2025 Goals:

1. Raise money and donate strategically to worthy organizations that provide services and support to Veterans. Money is raised through different initiatives and events.
2. Address key issues affecting NH’s Veterans, including reducing suicide, improving mental health, affordable housing and helping Veterans find services.
3. Educate the public on issues facing Veterans with campaigns to reduce the stigma around mental health issues, explaining the sacrifices of Veterans and their families through our book and our Never Forget campaign and publishing a community impact report.
4. Honor and remember our fallen heroes from NH. Never forget!

Fundraising Events:

SWAM fundraises throughout the year, but our annual signature events are being held July 11 and 12, in partnership with a group of U.S. Navy SEALs, including a corporate team-building paintball event with the U.S. Navy SEALs, open-water swim races across Newfound Lake and SWAM’s Annual Navy SEAL Gold Star Family Tribute Dinner and Auction. SWAM partners with Camp Resilience on a fitness challenge led by U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret Soldiers called Green Beret With A Mission Challenge each June. We have added two other events, Fish With A Mission, a tuna tournament July 27 – 31, and Ride With A Mission, a motorcycle ride on September 13. We also have our own book, “Portraits of Sacrifice and Bravery,” which highlights 55 Veterans from NH, for sale on our website and at our events as well as Never Forget plaques to honor our fallen heroes from NH. We are also proud to have corporate and individual sponsorships. More information about the sponsorships, our featured events and other events throughout the year can be found at www.SWAM.org.

Giving Opportunities:

Over the last eight years, we have successfully raised over $15.5 million and have been able to help tens of thousands of Veterans both in NH and around the U.S. We have done this through individual donors as well as corporate and individual sponsorships. There are many opportunities for those that want to support our mission through sponsorships and donations. SWAM is the only organization that has a direct view of the entire local Veteran community and so is able to assess each year where the most acute needs are in the Veteran community and support them.

Volunteer Opportunities:

It takes a village to run our events and get the word out about SWAM. We also welcome volunteers to host events which benefit SWAM, help us get the word out, sell our Never Forget plaques and more. Whatever the capabilities, interests, schedule, talents, there is a volunteer opportunity for you.

Board Officers   /   Board Members

Philip Taub
Board Chair and Co-founder
Nixon Peabody LLP

Mark Aquilino
Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management

Kelly Ayotte
Former U.S. Senator

Andy Crews
Crews Holdings LLC

Steve Talarico
Entrepreneur

Jeff Hiatt
Performance Business Solutions LLC

Angelo Mazzella
Spectrum Marketing Companies

Sal DeFranco
Former Navy SEAL

Todd Wheatley
Candor Realty

Charitable Giving Guide

This profile is part of NH Business Review’s 2025 Charitable Giving Guide.

To learn more about the Charitable Giving Guide and other New Hampshire nonprofit organizations, please visit www.nhbr.com/CGG.