April 1, 2021

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For Immediate Release:

 

RE: Veteran Warriors Mourns the Loss of Founder, Lauren Price

  

New Port Richey, FL  – The Staff and Board of Directors of Veteran Warriors (VW) are devastated to announce the March 30, 2021, passing of our Executive Director, Lauren Price, who co-founded the organization along with her husband, Jim.  Lauren suffered and ultimately lost her life due to illness and disease that directly resulted from her service in the United States Navy, specifically her exposure to toxic chemicals and substances during her deployment to Iraq. Rather than simply sit back and accept her diagnosis, Lauren, with the spirit and fire that she was known for, formed Veteran Warriors over a decade ago and devoted her life to advocating for recognition of the effects that toxic exposures have had on countless veterans and to ensuring that those veterans received the care that they earned. 

 

Leading from the front, Lauren assembled a team dedicated to pursuing proper care and benefits for veterans. What was once a small Facebook page working on local issues has blossomed into a 

thriving nationwide organization with a reach and influence beyond the founder’s wildest dreams. Lauren was instrumental in developing and supporting Veteran Warriors’ mission, which includes assisting veterans, caregivers, and their families across the nation, working with state and federal legislators, collaborating with Veteran Service Organizations and other work groups, and guiding the development/implementation of policies and laws for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Without Lauren, there would be no Veteran Warriors, and the public awareness of issues within VA programs and policies would be significantly lower. 

 

Shortly before her passing, Lauren stated that “It has been my greatest honor to serve the veterans of this nation as their advocate. The people and organizations that I have met and worked with have been the best in the world.” 

 

Holly Ferrell, formerly the organization’s National Appeals Director, has been appointed as the new Executive Director effective immediately. Additional restructuring will be occurring with other positions within the organization in the upcoming months. Rest assured that the mission and focus will remain as strong as ever throughout this restructuring phase. 

 

It is our intention to continue the work that Lauren started and to honor her memory by serving the needs of the veteran community and maintaining the highest ideals of the Military Core Values that Lauren held so dear: Honor. Courage. Commitment. We hope that you will continue to support Veteran Warriors, now and in the years to come. As always, "One Family, One Fight!"

 

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                                       For questions or comments, contact:                               

                                       Holly Ferrell                                                                               

                                       Executive Director

                                       Veteran Warriors, Inc. 

                                       Email: Holly@veteran-warriors.org                                                                       www.veteran-warriors.org

                                       Ph: 727.247.8141                                                                                                      Fx: 727-255-5085