John Wheat "JW" Long, Jr. founded The John Wheat Foundation in April 2019. He launched the non-profit organization in honor of his late father and teacher, John Wheat.

 

JW is a veteran who served in the US Army during Desert Storm. Over the years, JW has met and worked with other veterans who were in active combat and who now suffer from PTSD or have other disabilities. 

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According to the VA, 17 veterans take their own life every day. JW pledged to do something to put an end to those staggering suicide rates. Fishing has always been therapeutic for him, and he was convinced that fishing could help his fellow veteran brothers and sisters.