In 2014, U.S. Army veteran Vince Leone decided he wouldn’t let other veterans struggle alone.
After his own battles with PTSD, physical limitations and alcohol, he launched VetStarts, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans rediscover their purpose in civilian life.
Seven years later, he died, leaving behind a mission many wondered if it would continue.
His daughter, Anna Leone, answered that question.
Stories of Honor is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting 12 Tarrant County veterans who are serving beyond the uniform.
We also are highlighting nonprofits recommended by the veterans.
In November, the veterans will gather for a luncheon where the Report will honor their service at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” Leone said. “I woke up and knew that his mission was mine. It was something bigger than all of us, and it needed to continue.”
Anna, who had built a career in hospitality, stepped into the role of executive director and committed herself to expanding her father’s vision.
At its core, VetStarts works to pierce the darkness of veteran suicide. Its programs combine coaching, camaraderie and creative expression to help veterans and their families move forward with meaning — exactly what Leone’s father sought to accomplish.
“He wanted anyone leaving the service and entering the civilian sector to know that they were loved, that they had value, purpose and potential,” Leone said.
VetStarts organizes mission adventures, when funding permits, deploying veterans to build homes in places like Mexico and Costa Rica for families in poverty, dedicating each to a fallen service member. (Courtesy photo | Anna Leone)
One of VetStarts’ flagship programs is Halftime for Veterans, an initiative helping participants break free from being defined only by their military career and encourages them to pursue their passions in life.
Another program, Warrior Art, is a therapeutic effort, both clinical and nonclinical, that allows veterans and their families to process trauma and emotions through creativity.
VetStarts actively organizes mission adventures, when funding permits, deploying veterans to places like Mexico and Costa Rica to build homes for families in poverty. Each house is dedicated to the memory of a service member lost in combat or by suicide.
“You’re creating generational change, and it’s a beautiful thing,” Leone said.
The work has not come without challenges. The organization lost its Arlington office last year and now relies on community partners, like the Arlington Vet Center and American Outlaw Barbershop, to host programs.
Leone remains determined that her team will soon find a new home.
For board member Michael Dailey, a retired Army and combat veteran, VetStarts meets a need he knows all too well.
“As veterans, we get out of service and we leave everything we know and love behind,” Dailey said. “That transition is not easy. VetStarts gives veterans a place to call home and to be surrounded by comrades again.”
A volunteer shows off her painting through Warrior Art, a VetStarts program. The program has clinical and nonclinical therapeutic offerings. (Courtesy photo | Anna Leone)
Dailey said he has seen firsthand how the organization provides more than just support — it helps veterans rediscover their strengths and translate them into civilian life. He recalled one veteran who went to VetStarts broken, facing legal issues and mental health struggles.
With the nonprofit’s help, that man not only found stability but became a successful business owner in the community.
“Sometimes they just need somebody to believe in them and give them an opportunity,” Dailey said.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bryant Griffith said he found that opportunity through the nonprofit and entered Halftime for Veterans under Leone’s coaching.
“The program was a catalyst,” Griffith said. “It helped me rediscover my purpose. My time with Anna helped me understand what was missing in my life.”
For Griffith, like many others, VetStarts was life-changing — connecting him to business leaders, mentors and a community that helped him pursue new goals.
The impact is what drives Leone to push forward. She said the work heals her as well.
“The beautiful thing about what he was doing and healing other veterans was I was watching him heal too,” Leone said about her father. “Seeing the impact his own mission had on himself was a beautiful thing.”
Vince Leone’s idea started as a grassroots effort. Today, carried on by his daughter, it remains a lifeline for veterans seeking a sense of belonging and purpose.
“It’s the honor of my life to continue doing that,” Anna Leone said.
Orlando Torres is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report.
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