We Gift More Than Just a Motorcycle
Riding is an alternative therapy; and our gifts are the tools by which an injured Veteran rider regains its healing benefits. The Harleys we gift are not awards for service, popularity-based decisions or simply thank-you gifts. They are, instead, meant to help redirect, if not save, struggling and at-risk Veteran lives by returning them to The Road. While our goal is to gift one bike a year, since our first gifting in May 2016, SIXTY ONE Wisconsin Veterans have now regained riding in their lives. You’ve put them on beautiful bikes, that they choose from dealership floors, to clear their minds, fill their hearts and reconnect supportive bonds.
We are rolling into our 2026 “gifting season” with a record-breaking plan to gift TWELVE Harleys TO CHANGE TWELVE MORE LIVES this year alone. We can’t wait to meet our new Veteran Recipients and welcome them into our Family. We are currently in fundraising mode for 2027 and greatly appreciate all the support you lend. YOU are the fuel that helps redirect struggling Veteran’s lives–and that of their families and communities… all because a motorcycle reentered their lives.
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LATEST NEWS
MEET VETERAN RECIPIENT #70: Marine & Army National Guardsman, Sergeant First Class Chad Olson of Janesville, WI. Looking for a future that spoke to the selfless service his mother encouraged, and chasing the approval of a distant father who’d always wished he’d served, Chad entered the Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1994. He spent his first year as a Supply Operations Clerk, then volunteered to join Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Group (SRIG) in covert operations, became an Airborne Marine, and moved into Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). He loved every minute and decided to pursue Officer Training. When denied the chance, Chad transferred into Madison’s Army Active Guard Reserve with a plan to go to college and rejoin as an officer. That never happened. Instead he proudly worked full time in Automated Logistics and Supply Management for the next 19 years within the Guard, served two combat deployments, rose in rank to Sergeant First Class and retired with 23 years in. He carries the cumulative weight of PTSD, a fractured family and the burden of alcohol abuse as a result. Chad took up riding after his first year in the Corps and used it to move through his years of demanding work and hiding his struggles. When he faced an unexpected child custody battle this January, he sold his beloved Street Glide to retain a lawyer. Without a bike, his longtime therapeutic release and his CVMA brotherhood are all at risk: and Hogs For Heroes believed we would support Chad’s efforts to stay on his healing path with our gift of a Harley. Chad’s bike, has been fully sponsored by Wisconsin’s Construction Business Group after their successful golf outing last year. Chad’s Presentation of Keys Ceremony will be on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 5:00 pm at the Janesville VFW Post 1621, following Larry’s Last Ride benefiting us! Click here for the ride details. You can read Chad’s full story of service and strength by clicking here.
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HERE’S VETERAN RECIPEINT #69 Army National Guardsman, Sergeant Aaron Kloss of Oshkosh, WI. After a mistake gave Aaron the choice of jail or military, he joined the Army National Guard as a wheeled vehicle operator. What started as a consequence turned into a life of service, sacrifice and responsibility that would span over 17 years, and then well beyond the uniform. His journey includes three combat tours to Iraq and one domestic deployment in response to Hurricane Katrina. The effects of each– the memories, the actions, the fears, the losses, the guilt–compounded over time as he pushed away the PTSD demons he came home with. The demons, however, made their presence known through uncontrolled anger, despair, and self-doubt. In 2017, after struggling to meet the Guard’s physical fitness standards, Aaron was medically retired. And after nearly 17 years in service, the loss of all he knew, loved and dedicated himself to was gone in an instant, taking one more toll on his mental health. Realizing his need to be a better version for his family, he sought mental health care through the VA and remains committed to his healing journey to this day. The one escape that consistently helped Aaron move through his pain, free his heart and clear his mind was riding. Unable to afford the repairs his 25 year-old bike required has kept him off the road for two years, and his mental health has struggled even more as a result. Hogs For Heroes believed we could show up for Aaron and support his journey with our healing tool.
Aaron’s bike is the fourth of four bikes to roll out this season alone with full bragging rights from Wisconsin’s @IUOE Local 139. Aaron’s Presentation of Keys Ceremony will be on Saturday, July 18, 2026 during a private ceremony at the Operating Engineers Family Picnic. Catch Aaron’s story of selfless service and sacrifice by clicking here.
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WE ROLLED OUT THREE MORE WITHIN A ONE WEEK PERIOD! SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON THEIR BUTTONS FOR THEIR FULL STORIES!
