Don Ghiz with Earl Fontenot, Wounded Warrior, Post 9/11 Veteran and WWP Staff Member
In many ways, a series of events that kept Don Ghiz from the battlefield created a lifelong advocate for warriors’ well-being after the battles.
One of the ways he’s serving those who served today is by supporting the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) with annual giving and a gift in his estate plan.
“What strikes me is that WWP™ picks up where the Veterans Administration leaves off,” he said. “The VA can only do so much, and, unfortunately, that’s often not enough to get people back on their feet and motivated to live and carry on the best they can. WWP fills that gap.”
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Mr. Ghiz’s life took a monumental turn after he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in the mid-1960s. He found a job considered a “critical skill,” which kept Mr. Ghiz from serving in the Vietnam War.
“Most of my college buddies ended up in Vietnam,” Mr. Ghiz said, “and many of them didn’t come home. In some ways, my deferment gave me a degree of comfort, but in other ways, a feeling of guilt that I was remiss in my obligation.”
The events crystallized Mr. Ghiz’s personal mission: to serve his country by serving veterans.
After early retirement from his work as an engineer, Mr. Ghiz returned to college and became an addiction counselor. He then used those skills as a volunteer for the Veterans Administration.
Now in his 80s, Mr. Ghiz supports veterans through his financial gifts to WWP, which he found through careful research.
“To others who might want to consider making a gift, I would say that there is no greater comfort than a good, healthy mind and body,” Mr. Ghiz said. “Your gift could make a wounded warrior’s mind and body as healthy as possible.”
To learn how you can also honor America’s wounded warriors for their sacrifice, contact our Planned Giving Team at