WoW has gone wordless, almost. This Wednesday a different kind of book is featured. And, it’s going to go into two parts, not just because the photos include a fold but because there is that much to say about Pin Ups for Vets and the work it does for transition in the military community.
Yes, Pin Ups. You know, photos of lovely women smiling out at us. In this case, in the alluring outfits and clearly contrasting red lips and classic make up of the glam style circa the era of the 1940s.
For Pin Up for Vets founder, Gina Elise, her current 50 state hospital tour has brought in person visits to 39 VA & Military hospitals in 24 states, so far. All in service to the calendar and what it’s meant to do: raise funds and spirits, in person, through purchases and sent as gifts.
Founder, Gina Elise (photo supplied)
On this Words on Wednesdays our WoW time launches an homage to artistic messages meant to regale, inform and represent our vets. The series will feature Doctrine Man, Power Point Ranger and all the other we can pull away from their sketch pads long enough to talk to curious Military Success Network writers and reporters.
We invite ladies first to step into the limelight as we believe that chivalry is far from dead.
So, in the style of gentlemanly and honorable intent, we now present Gina Elise… in her own words… and a few our ours…
Gina Elise’s back story is covered in-depth in an article written by MilSuccessNet’s editor in advance of the 6th annual launch of the calendar.
The ‘Angel of the Calendar” as Gina was sometimes called then, was inspired to action to raise funds for medical equipment that would not have been made available in veterans’ health centers otherwise. Read about her start in detail here.
To date, she has raised more than $50,000 through the sale of the calendars. MilSuccessNet asked her to update us on her current efforts.
In this part, she gives us the review.. in the next blog post on Pin Ups we’ll be revealing some of the celebrities on her team.
“In the past few months, we’ve made visits to the San Diego VA Hospitals, Long Beach VA Hospital and Palo Alto VA Hospital.
We’ve also done morale-boosting base visits to 29 Palms and Ft. Irwin.
In addition, we partnered with Goodwill of Southern California and Ana’s Classic Glamour Dolls to put on a make-over event for female Vets trying to get back on their feet.”
See the video caught by ABC Local on women veterans in transition to the civilian workforce getting a surprise spa day and presentation tips!
While Gina’s presentation and calendar are a combination of warm and fuzzy fun and tingly traditional flirtation, she was featured in December’s Playboy and we will be featured in an article in the May issue of Penthouse Magazine.
Her Pin Up presence, however, is growing, and with it more hands to help vets, especially those with few visitors.
“We are also starting to form Pin-Ups For Vets chapters in key cities in the US to empower local Veterans supporters to visit their local hospitalized Veterans.”
For her efforts Gina has the appreciation of veterans, male and female from several of America’s call to conflict zones.
She is also being recognized. She was a finalist in the Social Entrepreneur Category of the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards (November 2012). And, she was nominated as a Community Bridge Builder for the Amazing Women Event put on by the National Association of Women Business Owners (this April).
Gina’s site features articles, an honor roll and the Pin Ups store.
Next time we visit looking for calendars or cookie tins, we’re also going to flip through some of the supporters who came out to fill the pages of the 2013 calendar.
All in good time!
[…] you’ll find a gentle reference to heaven for warriors in this post also.the other was the first of our 2013 Pin Up posts. Both have direct contact with veterans in common, and the desire to serve by […]