INTRODUCING RECIPIENT #68: Army Veteran Shane Magelitz of Oshkosh, WI. As a seventh grader watching the Twin Towers fall, Shane made a promise with his best friend that they “were going in” when they were old enough to serve. Shane enlisted in the Army National Guard after graduation; and eventually wanting more involvement, transitioned to active duty with a position within Human Resources. After supporting advanced training programs he sought the chance to deploy…and six months later, in June 2012, found himself in Afghanistan as the HR representative for his Brigade. In his short six months he lost several friends and saw many more injured, saw all the horrors of war, moved through the violent areas living out of a rucksack, and gathered life altering memories and emotions that still challenge him today. And Shane was HR. Shane’s bike was the third of four bikes to roll out compliments of the IUOE Local 139’s 2025 fundraising efforts; and he received his keys on June 27, 2026.
MEET RECIPEINT #67: Marine Devin Brom of Warrens, WI. Devin grew up with Harleys in his family tree and riding integral to his life. He joined the Marine Reserves for the action and discipline that would enhance his future success. As an MP hevolunteered for every deployment he could, serving a year in Djibouti, Africa and a year in Afghanistan, never imagining the resulting toll PTSD would take on his life. Despite his own struggles, Devin found himself listening to and guiding other Marines, and later Veterans, through their personal troubles; and in 2017, after years of avoidance, hardships of his own, and uncontrolled drinking, he chose to finally seek his own counseling. Realizing his own gifts and purpose along the way, Devin obtained his Masters Degree in 2025 to become a Mental Health Therapist with the Tomah VA. Devin’s bike was fully sponsored by Wisconsin’s Operating Engineers Local 139; and he received his keys on June 27, 2026.
HERE’S #66: Army Veteran Brandon Pszanka of Clintonville, WI. In high school the only thing Brandon knew he wanted was to first serve in the Army National Guard. He specialized as a Combat Engineer after graduation, and less than 8 months later found himself deployed in Iraq. His job was route clearance: rolling through the dark of night to find hidden explosive devices in the area’s roads before others encountered them with devastating effects. In a three month time period, Brandon was directly involved in three explosive blasts to his vehicle, the last of which earned him a Purple Heart and a lifetime of struggle. Unable to hold up two wheels anymore and afford the trike he needed, he’s missed the road’s impact and connection. Brandon’s trike was fully sponsored by the 2025 fundraising efforts of the Operating Engineers Local 139; and he received the keys to his beautiful trike on June 20, 2026.
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LEARN ABOUT PAST RECIPIENTS! Miss the stories of our past Recipients? Catch them below by simply clicking on the Veteran’s name button. See the Harleys they’ve chosen–some new, some barely broken in–by clicking on the Recipient Photos button here or the icon below.
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CATCH OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER! Find out the latest happenings and updates in our most recent Hogs for Heroes newsletter. Read it here!
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CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED CALENDAR OF EVENTS! So much is going on with Hogs for Heroes, see what’s happening and where here!
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UNBELIEVABLE NEWS: Fox News and their Fox & Friends First morning program flew a crew out, with Anchor Todd Piro, to interview our Hogs For Heroes family and recipients as we handed over our 18th set of keys to Marine Veteran Rick Erickson on May 23, 2021. National attention? Us? UNBELIEVABLE!
Take a few minutes to watch this compassionate production on our mission’s efforts and impact by clicking here.
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SUPER COOL NEWS: Our Recipients created a way to express their appreciation and pride for the healing gifts your donations have made possible. In addition to the decals they had made exclusively for Recipient use, they chose to have license plates that reflect their gifting number within the Hogs For Heroes family. Watch for WI motorcycle plates on the road that read H4H## (i.e. H4H6 or H4H47, etc.). And please note, Hogs For Heroes does not ask Recipients to tag their bikes (or themselves!) in any way. They choose to do this.
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THE “THIS JUST DOESN’T GET OLD” NEWS: In November 2019, our Founding Family was surprised by a party our Recipients, their spouses and our Board members threw to honor us. We still choke up over this. NBC15 Madison was on hand to capture the surprise moment and tell us our nonprofit had been selected for their regional “Making A Difference” Award! This beautiful piece was created and narrated by NBC News Anchor John Stofflet and his skilled team, and features our first recipient, Sun Prairie Marine Scott Kruchten. And the cherry on top… it won a coveted Edward J. Muir journalism award in 2020. Catch the video here.
