CreatiVets
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arts, veteran support |
| Founded | July 2013 |
| Founder | Richard Casper, Linda Tarrson |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Key people | Richard Casper (Executive Director), Will Parker (Chair), Nanette Leonard (Vice Chair) |
| Products | Therapeutic art and music programs for veterans |
| Website | www |
CreatiVets is a United States-based non-profit organization established in July 2013 by entrepreneurs Richard Casper and Linda Tarrson, with its main office located in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization focuses on empowering veterans to confront the unseen effects of combat through visual arts and music, aiming to combat the elevated suicide rates among veterans. Functioning as a 501(c)(3) organization, CreatiVets’ operational approach revolves around therapeutic art initiatives that promote recovery through narrative expression.
The organization has developed key alliances with prominent entities such as The Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Big Machine Label Group, Amazon Music, as well as veteran-centered organizations like Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Stand Down. Its programs have been hosted by esteemed institutions including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), University of Southern California (USC), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), broadening its influence and reach within the sector.
Leadership at CreatiVets features Executive Director Richard Casper, alongside board members Will Parker (chair) and Nanette Leonard (vice chair), who collectively steer the strategic direction and expansion of the organization within the veteran support landscape.
Incorporation
CreatiVets completed its incorporation filing with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on July 19, 2013, and was granted 501(c)(3) public charity designation on January 30, 2014. In 2020, the organization relocated its headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, securing office space leased from Operation Stand Down.
Backstory
Founder Richard Casper served in the elite Marine Security Company at Camp David and was deployed to Iraq in 2006, where he endured multiple injuries including a traumatic brain injury. Confronting challenges related to post-traumatic stress and anxiety, Casper discovered recovery through songwriting and artistic expression, motivating him to develop veteran-specific programs. He is an alumnus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and participated in the George W. Bush Presidential Center's Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. In 2017, Time magazine honored him as a "Next Generation Leader."
Music
CreatiVets invites veterans from across the country to Nashville to transform their personal experiences into songs, providing songwriting instruction as a form of therapy. In July 2020, CreatiVets collaborated with Big Machine Records and Music Has Value to produce Veteran Songs, an album comprising 11 tracks co-created by veterans alongside professional songwriters. The subsequent EP titled Veterans Day Special, released in November 2020, features three tracks—two originating from the program and one live re-release by Brantley Gilbert. Scott Borchetta, founder of Big Machine Label Group, highlighted the initiative’s potential to significantly impact veterans nationwide. Furthermore, CreatiVets partnered with Amazon Music to allow Alexa users to access veteran-created songs through voice commands.
Discography
Veteran Songs Release date: July 3, 2020 – Format: digital download – Peak chart position: N/A Veterans Day Special Release date: November 6, 2020 – Format: digital download – Peak chart position: N/A
Art
CreatiVets offers courses in conceptual art that encompass creative writing, woodworking, and digital media, aiming to foster self-expression and assist veterans in coping with trauma. The artworks created through these initiatives have been displayed at institutions such as Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center, National Veterans Art Museum, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Southern California, and Virginia Commonwealth University. In December 2021, San Antonio International Airport featured Jason Myers' collection titled “From War to Words – A Visual Voices Portrait Series,” which spotlights veteran artists.
Donations and spending
CreatiVets operates on a fiscal calendar from July through June. For the 2019 fiscal year, the organization reported revenues totaling $397,635 alongside expenses amounting to $302,096. Of these expenditures, $219,722—or 72.7%—were allocated directly to programs supporting veterans. To maintain financial integrity and openness, CreatiVets undergoes an annual independent audit conducted by a third party.
Charity ratings and memberships
- Guidestar – Platinum Seal of Transparency
- Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
- Giving Matters – CreatiVets
See also
External links
- Website: Creativets | Healing Wounds of War Through the Arts
- Facebook: Creativets
- Twitter: [1]
- Instagram: Instagram
- YouTube: CreatiVets – YouTube
- Giving Matters: CreatiVets
- Time magazine documentary: George W. Bush & Veteran Richard Casper On Finding Healing In Art