This Organization Is Doing What the Government Won’t (ft. SOWW)

Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW) started the way a lot of good things do: a few guys around a campfire with a problem to solve. Joel Pellici, one of the charity's five founders, tells hosts Kaylee and John how a feral hog problem at a hunting club near Fort Bragg turned into a wild pig hunt for wounded special operators, then grew into a charity that has touched lives in the hundreds. The core idea has stayed simple from day one. Get like-minded guys who carry similar traumas out into nature, and trust that if you sit around a campfire long enough, you can fix just about anything. Over the years SOWW built out three main programs. The original immersion in nature through hunting, fishing, sporting clays, and golf came first. After losing the man Joel calls their early poster child to suicide, the founders realized they needed to do more, so they started a canine program in his honor and added the Operator Reset, a week-long treatment for individuals dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and family issues. Joel shares the stories that stick with him, including a wounded warrior who outran everyone on a prosthetic leg and never complained, and a man on roughly 17 medications who slept without them after just three hours in the program. He also walks through how a service dog gave one veteran his purpose and protection back, opening doors as ordinary as taking his kids to Disney World. The conversation turns to policy in the back half. Joel makes a direct argument that the government should be taking responsibility for the people it sends to war, and that nonprofits like his shouldn't have to exist to care for those who sacrificed so much. He explains the real costs behind a single service animal, between 25 and 50 thousand dollars depending on training, and how SOWW keeps 91 to 95 percent of contributions going directly to its purpose because the board takes no money by its own bylaws. He closes with the three best ways to help: donate any amount, help find people who need the program, and volunteer. The episode wraps with a gift for Joel from AAC Ammo and Palmetto State Armory. Questions this episode answers What does SOWW stand for and who does the charity serve? SOWW stands for Special Operations Wounded Warriors. The charity focuses primarily on special operations personnel from all branches of US service, immersing veterans who carry similar traumas in nature and treatment programs. How did Special Operations Wounded Warriors get started? It began when a feral hog problem at a hunting club near Fort Bragg turned into a wild pig hunt for wounded special operators. That hunt grew into a charity, founded by five men around the simple idea that like-minded guys around a campfire can fix just about anything. What are SOWW's three main programs? SOWW runs immersion in nature through hunting, fishing, sporting clays, and golf; a canine service-dog program; and the Operator Reset, a week-long treatment for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and family issues. How much does it cost to provide a veteran with a service dog? Founder Joel Pellici says a single service animal costs between 25 and 50 thousand dollars, depending on the level of training the dog receives. What percentage of donations goes directly to SOWW's mission? SOWW keeps 91 to 95 percent of contributions going directly to its purpose. Its board is unpaid and the bylaws prohibit founders from taking any money. Why does SOWW argue the government should do more for wounded warriors? Joel Pellici argues the government should take responsibility for the people it sends to war, and that nonprofits like SOWW shouldn't have to exist to care for those who sacrificed so much. How can someone get help from SOWW or nominate a veteran? Veterans can self-nominate for the program, and supporters can help by finding people who need it. Joel notes that someone may be worse off than you, but that doesn't mean you don't need help too. What are the best ways to support SOWW? Joel Pellici names three: donate any amount, help find veterans who need the program, and volunteer your time. Because the board takes no pay, the bulk of every contribution reaches the mission. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome and introducing Joel from SOWW 00:13 — Rapid Fire questions 01:01 — What SOWW is and who it serves 01:29 — The three programs: nature, canine, Operator Reset 03:34 — How veterans get help and self-nominate 04:04 — The campfire origin story and the first pig hunt 05:17 — How many lives the program has touched 05:56 — The stories Joel hangs his hat on 08:42 — The real cost of a service animal 10:40 — The policy side: federal gaps for wounded warriors 12:22 — What the government should fix 13:45 — Impact on the whole family unit 16:15 — Advice and the best ways to help 18:07 — Where to find SOWW and a gift from AAC and PSA About the guest Joel Pellici is one of the five founders of Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW), a charity that focuses primarily on special operations personnel from all branches of US service. The organization runs three main programs: immersion in nature through hunting and fishing, a canine service-dog program, and a week-long Operator Reset treatment for individuals struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and family issues. SOWW's board is unpaid and its bylaws prohibit founders from taking money, with 91 to 95 percent of contributions going directly to its purpose. The charity has helped people in the hundreds since its founding. Key quotes "if you sit around a campfire long enough, you can fix just about anything" — Joel Pellici "You would think that it wouldn't be necessary for nonprofits to be there to take care of people that sacrifice so greatly for a country." — Joel Pellici "I watched him buckle to the ground in tears and thanks when he was introduced to a service dog." — Joel Pellici "we typically average 91 to 95% of our contributions go directly to the purpose they're supposed to" — Joel Pellici "somebody might be worse than you, but it doesn't mean you don't need help too" — Joel Pellici