Saving Lives by providing
HOPE , RECOVERY, & RESILIENCE
for America’s Finest.
Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery, and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency posed by PTSD and TBI.
Project Hero programs including Ride 2 Recovery events and Project Hero HUB Community Centers produce positive outcomes at lower costs and reduce drug-based therapies. The organization also builds and provides adaptive bikes to physically-challenged and injured Veterans and First Responders and founded the Project Hero Institute for Mental Health to support clinical research programs in 2016.
Ride 2 Recovery started when a recreational therapist with the Veterans Administration thought cycling would be an effective alternative therapy for PTSD and TBI treatment as well as physical injury rehabilitation.
The organization's first Challenge event was held in 2008 with fourteen riders and no support staff. By 2010, Ride 2 Recovery was producing six Challenges events across the US with an average of 170 participants per ride and a full support staff. Seven Challenge events highlighted 2011 including The Normandy Challenge, the first European Challenge event, which toured the historic locales of D-Day. In 2012, The Battle of the Bulge Challenge featured147 riders in Belgium and Luxembourg. In 2016, to better serve the needs of America's healing heroes and integrate community and research programs, under the leadership of the Board of Directors, the organization was re-named and re-branded as Project Hero.
The Challenges have continued to be both impactful and inspirational events for all participants involved, attesting to the power of Project Hero and its programs.
In addition to the popular Challenge events, Project Hero also hosts single-day Honor Rides in major markets throughout the nation inviting communities to ride with America’s Finest and special events including the innovative Project Hero Women’s Initiative and Project Hero Mountain Bike Experience in Las Vegas. The organization also hosts community-based HUB programs inviting Veterans and First Responders to connect and ride together in more than 45 cities throughout the US.
John West
Maj. Gen. Camille Nichols (Ret.)
Rob Paddor
Bill Spurgeon
Rear Adm. Mike Stocks (Ret.)
Tom Abraham
Mitch Steidl
Mike Bertsche
Todd Setter
President tsetter@weareprojecthero.org
Ray Clark
Adaptive Mechanic rclark@weareprojecthero.org
Peter Bylsma
PR Media pbylsma@weareprojecthero.org
Dani Dowiak
Software Integration ddowiak@weareprojecthero.org
Steve Wendorf
IT swendorf@weareprojecthero.org
Hannah Smith
Event Director hannahs@weareprojecthero.org
Jen Goodbody
Program / Participant Director jgoodbody@weareprojecthero.org
Donna Ragan
Finance donnar@weareprojecthero.org
Jack Shepard
Alumni Staff Support
Jayme Brown
Alumni Staff Support
Charlie Yeager
Honor Ride Chair
Joe Green
Honor Ride Series
Mitch Lee
Honor Ride Chair
Michelle Arroyo
Challenge Series
Mikey Arroyo
Challenge Series Chaplain
Steven Blackwell
Challenge Series Ride Leader
Jimmy Stivers
Challenge Series Photographer
Vaughn Corden
Challenge Motorcycle Support
JR Dye
Challenge Motorcycle Support
Eva ZobianWolf
Challenge Nurse
Kathy Dye
Challenge Series
Jeff Sheffield
Challenge Series Ride Leader
Joe Coddington
Alumni Staff - Challenge Series Ride Leader
Byron Prestridge
Alumni Staff - Challenge Series Ride Leader
Justin Davanzo
Challenge Motorcycle Support
Dalton Thibodeaux Jr.
Challenge Motorcycle Support
Todd Sandlin
Challenge Motorcycle Support
Ann Williams
Challenge Series Photographer
Paul Wolf
Challenge Series
John Baker
Challenge Series Ride Leader
Tim Moore
Challenge Series Ride Leader
Jimmy Shields
Challenge Series Ride Leader
Bob Sheldon
Challenge Series
Shannon Downey
Challenge Series Motorcycle
Danita Downey
Honor Ride & Challenge Series
Bill Killion
Challenge Series Chaplain
Dave Hahn
Challenge Series
Sandy Hahn
Challenge Series
Ken Culwell
Challenge Motorcycle Support
Andy Robertson
Challenge Motorcycle Support
2023 IRS Form 990
Financial statements pre-2023 are available upon request. Contact info@weareprojecthero.org Tax ID# 20-2252840
Project Hero Press Releases:
Mike's Carwash Veteran's Day Fundraiser Giving Total
2018 Women’s Initiative Presented by Pritzker Military Institute
Mike's Carwash Giving Away Free Basic Car Washes on Veteran's Day for Veteran's and Active Military
Project Hero Announces HUB Opening For Indiana National Guard
Project Hero Announces Multi-Million Dollar Partnership with Optum
Project Hero to Open New HUB Center in Miami with Camillus House Veteran Homeless Facility
2017 Project Hero Honor Ride New Hampshire Announcement
Wounded Veterans Cycle 500-plus Miles to Virginia Beach in UnitedHealthcare Memorial Challenge
Project Hero HUB Center at Xavier University Opens May 18
Project Hero Announces ProShift Racing Fundraising Sponsorship
2017 Project Hero Honor Ride Rolls into New Hampshire June 3
2017 Project Hero Honor Ride Rolls Into Sacramento May 13
Project Hero Launches Innovative HEROTrak PTSD Monitor with Texas A&M
2017 Project Hero Honor Ride Rolls Into San Diego
Matt Moore Partners with Project Hero to Strike Out PTSD
2017 UnitedHealthcare Honor Ride Rolls Into Tampa-St. Petersburg
2017 Project Hero Mountain Bike Experience Rolls Into Las Vegas
2017 Project Hero Launches New Era for Veterans and First Responders
Matt Moore Teams Up with Project Hero to Raise Funds for PTSD Research
Download HEROES Magazine
Click on a logo for pdf download:
For all media inquiries please contact: pbylsma@weareprojecthero.org
Peter Bylsma, Director of Marketing Communications
Office: 619-738-2210
310-795-8532 cell| pbylsma@weareprojecthero.org
Project Hero Photography, Logos and Artwork
Jen Goodbody jgoodbody@weareprojecthero.org
