I work with a group of very dedicated volunteers in the Denver chapter of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Every year we have a major fundraiser that is critical to our organization – in fact it funds 80% of our operating costs. This year we were lucky enough to meet Ben Barto, the founder of Horns for Heroes. He makes opportunity available to veterans by teaching them how to craft antler products – their craftsmanship is out of this world. He and a volunteer for our organization “built” a custom knife and private water package that sold for $5,400! That’s 8% of our operating costs. Ben works with veterans himself and knew how important this event was for us and donated all of his time and profits from his knives and personally offered his private water. It’s selfless acts like this that make him one in a million – all in service to others. We are humbled, not by just his generosity to our local chapter by his willingness to work with chapters across the US. I took this time to write about Ben because I want you to better know what kind of man he is. A true man of character. We are grateful for his contribution to our program and the tremendous impact that he offers.

Mr. Ben Barto has been a wonderful partner to both organizations in assisting us in our mission and is always willing to lend support in various ways. He creates and donates his beautiful antler knives for our fundraising auction over the past several years, and his generosity has helped us raise nearly $20,000 for the Project Healing Waters rehabilitation program. We are grateful to have Mr. Barto's support, and his contributions to the program have enabled rehabilitation and created opportunities for many veterans who have participated in the program.