is our Valor Adventures program. This was the main drive behind Active Valor. Being a veteran without a mission is very unfulfilling. I don’t speak for all veterans, but having a lot of regular interaction, I can say most veterans desire to continue their service to our country. That led to the idea of starting something that not only gave them the opportunity to do but to also help another great community as well.
By helping those who have served, we also wanted a way to honor our fellow brothers and sisters who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their service. We couldn’t think of a better way to do that than to be able to help take care of their families now that they are gone.
Being able to help families that have lost a loved one overseas, holds a very special place in our hearts. It made perfect sense to be able to connect these families in need with the veteran community that has a lot to give. We wanted to give these kids and spouses who have lost someone special in the military to have the chance to regain the positive influence in their lives and to let them know that they aren’t forgotten. With Valor Adventures, we place veterans in a mentorship role and pair them with these kids for an experience unlike anything else.
With our program, they are able to spend the day with someone who has walked in the shoes of their lost loved one and to have the chance to learn different valuable skill sets that they wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere. Together, they face different challenges that they have to overcome together, utilizing teamwork and trust in one another. The bonds that are created never fade as encourage all of our mentors to stay connected with their mentees and their families. We wanted to create an ongoing mentorship for these kids to give them positive role models with people they can look up to.
Lastly, we still wanted a way to give back to those who are still currently serving which is why we started our care package program as well. Not only are we able to send much-appreciated gifts from home to troops overseas, but it gives our veterans a way to say thank you to their fellow brothers and sisters in arms. Each package sent is hand pack by veterans which gives them a chance to feel connected to the community.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Our success is determined by how many lives we can personally impact, whether it’s showing a veteran they’re not alone in their struggles and letting them be a part of something greater, or if it’s creating a smile on the face of a child who has suffered from great loss. We have been able to bring two different communities together for the same goal of helping one another.
There’s nothing more pleasing to us than having a widow come to us and say that their child was truly impacted by an adventure we put on and that they’re always asking when the next one is. Or having a veteran come to us and tell us that they now have purpose back in their lives. We have been so blessed to have met and worked with all the great veterans and families with our adventures. This is something that can be shared across our entire country, and we look to accomplish that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://activevalor.com
- Phone: 619-948-9517
- Email: info@activevalor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activevalor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/activevalorofficial/
Image Credit:
Jamie Tompkins
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