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October 2022: The Dream Takes Shape

The Veteran Trike Brigade and Civilian Support Squad of Forgotten Not Gone rallied around one audacious goal: securing a grant from the City of North Las Vegas that would increase our capacity to proactively serve more veterans and finally enable us to open a commercial location, hire our very first paid staff—after nine years of purely volunteer-driven service.

Why It Matters

Veterans returning home often face suicidal ideation, isolation, depression, and a sense of disconnection. By taking them outdoors on recumbent trikes—powered by camaraderie and the sheer joy of movement—we help them reclaim their lives. Our initial grassroots impact was undeniable; with proper funding, our vision could expand far beyond what an all-volunteer team could manage.

Why should people care?

In a world where veterans often fall through the cracks, Forgotten Not Gone offers connection, purpose, belonging, and hope. Every wheel on the road represents a veteran choosing life over despair, and community over isolation. When you see our recumbent trikes blazing through the streets of Vegas, know that each mile is a step away from hopelessness and a step toward a thriving future.

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From $1.5 Million to $1.6 Million: A Reimbursement-Based Award

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We initially requested $1.5 million. When the City approved a $1.6 million grant, we were ecstatic—but it was reimbursement-based. That meant every bike, every ride, and every improvement came first out of our pocket. Only afterward could we bill the City for reimbursement. It was a leap of faith on both sides—a sign of confidence that our community leaders believed in our mission enough to ensure we had the resources to do it right.

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2023: Turning Hope Into Reality

First Paid Staff

For nine years, Forgotten Not Gone operated with a 100% volunteer force. In 2023, that all changed. Thanks to the grant, we hired our first official staff to organize rides, maintain equipment, train volunteers, and expand outreach. In concrete terms: we went from a lean-but-passionate crew to having a structured team that could more effectively serve more veterans proactively before it’s too late. 

May 2023 – Securing a 5-Year Lease & Starting Build-Out

By May, we had signed a five-year lease on our new commercial space even though the grant terms were for 2 years. This long-term commitment allowed us to design a headquarters tailored for our Veteran Trike Brigade: it houses our fleet of trikes, equipment, and a staging Launching pad meetup area for our outdoor adventures.

September 2023 – Grand Opening Celebration

With renovations complete, we hosted a Grand Opening in September 2023. Over 130 supporters arrived to witness this milestone, see our expanded fleet, and experience firsthand the sense of renewed hope our organization brings to veterans. It was a momentous day—when our core mission stepped out of the shadows and into a dedicated home witnessed firsthand the tangible results of the city’s investment.

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Adapting and Expanding Our Fleet

A major chunk of grant funds went toward purchasing Catrike Dumont E-Trikes and other adaptive sports equipment like 4 Lasher Sport E-Handcycles. This wasn’t just about having shiny new trikes; it was about inclusivity. Whether a veteran needed extra stability or customized seat positioning, our upgraded fleet catered to diverse sizes, and physical needs—opening the door to riders who might otherwise remain isolated.  These resources allowed us to host more frequent group rides, accommodate physical disabilities, limitations, and extend the joy of cycling to more veterans. The LED-lit recumbent trikes became a beacon of hope rolling through North Las Vegas, a visible reminder that healing, connection and friendship lie just around the corner.

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2024: Non-Stop Activity & Impact

By the September 2024 close-out date, our Strava GPS data and Trike cpu told the story:

• 38,000+ Miles Ridden: The miles logged weren’t just numbers; each one represented a veteran strengthening their mental health, connecting with others, overcoming their disabilities, Dispar and finding renewed purpose.
• 155+ Recorded GPS Rides in 2024: Our Strava calendar is packed with rides, day and night. Every outing combats the stigma of mental health struggles and replaces it with a tangible sense of accomplishment.

We met any concerns about funding misuse head-on by sharing our open-source GPS data and photos. The proof was in every mile: funds were going exactly where they were meant to—getting veterans outdoors and engaged.

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Community Recognitions & Partnerships

2024 brought milestones that validated our work:

• Proclamation of “Forgotten Not Gone Day,” April 17, 2024:
  • The City of Las Vegas recognized our unwavering commitment to veterans with an official day in our honor.
• Vegas Chamber M.A.C Military Affairs Committee:
  • Nonprofit of the Year: A powerful endorsement that underscored the transformative impact we’re having on veterans’ lives.
• Support from Nellis and Creech AFB:
  • Both bases acknowledged our contributions to resiliency training, hosting rides for active-duty personnel—including the 561 Weapons Squadron.

