Imagine sacrificing your youth to help protect our country, then coming home and struggling to make ends meet. It’s a tragic reality too many of our local heroes experience, especially if they were injured while serving. But you can help turn bad circumstances around by helping us help these special veterans.
The primary mission of Care for DFW Vets is to provide support, resources, and opportunities that enhance our veterans’ quality of life to promote their successful reintegration into civilian society. We aim to honor the service and sacrifice of armed veterans and others by offering programs and services that address their unique needs and challenges.
We accomplish this by orchestrating a variety of fundraising campaigns while also financially supporting other worthy veterans’ organizations in the DFW area. These include Dallas Wreaths Across America, One Tribe Foundation, Roll Call, Operation Tiny House, and the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW).
We provide a bridge to a better future for our local veterans.Care for DFW Vets aims to honor the service and sacrifice of armed veterans and others by offering programs and services that address their unique needs and challenges.
We offer a range of support services tailored to the needs of armed veterans, including healthcare, housing assistance, educational programs, and career placement services.
We actively engage with the community to raise awareness about the challenges faced by armed veterans and to promote a supportive environment that encourages their successful reintegration into civilian life.
We collaborate with local organizations, government agencies, and businesses to leverage resources and expertise in providing the best possible support for armed veterans.
REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.
What does it mean to sponsor a wreath? Your sponsorship will support the new and existing programs developed to share the mission. SPONSOR WREATHS
Dallas – Wreaths Across AmericaSince the founding of the Military Order, thousands of Officers and Hereditary Companions have joined rank to work with Police Departments, Firefighter Departments, Youth Leadership Conferences, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, ROTC units and assist Veterans transition into civilian life.
Dallas Chapter of MOWWThe mission of 1 Tribe is to create a community that raises awareness and combats suicide by empowering veterans, first responders, medical frontline workers and their families through traditional and non-traditional therapies.
One Tribe FoundationRoll Call provides a regular venue for fellowship and camaraderie, provide outreach and home visitation services, and share the stories of our local veterans through community engagement and publication.
Roll CallOperation Tiny House raises funds for tiny houses with community partners and supporters. Together we help veterans secure housing and employment to improve their lives.
Operation Tiny House
Founder | Fund Raising
I am a Vietnam ERA veteran. I was drafted into the Marine Corps March 20, 1969. My MOS was an Amtrac Crew Chief. I served in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Okinawa. I achieved the rank of Corporal (E-4) in just 13 months. The last 6 months of my tour in Okinawa I was an instructor in Counter Guerilla Warfare in the Northern Training Area.
After rotating back from overseas I left the Corps in October 1970 on early release. I attended Eastfield community college from 1971 -1974, then started in 1975 attending The University of Texas at Dallas while working at Texas Instruments. I graduated in June 1978 with a BS in Marketing.
The last 38 years of my career was as a Regional Manager for Sanyo / Panasonic and then Gold Peak Industries. These are “rechargeable battery manufacturers. I was responsible for developing Compaq / HP Computer, Dell Computer, Nokia, and Philips Emergency Lighting.
My passion today is in working with North Texas Wreaths of Honor. to raise donations for “balsam wreaths” that we will lay on our veteran’s graves at the DFW National Cemetery every December. And it is my way of giving back to our veterans.
I am a native-born Texan. Born and raised in Dallas. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 54 years. We have two amazing daughters and two even more amazing grandsons.
Grand Daughter of Marine Corps Commandant | General Alexander Vandegrift
Stephanie Vandegrift’s relationship with veterans started at birth in Quantico, Virginia, as she was born the third daughter of Marine Colonel A.A. Vandegrift, Jr. (Iwo Jima) and third granddaughter of General A.A. Vandegrift Sr. (Guadalcanal) 18th Commandant. Being a Marine’s daughter, she grew up moving around the country and was also stationed on Guam on the cliff.
Stephanie graduated from Hollins University with a degree in Economics and Studio Art. Her corporate life began in Wichita Falls, Texas at Coca-Cola USA where she specialized in sales, marketing, and management. She was the first female hired in the southwest region as a territory sales manager for Coca-Cola. She was quickly promoted to senior district manager and was one of only two females out of 44 district managers.
She joined AC Nielsen and worked in client relationships, market research, account management, and sales. Her clients included Dr. Pepper, IBC Rootbeer, Eveready Battery, Tyson’s, and Eagle Snacks.
