Healing Heroes Network

Healing Heroes Network is a nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to veterans injured in the line of duty while in Iraq or Afghanistan on or after September 11, 2001.

Welcome Home, Hero Program

 * In late 2012, Healing Heroes Network received a community grant for the Welcome Home, Hero Program from the Mike Alstott Family Foundation through a Facebook voting contest.

History
Healing Heroes Network was founded in 2008 by Dr. Allan Spiegel and his wife, Stacey Spiegel. Dr. Spiegel, a neurologist with a specialty in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), noticed he frequently would get veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in his office suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). These veterans chose to come to his offices instead of the VA hospitals. Because HBOT is used off-label but is not an official treatment for PTSD and TBI, it isn't usually covered by the VA.

Dr. Spiegel saw that the VA didn't always have the resources to provide the specific treatments that soldiers wanted to use. He would often treat these soldiers free of charge, but decided he wanted to do more to help these veterans. " In late 2008 he founded Healing Heroes Network as a national charity, headquartered in Palm Harbor, Florida, to fill the gaps left in the VA benefits system.

In 2009, Healing Heroes received its official 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

Harleys for Heroes
In August 2011, Healing Heroes Network began its Harleys for Heroes Sweepstakes. Participants donate for chances to win two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a 2011 Fat Boy Lo and a 2011 Streetglide, as well as a year's worth of gasoline. The drawing was held on December 1, 2011. The winner was announced December 8, 2011, as Valerie Snider from Indianapolis, Indiana.

In July 2012, Healing Heroes Network kicked off its "2012 Harleys for Heroes Sweepstakes". Again, one winner received two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a 2012 Street Glide and a 2012 Fat Boy Lo, as well as a year's worth of gasoline. The contest ran from July until February 15, 2013. The winner was announced on the Harleys for Heroes website, as Tom DeVries from Waterloo, Iowa.

In February 2013, Healing Heroes Network kicked off its "2013 Harleys for Heroes Sweepstakes". This time, three winners were selected, each one receiving one Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The contest ran from February until September 12, 2013. The three winners were announced on the Harleys for Heroes Official Facebook page. The first place winner was Frank A. from Watervliet, New York with a 2013 Street Glide. The second place winner was June M. from Texarkana, Texas with a 2013 Heritage Softail. The third place winner was Michael L. from Siloam Springs, Arkansas with a 2013 Softail Slim.

Healing Heroes Freedom Fest
Healing Heroes Freedom Fest is a fundraising event held annually to support Healing Heroes Network. In 2013 and 2014, Healing Heroes Freedom Fest was located at the Sun 'n Fun Grounds at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida.