Music for Vets rocks out and raises funds

Almost 700 people packed into the Island Pavilion last Saturday night and rocked out to five different bands, all to raise money to support veterans.

This year was the ninth annual Music for Vets, a fundraiser created by local band ZamTrip in partnership with the American Legion. Each year the event brings in local and regional bands for a concert lineup as a way to raise money for the local Veterans Relief Fund. This year's event raised over $65,000.

"This year was insane," ZamTrip member Cody Zampedri said. "I'm so happy the community showed up the way they did."

Starting Music for Vets

Zampedri, along with his brothers Kyle and Cory and vocalist Samantha Newman, formed the band ZamTrip over a decade ago. Not long after they got started, they wanted to find a way to give back to the community.

"Originally we wanted to start a concert and just try to have as many local acts as possible and then raise money for a good organization or do a benefit," Zampedri explained.

As they were coming up with ideas, they were discussing things with Amy Rasdall, another local musician who is now a member of Atlas Falls, who also played at this year's Music for Vets. Rasdall was the one who initially made the suggestion of raising money for veteran relief, and the first ever Music for Vets was hosted in Rock Springs in partnership with American Legion Archie Hay Post 24.

The next year, the bands wanted to keep it going. They moved the event to Green River, where it was hosted by American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28. For several years, the Legion hosted the event in their own building - until it became too popular.

"There was no more room for everybody [at the Legion building]. It was selling out immediately," Zampedri explained. "And so we moved it to the Pavilion."

Since then, Music for Vets has been hosted at the Pavilion on Expedition Island every year, and each year it has seemed like the event almost doubles in size, according to Zampedri, and now it typically ranges from 500 to 700 people at each event.

"We're pretty much at capacity over here at the Island Pavilion," Tom Niemiec from the Legion explained. "The Island Pavilion can hold 700 people. And with the ticketed folks and the workers we hit 675 this year."

Raising the funds

Niemiec is the finance officer for American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28, so he works closely with ZamTrip to organize Music for Vets. Now that the event has grown so much, ZamTrip handles the music side of things with the concert lineup, and the Legion handles the money side of things.

The money is raised by ticket sales, food and drink sales at the event, and raffles. The event also wouldn't be able to raise as much without the help of local sponsors.

When the event first started, expenses for putting it on came out of the money raised. As it got bigger, the organizers started asking for community donations and sponsorships so the event could raise even more money.

"We've had numerous, numerous businesses and community support across the board," Niemiec said. "It's getting bigger every year."

Some donations are in-kind, such as the use of the Island Pavilion, which is donated by the Green River Urban Renewal Agency, or the use of the stage, which is donated by Western Wyoming Community College. The bands who play at the event also donate their time or operate with severely reduced costs.

Other donations are monetary, and the Legion offers multiple tiers of sponsorship packages, Niemiec explained, giving things like tickets, t-shirts, and banners to sponsors who donate $500, $1,000 and $2,000.

"We did have a major sponsorship this year and that was Whistler Chevrolet," Niemiec said. "Whistler donated $18,500. A lot of that was from the car show they do in the summer. That was $8,500 from the car show, and then they did a gun board which raised $10,000."

The first year Music for Vets was hosted, the event raised about $1,200, according to Zampedri. Niemiec estimated last year's event raised around $40,000. This year's preliminary estimate was a little over $65,500.

While some expenses still need to be covered, everyone works together to make sure as much money as possible goes toward the cause.

"I would say definitely more than 75% of our gross goes into the Veteran's Relief Fund," Niemiec explained.

Helping vets in need

The Veteran's Relief Fund provides money to help out local veterans or veterans traveling through the area when they are in financial difficulty.

The proceeds from Music for Vets are distributed to American Legion Post 28 as well as American Legion Post 24 in Rock Springs and VFW 2321. 

"All three of those organizations distribute that money to veterans in need," Niemiec said.

Many veterans experience financial difficulty because they live on strict budgets and often have limited resources, especially when they are homebound or living in assisted living facilities, according to Niemiec. Everything from a flat tire to a broken water heater can be an extra expense veterans may not be able to cover, which is where the Veteran's Relief Fund can help.

"Also during the COVID years a lot of younger veterans have been in need," Niemiec noted. "Veterans with families and so forth."

For families with children, the Legion can also help veterans file for national American Legion relief so they can receive even more funds.

Whenever a veteran needs assistance, the Legion will assess the situation to determine how best to help.

"If the need is bigger than one place can do, we'll call up the other American Legion and the VFW to see if they can help as well," Niemiec said.

One example of how the Legion recently helped a veteran in need was by providing a CPAP machine. A veteran had initially had a CPAP machine provided by the VA, but it was later discovered to be a model that was recalled by the manufacturer because of health risks including the possibility of causing cancer. Budget cuts to the VA and eligibility rules meant the VA couldn't replace the CPAP themselves. So the Legion stepped in to help.

"So we picked up the expense for that CPAP and made sure he got a CPAP that wasn't going to give him cancer," Niemiec explained. "That's just one of the things we've done recently."

With the funds raised by Music for Vets, the Legion will have even more resources in the Veterans Relief Fund to be able to help those in need.

Helping the whole community

Music for Vets is an important event for the community because of how it gives back, both to the veterans in need and the community as a whole.

Niemiec estimated the event has become the second-largest music event in Sweetwater County, just after the county fair, which is important for local bands and music lovers.

"We're in Wyoming here, it's kind of the gray zone between Denver and Salt Lake. There are a few music things in the middle of the summer, but I mean technically we're kind of musically starved here, especially for the youngsters," Niemiec said. "So this is an all-ages event. We can get young folks in to listen to some of these bands and some of this music and just have an event out there."

Niemiec also noted Music for Vets is unique because it's in the middle of winter, providing a chance for people to get out instead of being home-bound all through the coldest months.

Not only is it a fun event, but Music for Vets is also one of a kind in what it supports.

"I don't think there are too many veteran-related benefits that go on up here," Niemiec said. "We have a few other things going on, but this one's pretty important for the veteran community, especially the ones that are in need."

"I think it's important because vets always put their lives on the line for us," Zampedri said. "And I think that they could use help as well."