People sometimes ask why we launched the RAGFriday Foundation. Here’s why and we are asking the manufacturing industries to join us in our efforts.

The Mission of the RAGFriday Foundation

Three years ago this month I and business partner, Jason Dickman, founded Rapid Application Group, a contract manufacturer specializing in additive manufacturing and injection molding, located in Broken Arrow, OK. The company also gave us the opportunity to do something that is near and dear to our hearts – and we began a program to support military veterans with critical job training in the additive industry.

18 months ago we decided to make this effort more formal by founding the RAGFriday Foundation, a 501? non-profit organization. As a military veteran myself I am acutely aware of the struggle to adapt to civilian life after service. I myself was close to becoming one of the statistics on military suicide, and we see reports of 22 veteran suicides a day. That’s 1 every 80 minutes. RAGFriday is our effort to resolve that, but we have a unique approach based on my own experiences.

RAGFriday is committed to improving quality of life for veterans through mentoring, support, job training so each veteran can redefine his or her identity and ease into civilian life. While I was a Captain in the Army, I was fortunate enough to do engineering work that included 3D printers as a research pilot at the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory. I was hooked! I knew what I wanted to do when I rotated out into civilian life. But even though I had a purpose, adjusting to civilian life was rough. I was fortunate to receive a true gift – Jonsey my PTSD-trained service dog who became my ‘wingman’ 3 years ago.

Those attending AMUG and Rapid-TCT conferences in the last 3 years might have seen Jonsey by my side and he is an important part of both the service bureau business as well as our key mascot for RAGFriday. Personally, he helps me keep up the strength to keep getting up out of bed so I can take on the world. With the support of my amazing family, faith, Jonsey, and a true purpose in life, I am, and continue to be, successful.

 Other veterans don’t have the kind of support or opportunity that I did. RAGFriday was founded to offer that.

Across the last 3 years we have trained 4 veterans in additive manufacturing. Many remained in employment at Rapid Application Group. Our efforts continue and we are also collaborating with other manufacturers near us to offer the same opportunities. We also deliver goods and provisions to homeless shelters, with a focus on helping veterans and raise money to support other veteran organizations.

RAGFriday was founded with a $10,000 donation from Rapid Application Group. But as always, to continue to keep doing the work, RAGFriday needs your support. There are several ways to donate.

Direct donations can be sent via the RAGFRiday web site https://ragfriday.org/donate/

Amazon also offers another novel way to donate by sending 0.5% of your Amazon purchases to RAGFriday. Simply go to https://smile.amazon.com/ and select RAGFriday Foundation as your recipient. Bookmark it and always remember to shop via Amazon Smile.

As an industry we can help improve the lives of veterans through practical support, training and purpose. As manufacturers, designers, entrepreneurs we all have a unique way to achieve this. Will you join us in the fight?