Workshops for Warriors | Quarterly Newsletter

Quarterly Newsletter

Workshops for Warriors' Fall 2022 Graduating Class with Board of Advisors

Dear Friends,

In 2022, America realized several things as a result of the global pandemic and increasing tensions. We had a national epiphany; America’s manufacturing infrastructure was not able to provide the medicine, vehicles, goods, computer chips, and personal protection equipment we needed … for the first time since 1974.

As a direct result of your support, Workshops for Warriors has become the “Marine Corps of Manufacturing.” You have enabled us to increase course offerings and expand student capacity and services. As a result, we are now the only school that is nationally viable for expansion and replication across America. WFW will continue to be most ready when our nation is least ready.

Help us complete our $26.6M school expansion. Help us triple the number of graduating machinists from 108 to 324 per year and triple the number of graduating welder/fabricators from 114 to 336. Just as important, help us become revenue positive by 2025.

Thanks to your donations, we are only $16.6M away from our goal. Because of your support, in November of 2022 we started site preparation, demolition, and construction of an additional six machining classrooms.

Because of the intense demand for our welding course, we are also expanding the welding program threefold with additional classes starting in a new facility in August 2023.

These expansions will give every Veteran that is committed to working hard an opportunity to contribute to their families, communities, and nation as they rebuild and modernize our manufacturing infrastructure. 

2023 marks a very special milestone for WFW, our crystal anniversary. As we celebrate 15 years of rebuilding American manufacturing with Veterans, I reflect on all the individuals and organizations, like you, who have enabled our success. We hope you will join us in celebrating our collective achievements and charting our course for growth at our 15^th Birthday Ball on April 21^st.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together we make a true difference in the lives of Veterans by helping them secure a bright future. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for your belief in the transformative power of our school.

We look to 2023 and beyond with passion, a clear mission, and intent.

Respectfully,

Hernán Luis y Prado

Founder & CEO

You are invited to sail with us in celebration of our crystal anniversary and help us chart our course for expansion at the Workshops for Warriors' 15th Birthday Ball. 

Join us for our annual gala aboard the 222-foot mega yacht, Inspiration Hornblower, on April 21, 2023. It will be an epic evening with live music (featuring BetaMAXX), VIPs, great cuisine, and a beautiful cruise around San Diego Bay.

Together, we can transform the lives of veterans.

Please use the buttons below for details and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, and be sure to take advantage of Early Bird discounted pricing which closes this Friday, February 24.

Seats will sell out fast.

Our Impact in 2022

135 Veterans Graduated

2,277 Nationally-Recognized Manufacturing Credentials Earned

10,800 Meals Provided

94% of WFW Graduates were Placed into Full Time Jobs

22 Veterans Provided Transitional Housing

86,400 Hours of Training Received by Graduates

Help fund the expansion that will increase our student throughput three-fold.

Watch what the WFW students have been up to in 2023

Day One of the 2023 Spring Semester

Thermal Cutting with the Welding I Students

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Zeiss and Zeiss CMM Solutions for their support of Workshops for Warriors and its students. Their dedication to providing the necessary resources and tools for our students to succeed in the manufacturing industry is truly appreciated, and their commitment to training and educating the next generation of skilled workers is invaluable. Thank you, Zeiss, for your contributions and for being a valued partner in our mission to empower veterans and transitioning service members through advanced manufacturing education and career training.

Weiler Abrasives donated protective gear to help our welding students train safely.

USAA sponsored our Fall 2022 Graduation and David Dearie taught a finance class to all the WFW students.

Humble Designs partnered with WFW to give WFW welding student and Army veteran Kenneth a home makeover.

Joe Riel from Solidworks presented the first-ever WFW award for most Solidworks certifications received at our 2022 Fall graduation.

Special Thanks

Thank you to the following donors and organizations who recently awarded WFW with funding.

The Doyle Foundation

Gene Haas Foundation

US Bank - Community Affairs

May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation

Croul Family Foundation

Stanley Black & Decker

3M Company

Disabled American Veterans - DAV

City of San Diego - CPPS

Wells Fargo Foundation

• Hernán Luis y Prado selected as one of San Diego's Latino Leaders of Influence | San Diego Business Journal

• Hernán Luis y Prado awarded as Top Influential Veteran Business Leader | San Diego Business Journal

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