NEWS & STORIES
The Patriot Award bestowed upon Marla Anderson
The Board of Trustees of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) takes great pleasure in presenting the Patriot Award to Marla J. Anderson, for her exceptional support and dedication to
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. from 2015 to the present.
Upon recognizing Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing’s impact throughout North Carolina and across the country Mrs. Anderson wanted to continue the dedication that her deceased husband
John demonstrated as a PHWFF volunteer. Focusing on the importance of providing tools to improve participant and spouse relationships, her efforts became instrumental in developing a
multi-day participant and spouse retreat called Camp Keystone. The Camp Keystone initiative recognizes the importance of a strong relationship between disabled veterans and their spouses.
It provides a unique opportunity for PHWFF participants and their spouses understand and appreciate this concept as a focused retreat. Through her support, Camp Keystone enabled over
30 disabled veterans from across the country to spend quality time with their spouses to improve the critical family bond necessary to encourage an effective healing environment for these
participants and their families.
Consistent with her core belief in giving back to the community, Mrs. Anderson also proactively sought out opportunities to magnify the impact of her generous spirit by donating her personal
time to the organization. Whether escorting World War II veterans on Honor Flights, organizing activities for Project Healing Water’s participants, or just lending a sympathetic ear, her
compassion, unwavering optimism, and hands-on commitment to improving the lives of our nation’s disabled veterans forged lasting bonds with our participants, their families, and the
caregivers tasked with the support and rehabilitation of these American heroes.
Let us not only measure the magnitude of her contribution in her generous philanthropy but also in the positive post-traumatic growth that the she provides to all who know her. Mrs. Anderson’s generosity touched the lives of those central to Project Healing Water’s mission across the country and it helped create a better future vision for us all. In her stellar example of
volunteerism, empathy, and benevolence lies the inspiration that speaks volumes to our core values: Compassion, Accountability, Excellence, and Community.
The Board of Trustees of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., is proud to bestow on Marla J. Anderson a Patriot Award for her tireless and extraordinary service to Project Healing Waters
Fly Fishing and to those disabled servicemen, servicewomen, and disabled veterans whom this organization proudly serves.
President and CEO Todd Desgrosseilliers and Marla Anderson