PROJECT 1310.
50 Marathons, 50,000 Push Ups, All 50 States.
1 Summer.
OFFICIALLY BENEFITTING LEAD FOR AMERICA'S NEW VETERANS FELLOWSHIP
Project 1310 is officially benefitting the Lead For America Veterans Fellowship.
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Launching in the summer of 2024, the Lead For America Veterans Fellowship will support 50 Veterans each year in making the transition from the military into leadership positions back home.
Each veteran will be provided a $100,000 stipend, spend the summer in Washington D.C. working with their Senator or Member of Congress, and then return to their home state, where they will work directly alongside the Governor, a Mayor, or a CEO for one year.
Veterans have already demonstrated their commitment to service, sacrifice, and personal courage. The Veterans Fellowship provides them an opportunity to bring that ethos of service to leadership positions in our communities across the nation.
Lead For America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps veterans and the next generation of leaders return to their communities and become civic leaders. Since its founding in 2018, Lead For America has created more than 400 full-time public service Fellowships in 44 states.
Every dollar raised through Project 1310 will go directly to a Veteran Fellow and all donors will be given updates on the veteran they are supporting and their experience in the Fellowship.
— ABOUT PROJECT 1310
It is called Project 1310 because over the course of 50 marathons, Joe will be running a total of 1,310 miles. Each and every mile will be dedicated to a veteran or service member nominated by this community.
In each of the 50 states, Joe will be running the marathon and completing the push ups in an iconic location, from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, to the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and encouraging everyone to come out and walk or run a mile in honor of a veteran or service member who you know or admire. In each state, Joe and the crew will also be meeting and walking or running with local veterans groups and active military service members.
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THERE ARE OVER 18 MILLION VETERANS IN THIS COUNTRY.
JOIN US IN HONORING A VETERAN YOU LOVE OR ADMIRE THIS SUMMER.
TAKE THE ONE MILE CHALLENGE
Alongside Project 1310, Lead For America is partnering with other veterans organizations to launch the One Mile Challenge. Modeled after the Ice Bucket Challenge, participants will be challenged to complete a one mile fitness challenge in honor of a veteran or service member they know or admire, and then will be asked to nominate three others to take the challenge as well.
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The challenge is as follows: complete 20 push ups, walk or run a mile, and finish with 20 push ups. 20 push ups to remember the 20 veterans who die from suicide every day. 2 sets, to honor those who have served, and those still serving today. 1 mile to symbolize the challenging journey transitioning from military to civilian life.
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20 PUSH UPS. TO REMEMBER THE 20 VETERANS WHO COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY.
2 SETS. TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, AND THOSE STILL SERVING TODAY.
1 MILE. TO SYMBOLIZE THE TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE.
— MEET JOE
Hi I'm Joe. I was born and raised in Kansas as the middle of five kids. Growing up, I had two examples of public service in my parents, with my dad working for the Army, and my mom as a middle school nurse.
I first started thinking about military service during my dad's deployment to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor my freshman year of high school. I so admired those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others. And it was during that year I remember first silently committing to myself that I would one day serve in uniform.
In college I tried to surround myself with other people who wanted to pursue careers in military and public service. But as friends began to graduate, very few were acting on those convictions. This seemed to me to be a major loss for our country. At the time, I planned to become an Active Duty Army Officer after graduation and eventually hoped to return to help my community by starting a business. But I realized that I might be able to make a bigger impact if I could start something that could help hundreds, or thousands, of my generation to do the same. I founded Lead For America in my college dorm room to do exactly that: help a generation of young Americans serve and lead in the communities they call home.
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Lead For America quickly expanded and has since grown to over 40 states and revenues of $8.5M per year. But my desire to serve my country in uniform never left. So in 2020, I enlisted in the Army, and later took 3 months of unpaid leave to complete Boot Camp. I later completed Officer Candidate School and now serve as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army National Guard.
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I am honored each and every time I get to wear the uniform, knowing that I am following in the footsteps of those who have given everything to protect our freedoms. And every time I return from military training, I come back inspired and with a steadfast belief that America desperately needs that same commitment of service above self in our leaders and our communities. I also believe that at a time of declining patriotism, our country does not do nearly enough to honor the contributions of veterans or provide them opportunities to continue to serve and lead when they come back home. I want to do my part, and that is why I have decided to take on this challenge.
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In the past I have completed Ironman triathlons, marathons, and ultramarathons, but this summer will be by far the biggest challenge that I have ever taken on. But if through running and push ups I can raise money and appreciation to help even a single veteran in their transition from military to civilian life, I know that it will be worth it. Thank you so much for considering donating, running with me this summer, or taking the one mile challenge. I hope to meet you soon!​
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CONTACT US
Have questions? A suggestion on where we should run when we come to your state?
We would love to hear from you!
