Angel Fire nonprofit lacks cash for veteran retreats

Angel Fire nonprofit lacks cash for veteran retreats
Jesse Chaney
Sangre de Cristo Chronicle
Posted: Saturday, September 08, 2012

After a record-setting year of success that caught the attention of the Oprah Winfrey Network and of veterans throughout the United States, the National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire has not yet hosted a single therapeutic retreat in 2012.

The nonprofit organization funded most of last year’s 11 retreats with $350,000 in federal stimulus money. But it had only about $19,000 in the bank Aug. 27, and most of that will be needed for administrative costs.

Each seven-day retreat serves 15 to 18 veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and a spouse, partner or caregiver, at no cost to them. And each retreat costs about $63,000, said Chuck Howe, a Vietnam War veteran and president of the board of directors.

“It takes $3,500 per couple,” he said. “Some people say that’s a lot of money. And yes, it is, but there’s a tremendous amount of healing that comes from that money.”

The center relies on Native American healing exercises and equine therapy in its retreats as well as massage, yoga, acupuncture, art therapy, reiki, and couple and group counseling. Howe said that Native Americans understand post-traumatic stress disorder better than anyone, and that they routinely and extensively work with their own warriors after they return home.
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