How VyStar Supports Our Military and Veteran Service Members Today
Each year, VyStar sponsors, participates in and contributes to more than 20 military-focused events, charities and initiatives. The following are just a few recent examples of how VyStar supports our military and veteran service members:
JAXUSA Military Issues Committee
VyStar’s President/CEO, Brian Wolfburg, proudly serves as Chairman of the JAXUSA Partnership’s Military Issues Committee. A division of the JAX Chamber, JAXUSA is the regional economic development organization serving the seven Northeast Florida counties. JAXUSA Partnership heads several different committees with the JAX Chamber. That includes the Military Issues Committee, which facilitates an active relationship between the Northeast Florida business community and military commands headquartered in the region, for the purpose of promoting the continued viability of existing military activities. The Military Issues Committee aims to promote engagement, cooperation, mutual support and understanding between businesses, the government, and the military community. Members of the committee include military commands in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida; local businesses; government representatives; and elected officials at the local, state and national levels—all of whom are JAX Chamber members as well.
NAS Jax Air Show
VyStar has been a proud sponsor of the annual NAS Jax Air Show—which took place aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville this October—since 1991. The event showcases the extraordinary talents of the United States Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels
®, and gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy great food and other family-friendly activities.
USO PathfinderSM Transition Service Center at NAS Jax
During the summer of 2018, VyStar funded the building of the very first USO Pathfinder transition service center in Jacksonville—and in Florida—at our own Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax) branch. This new facility will serve as a resource for service members who need assistance when transitioning out of the military and into civilian life.
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
The VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena provides for several veteran support initiatives. When making a purchase at concession stands, arena patrons have the option to make donations to our Veterans Fund program, which helps support select veteran groups. These donations are matched by VyStar up to $50,000 annually. Veterans and VyStar members can also enjoy exclusive concession stand discounts. Veterans are also honored with a quarterly appreciation event at the arena.
Military Appreciation Night at Adventure Landing
For the past 10 years, VyStar has been honored to sponsor the USO Military Appreciation Night at Adventure Landing water park. Several thousand military personnel and their family members—some of whom may not be able to afford admission to Adventure Landing, even with the military discount—attend this event each year, receiving one night of free unlimited access to the water park, miniature 
golf, laser tag and more.
Patriots’ Outpost at THE PLAYERS Championship
For the last three years, VyStar has sponsored and participated in the Patriots’ Outpost at THE PLAYERS Championship, where veterans and their families can go to get free food, refreshments and other giveaways while they watch their favorite golfers compete. We are proud to support THE PLAYERS efforts to offer free or affordable access to the tournament for men and women of the U.S. Armed Services.
Clay County and JAX Chambers of Commerce Military Appreciation Luncheons
An annual tradition, the Military Appreciation Luncheons hosted by the Clay County and JAX Chambers of Commerce honor and celebrate local active duty and retired military personnel. VyStar is privileged to participate alongside the Clay County and JAX Chambers and show our gratitude to our service members for the contributions they make and everything they do to make our lives better.
Operation New Uniform
VyStar is proud to be a supporter of Operation New Uniform (ONU), a nonprofit organization that helps veterans find fulfilling careers after serving in the military. Transitioning from the military to the professional marketplace is difficult, and it is the goal of ONU to give veterans the tools they need to succeed in the workforce.
JROTC Financial Literacy Program
VyStar is honored to partner with the JROTC units from approximately 34 high schools in the Northeast Florida area. The purpose of the JROTC Financial Literacy Program is to promote the financial education of our youth in Northeast Florida’s high schools. As part of our commitment to investing in the community and supporting our military, VyStar offers free financial literacy training to students enrolled in the schools where we currently operate high school branches, and to cadets assigned to 37 JROTC units in the counties we serve. Because of the lifelong importance of money management skills, this program provides a means to offer financial education to as many high school students as possible and help youth become better citizens in alignment with the financial considerations of our armed forces, including reliability, trustworthiness and the protection of classified information.
Other military events/promotions we have recently supported throughout the counties we serve include:
- Friends of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Annual Charity Golf Tournament
- MWR (U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation) Travel Fair
- MWR Annual Captain Chuck Cornett Navy Run
- MWR Spring and Fall Barracks Bash
- MWR Bounce-A-Palooza
- MWR Dewey’s Back to School Celebration
- First Coast YMCA Military Back-to-School Bash
- Military Saves Week
- K9s United 9k for K9s
- Clay County Annual Veterans Appreciation Day
- Annual Riding Into History Supporting K9s for Warriors
- CRS-10 Homecoming
- St. Johns County Veterans Weekend Event
- St. Johns Chamber of Commerce Salute to Veterans
- Jacksonville’s First Wednesday Art Walk: Salute to Service
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Military Appreciation Discount