Stephanie then worked at Price Waterhouse in sales, where she called on retailers to promote management horizons. She then founded The Cookie Company in Dallas, which she owned and operated for 18 years. Stephanie and The Cookie Company were featured in Fortune Magazine. After she sold The Cookie Company in 2015, Stephanie worked as a financial advisor for New York Life.
Throughout Stephanie’s career, and in the positions, she has held professionally, voluntarily, and personally, a common theme exists: “Respect others, do what is right, do what is needed, think, and calm chaos.” Just like the Marines.
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law | Criminal Clinic
Professor Mike McCollum is a 1962 graduate of Kimball HS in Dallas and matriculated at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas. Upon graduation from the University of Texas School of Law with a LLB in June 1968, he was commissioned a 2/Lt in the United States Marine Corps and served successive tours in Southeast Asia as a SJA Defense Counsel and as an Aerial Observer.
Upon his release from active duty in June 1971, Professor McCollum returned to Dallas and simultaneously worked as a member of the 1972-75 Associate Faculty of the Caruth Institute of Owner Managed Business at SMU Cox School of Business from 72 through 75, and as an Assistant District Attorney in both the Appellate and Prosecution Divisions of Dallas County District Attorney’s Office under the legendary Henry Wade.
Mike began the general practice of law Dallas in June 1975. He was hired by the SMU (now Dedman) School of Law as a part time instructor in August 1977 and has served continuously in the criminal clinic to this day.
He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since September 1968 and was admitted to the Northern Federal District of Texas in 1971, served as a faculty member of the WESTPAC Trial Advocacy from 1991-through 1999 which provides CLE certified instruction to SJA attorneys of all five military arms serving in the western Pacific.
Mike is a long time member of both the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) the Dallas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (DCDLA). He has published numerous articles on DWI defense and has been a speaker on that topic on many occasions.
McCollum joined the Marine Reserve in 1971 and retired from uniformed service in 1998. He is a member of the Metroplex Marine Coordination Council, is the managing trustee of the Metroplex Military Charitable Trust, and is the CEO of Metroplex Veterans Legal Services.
He has selected as a Texas Super in 2003 through 2014, was designated as one of Best Lawyer in Dallas in 2003 and as one of 10 best misdemeanor lawyers in 2014 by the DCDLA.
1969-70 Staff Judge Advocate of U S Marine Corps; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
4/91-99 Faculty Member of the WESTPAC Trial Advocacy Faculty; Member Emeritus.
1972-75 Associate Faculty of the Caruth Institute of Owner Managed Business at SMU Cox School of Business.
4/72-12/72 Assistant District Attorney, Appellate Division, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
1/73-6/73 Assistant District Attorney, Prosecution Division, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
6/75 to present – Private practice of law with a law concentration in criminal law.
1977 to present – Associate Director/Acting Director/Faculty Instructor of the SMU Dedman School of Law Criminal Justice Clinic.
MORE SUGGESTIONS ON THE CMI 4011AS-A INTOXILYZER
Oct. 5, 1990, Dallas County Criminal Bar Association seminar
INFORMATION YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT DWI ARRESTS IN DALLAS COUNTY
Oct. 22, 1990, Dallas Bar Association CLE Criminal Law seminar
CMI 4011AS-A & CMI 5OOO
March 14, 1991, DWI Superstar Seminar, Galveston, Texas
BASIC PREREQUISITES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL JURY TRIAL OF ANY DWI CASE
Voice for the Defense, January, 1994
CROSS-EXAMINATION OF AN INTOXILYZER 5000
EXPERT, DWI Seminar, Cayman Islands, July 1995
TEN SEMI-EASY POINTS TO MAKE IN THE CROSS-EXAMINATION OF AN INTOXILYZER 5000
EXPERT, Voice for the Defense, April, 1996
CROSS OF THE TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR
Texas, May 6, 2011 Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers (“TCDLA”) DWI Defense project, Arlington, Texas
CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR
November 18 & 19, 2010, TCDLA Stuart Kinard Memorial Advanced DWI Seminar, November 18 & 19, 2010, San Antonio, Texas
UNDERMINING THE BREATH TEST, TCDLA
Stuart Kinard Memorial Advanced DWI Seminar, San Antonio, Texas, November 2 & 3, 2006
HOW TO WIN A DWI TEST CASE WITHOUT AN EXPERT, TCDLA, DWI & Golf Seminar
Sherman, Texas , August 25, 2006
DWI BREATH TEST CASE PROGRAM
January 26, 2007, Institute of International and Comparative law, Plano, Texas
Texas Super Lawyers 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas 2003