Matias Ferreira is a combat wounded veteran of the United States Marine Corps. After being deployed to Afghanistan, he stepped on an IED and lost both legs below the knee in January of 2011.
Ever since medically retiring from the Marine Corps, Matias has worked with numerous organizations to help veterans. Since his retirement from the Marine Corps, Matias is now a full time active duty Police Officer in Suffolk County NY.

Jonathan Appel is Matias’ cousin and has always been involved in veteran activities since Matias’ injury. After graduating from the University of Miami with his MBA, Jonathan always envisioned a way to further help Matias with his passion to reach out to veterans and first responders in need. As a Director of Business for a non profit, Jonathan sought to help create the vision of a new non for profit to help both veterans and first responders.