What is the mission and vision of PHP?

The Purple Heart Project’s mission is to introduce physically and mentally combat Wounded Veterans still suffering from the negative effects of combat to the peace and joy that can be found through the therapy of traditional hand tool woodworking.

We envision a community of combat Wounded Veterans who share the joy and peace found through the bond of woodworking, are connected for life, and know that they are supported and never forgotten.

How does PHP accomplish its mission and achieve its vision?

PHP accomplishes our mission by providing selected combat Wounded Veterans with a PHP scholarship to attend one of Rob Cosman’s Training the Hand Workshops. Selected combat Wounded Veterans are fully funded for travel, per diem, and tuition to attend one of Rob Cosman's week-long Training the Hand Workshops. In the workshop, they learn all the basic hand tools skills needed to build furniture without machinery, no dust, no noise, and no danger. 

During the week, scholarship selectees form lifelong bonds with fellow Veterans and students, become a part of the PHP family, and learn how much others value their selfless service. We provide each Veteran with their own set of high-quality hand tools to take home with them. Once the selectees return home our Bench Brigade volunteers build and deliver to the selectees a premium workbench. 

Through our outreach programs, PHP maintains a community for these combat Wounded Veterans to stay connected to their newfound woodworking buddies and the PHP program. The positive result is focused energy on woodworking to chase away the negative effects of combat, provide a feeling of purpose and accomplishment when building something with your hands, and the lifelong support of a community that honors their service.