Gratitude: A Network of Support

Our growth wouldn’t be possible without an entire ecosystem of supporters:

• City of North Las Vegas for entrusting us with $1.6 million to bring this vision to life.
• Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, Councilman Scott Black, Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, Francis Allen-Palenske, and other local leaders who saw the potential of our mission.
• Catrike, Taxi Garage, StreetStrider, Lasher Sports, Electric Drift Trike, and more, for enabling us to assemble a robust and inclusive recumbent fleet.
• Wynn Resorts and Wynn Employee Foundation for ongoing sponsorships that help us raise awareness.
• Community Allies like My Garage Kitchen, 22 Warriors Foundation, M.V.P (Merging Vets & Players), and U.S. Vets Las Vegas, who nourish body and spirit by arranging post-ride meals, events, and fellowship.
• Additional Partners—from Acme Floorz to HartLauer Signs, Rapid Reboot to the American Kratom Association—each played a role in realizing our dream to “Stomp Out Veteran Suicide!”
• City of Las Vegas Proclamation- April 17th, 2023 “Forgotten Not Gone Day”

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Final Note of Thanks

To the City of North Las Vegas: thank you for believing in us. Your $1.6 million reimbursable grant didn’t just build a building—it built hope. Thanks to your faith in our vision, we’ve transformed into a force preserving—veterans’ lives. With the right support and resources, we will continue “Stomping Out Veteran Suicide!”

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Video Timestamp Thank-Yous

• 4:00 City of North Las Vegas @cityofnorthlasvegas
• 4:12 North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown
• 4:21 North Las Vegas Councilman Scott Black
• 4:28 Las Vegas Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske
• 4:34 Las Vegas Councilwoman Victoria Seaman
• 4:42 Congressman Steven Horsford
• 4:49 Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley
• 5:02 Catrike
• 5:09 Taxi Garage @TaxiGarage
• 5:16 StreetStrider @StreetStriderTV
• 5:24 Lasher Sport @LasherSport
• 5:31 Electric Drift Trike @ElectricDriftTrikeSales
• 5:38 Wanderlust Art Factory @Wanderlust_artfactory
• 5:45 Epic WorldWide @EPICMEDIAGROUP
• 5:52 Acme Floorz www.AcmeFloorz.com
• 5:59 Utah Trikes @UtahTrikesOnline
• 6:06 HartLauer Signs
• 6:12 Graphix GearWerks
• 6:20 Wynn Resorts
• 6:27 North Las Vegas Police Department
• 6:34 Creech Air Force Base
• 6:40 Nellis Air Force Base
• 6:48 Las Vegas Raiders
• 6:54 Rapid Reboot @RapidReboot
• 7:01 American Kratom Association @americankratomassociation
  1836 Kratom @StedingAndSons
  Urban Ice Botanicals @UrbanIceBotanicals
• 7:08 My Garage Kitchen @mygarage_kitchen
• 7:16 Nevada Army National Guard 421st Regiment
• 7:23 531 Weapons Squadron
• 7:30 LionHeart Veterans Program @lionheartrecoverycenter7230
• 7:37 22 Warriors Foundation @22warriorsfoundationoffici80
• 7:44 M.V.P Merging Vets & Players @MergingVetsandPlayers
• 7:51 U.S. Vets Las Vegas @usvetslv6126
• 7:58 Las Vegas V.A. (Veterans Administration) @valasvegas
• 8:25 Vegas Chamber @lasvegaschamber
• 8:39 Kevyn Major Howard “Rafterman” from Full Metal Jacket

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Stay Engaged & Continue the Mission

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We invite you—yes, you—to join us in “Stomping Out Veteran Suicide!” Whether you volunteer your time, contribute resources, or simply help spread the word, your involvement makes a life-changing difference. Together, we can show the world that investing in veterans’ mental

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Scan the QR Code to Join the Mission and Support Forgotten Not Gone in their pursuit to Stomp Out Veteran Suicide through Veteran Peer Support Outdoor Recreation.

#FNG NLV Cares Grant – American Rescue Plan Act ARPA Mission Complete