Our Mission
To support local veterans and their families in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas by providing needed assistance through kind works.
Our Vision
Eliminate barriers for veterans and their families so they can live a healthy, independent and productive life.
VFV Strategic Priorities
The strategy will focus on veterans at the very grassroots level here in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas.
- Provide donated labor to fellow local veterans and their families in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas through VFV volunteerism.
- Raise money for the projects that need to be carried out for Veterans and their families in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas.
- Prioritize projects on the basis of life quality urgency so VFV can organize and execute efficient projects that are within budget and posted to the website.
- Provide financial transparency via their website (soldiertocivilian.org) to ensure a sound economic foundation.
- Be a buddy/mentor to veterans who need help and direction.
- Assist veterans and their families by working through problems and paperwork.
- Spending time with elderly veterans.
- Making contact with veteran organizations in retirement homes.
About Vets for Vets
Jake Leone began working with veterans returning from combat in 2005. When Jake returned from Iraq in 2004, he struggled throughout his transition with aggression, legal and financial issues. Luckily, he had the support of his mother and his faith to help him get his life back on track. It was then that Jake decided to commit himself to helping other young soldiers returning from combat that were facing the same issues as he once did.
In the beginning, he helped soldiers within the walls of his own home. He was making a difference, but he always envisioned a building and an organization where he would be able to provide the same assistance and support to multiple veterans at a time.
In 2013, that dream began to become a reality. With the support of residents and businesses in the Upper Perkiomen Valley, Vets for Vets (VFV) was born. Later that year, VFV became incorporated and the organization acquired the old Pennsburg post office building on 4th Street. When VFV started to renovate the building, it didn’t take long for members of the community to rally and assist with the renovation. Before the doors were even open for service, there were veterans knocking on the door for help! Many of these early veterans helped to renovate the building in exchange for a roof over their head.
During 2014 and 2015, Jake gathered a group of local veterans and community leaders to help in the development of the VFV program. Once the blueprint was established and the program’s protocol built, VFV began to expand to serve a wider range of veterans.
In 2016, VFV opened the female veteran wing and the first female was admitted.
In 2017, VFV is poised to open the small veteran family wing which will house a veteran and his/her immediate family.
In 2018, VFV transitioned from assisting veterans coming home from war to assisting veterans and their families that are in need of service within the Upper Perkiomen Valley. VFV is currently doing numerous outreach projects within the Upper Perkiomen Valley.
To date, VFV’s program has served approximately 23 veterans in the VFV house, as well as hundreds throughout the community with the outreach program and onsite Veterans Affairs services. Currently, VFV’s success rate is approximately 85% in assisting our veterans with education enrollment, job placement and stable housing upon graduating our program.
Our Team
While the focus of Vets for Vets is to help veterans in various stages of their lives, we could not function as a unit without the administration, volunteers and the vets themselves. Please take a moment to learn more about the various members of our administration.
Jason (Jake) Leone
Founder/President
Jason (Jake) Leone has been an enlisted serviceman of the United States Army/National Guard 53rd Support Battalion 1998 – 2004, 1-124th Infantry 2004 – 2008, 1-111th Mechanized Infantry 2008 – 2013 and is presently serving in the Air Force/National Guard with the 103rd Attack Squadron. During his term of enlistment, he has served in both foreign and domestic deployments. Staff Sergeant Leone has received multiple awards throughout his military career and distinguishes himself as an honorable member of the U.S. fighting forces.
Jake received his Bachelors in Advertising from the University of Florida in 2003 and has worked in medical equipment sales for over 8 years. Leone’s goal is to serve his country for as long as possible and continue to assist America’s veterans by any and all means possible.
Brodie Lightcap
Vice President, Board of Directors
Veteran Outreach Coordinator
Brodie joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves shortly after high school. He attended training at Paris Island SC, Camp Lejune NC and Fort Sill OK. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to India Battery 3/14 in Reading PA. He served for 10 years with India Battery as a field artillery cannoneer on the M198 Howitzer. During that time, he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and served one tour in Iraq as a platoon sergeant, overseeing perimeter security for a large base.
Since his discharge, Brodie has started his own home remodeling company, renovating homes and installing custom woodworking. He hopes to utilize these skills to help bring together the veterans of the community with the veterans in the program for the mutual benefit of both. His goal is to help Vets for Vets repay veterans for their honorable service.
Adam Biedleman
Treasurer
William Maule
Bill joined Vets for Vets in January 2018 as the Secretary for the Board of Directors. Bill is a retired Major from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Lansdale Catholic High School. Bill enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He served over 23 years and was a Company Commander, Logistics Officer and Operations Officer. He was deployed to Bosnia and Iraq twice. In his civilian career, Bill is employed by GlaxoSmithKline as a team leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Tom Manion
Member Board Director
Michael Stephens
Member Board Director
Carol Kain
Member Board Director
Tim Schlaner
Member Board Director
Legals & Financials
Vets for Vets is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, publicly supported organization under Sections 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, and is incorporated and registered in Pennsylvania. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.