22 Saves Hockey Foundation

04/22/2025

04/14/2025

Shout out to American Legion Post #187 Wake Forest for your generous donation!

03/22/2025

22 Saves Hockey Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation organized for the purpose of promoting the health and wellness of military veterans. Our vision, quite simply, is to help veterans heal their invisible wounds and return them to an improved state of health and wellness. Our mission is to save lives. How we do this is by engaging veterans in health and wellness activities – primarily through recreation – and we use it as a therapeutic mechanism to address various mental health conditions that veterans may experience. These recreation based activities add protective factors against su***de by returning veterans to a team environment – a community – that provides camaraderie with those with whom they have shared experiences.

01/04/2025

Following the tragic events in New Orleans and Las Vegas, a compelling news video emphasizes the critical need for specialized veteran programs to aid those in crisis. In this video, Deb Elek, our founder and Marine Corps veteran, showcases the uplifting spirit of 22 Saves Hockey in serving our veterans throughout North Carolina. We do this by providing a myriad of recreational programs and health promotion activities that support the three aspects that define health - physical, mental, and social well-being.

This powerful piece underscores the importance of community solidarity in promoting healing and resilience. Join us in advocating for a brighter future where every veteran receives the support they deserve. Check out the video! Visit our website! Get connected...Even if you’re not in North Carolina! We turn no one away.

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08/27/2024

We remember the 13 heroes who lost their lives in service to our country.

08/14/2024

22 Saves Hockey Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation organized for the purpose of promoting the health and wellness of military veterans.

Our vision, quite simply, is to help veterans heal their invisible wounds and return them to an improved state of health and wellness.

Our mission is to save lives. How we do this is by engaging veterans in health and wellness activities – primarily through recreation – and we use it as a therapeutic mechanism to address various mental health conditions that veterans may experience. These recreation based activities add protective factors against su***de by returning veterans to a team environment – a community – that provides camaraderie with those with whom they have shared experiences.

01/29/2024

We were honored, once again, for our organization to be able to participate in the Carolina Hurricanes annual Hockey Talks program on Saturday, January 27, 2024. This marked the sixth annual Hockey Talks event that promotes sharing resources and breaking the stigma that so often surrounds mental health issues. Thank you, Canes!
Our vision, quite simply, is to help veterans heal their invisible wounds and return them to an improved state of health and wellness. We do this by engaging veterans in health and wellness activities - primarily through hockey and other recreational activities – that provide "community" and a therapeutic mechanism to address various mental health conditions that veterans may experience.
1 Goal. 22 Saves.
Representing and supporting 22 Saves Hockey for this event: Deb, Jason E. Jason V. Ryan, Kyle, David, Nicole, Mark, and our boys from Ukraine - Max, Alex and Denys!

01/29/2024

We were honored, once again, for our organization to be able to participate in the Carolina Hurricanes annual Hockey Talks program on Saturday, January 27, 2024. This marked the sixth annual Hockey Talks event that promotes sharing resources and breaking the stigma that so often surrounds mental health. Thank you, Canes!
Our vision, quite simply, is to help veterans heal their invisible wounds and return them to an improved state of health and wellness. We do this by engaging veterans in health and wellness activities - primarily through hockey and other recreational activities – that provide “community” and a therapeutic mechanism to address various mental health conditions that veterans may experience.
Representing and supporting 22 Saves Hockey for this event: Deb, Jason E. Jason V. Ryan, Kyle, David, Nicole, Mark, and our boys from Ukraine, Max, Alex and Denys!

09/23/2023

September is Su***de Prevention Month...but our work doesn't start and end in one month. It takes constant focus on our mission of helping our most vulnerable veterans get through each day.

Those who have served have carried the ultimate burden for the freedoms enjoyed by all American citizens. They carry the scars of their sacrifice both physically and mentally for the rest of their lives; in some cases having lost limbs or eyesight; acquiring rare forms of cancer from toxic chemical exposure; while still others suffer the invisible scars of mental trauma.
Estimates suggest that approximately 48% of veterans suffer from mental conditions such as PTSD and TBI that lead many to substance abuse and some to su***de.
The su***de trend among veterans and active duty service members is sobering and the trend has been on a steady increase over the last decade. In a thirteen month period alone, 19 veterans took their own lives on the campus of a VA medical center out of a desire to seek help but find none.
It takes an entire community to adequately address the complicated nature of veteran su***de and provide protective factors against it.
Words are not enough. Action is needed from individual citizens and corporations throughout the country to make a difference.
Wake up, stretch, and do your part to help our veterans that so desperately need our collective attention.
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09/23/2023

We are hosting a Veterans Appreciation event at The Factory in Wake Forest, NC, on October 28th from 11am-2 pm. If you are local, or visiting the Raleigh/Durham area this date, stop in and enjoy the connection with your fellow veterans!
The event includes simulation games of golf (closest to the pin) and shooting sports at Brookfields from 11:30am-1:30pm with prizes awarded to the winners!
Free food and beverages for all veterans plus one guest.
Veterans resources on hand. For organizations wishing to participate, please submit a registration form at https://22saveshockey.org/veterans-appreciation-event/
No reservations required for individual attendees.