FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Silvia Rodriguez
Olive Public Relations
650.822.9734
Silvia@OlivePublicRelations.com

 

Workshops for Warriors Announces 2025 Forging Futures Gala Aboard USS Midway to Support Veteran Career Training

The annual fundraising event on Saturday, May 31, aims to raise $500,000 to expand training and equip veterans with skills for high-demand careers in manufacturing.

SAN DIEGO, CA (MARCH 13, 2025) – Workshops for Warriors (WFW), the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to training veterans and transitioning service members for careers in advanced manufacturing, proudly announces the Forging Futures Gala on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, aboard the iconic USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego.

This prestigious annual event celebrates the lives transformed and careers launched through Workshops for Warriors’ training programs, which provide hands-on training, industry certifications, and job placement assistance to America’s veterans. The evening will feature an elegant dinner, live auction and entertainment, and inspiring testimonials from program graduates.

The 2025 Forging Futures Gala is a critical fundraising initiative aimed at helping WFW expand its training capacity and increase the number of veterans served annually. As the only nationally scalable program dedicated to training veterans and transitioning service members in advanced manufacturing, WFW is preparing for a transformational year with the opening of a new 25,000 sq. ft. training facility in Barrio Logan. Set to open this fall, the facility will allow WFW to train over 360 veterans annually, addressing the growing demand for skilled workers in U.S. manufacturing.

Funds raised from the gala will directly support this expansion, as well as WFW’s instructor certification program, which will enable the organization to expand locally and replicate its successful model in other communities. Additionally, contributions will provide full wraparound support services for students, including housing assistance, food options, resume building, interview preparation, and a professional clothing closet, ensuring that veterans have the tools and resources to focus on their education, then transition to and thrive in civilian careers.

“The need has never been greater, and the community’s support has never meant more,” said Hernán Luis y Prado, Founder & CEO of Workshops for Warriors. “America’s servicemen and women have always been the first to fight—now, it is our turn to fight for them. The Forging Futures Gala is a call to action to ensure that every veteran who walks through our doors has access to the skills, support, and opportunities they need for a successful civilian career.”

Since 2008, Workshops for Warriors has trained more than 1,400 veterans and transitioning service members, awarding over 18,000 nationally recognized credentials in Welding and CNC Machining to help program graduates secure stable, well-paying careers.

The 2025 Forging Futures Gala will be a defining moment in WFW’s expansion efforts, helping the organization continue its mission of Rebuilding American Manufacturing, One Veteran at a Time.®

The 2025 Forging Futures Gala is made possible thanks to the generous support KH Sales, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and Practical Machinist, with entertainment by Bonnie Foster Productions.

For more information about ticketing and sponsorship opportunities, please visit wfw.org/gala.

Workshops for Warriors Forging Futures Gala
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 10:00 pm
Location: USS Midway Museum, 910 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Price: Individual tickets start at $350
Tickets: Available here
Additional Information: Contact gala@wfw.org or (619) 550-1620

###

About Workshops for Warriors

Workshops for Warriors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding American manufacturing by providing veterans, transitioning service members, and wounded warriors with advanced manufacturing training and job placement assistance. Workshops for Warriors offers accelerated 16-week training programs in CNC Machining and Welding, providing students with nationally recognized credentials in their chosen field. Since 2011, Workshops for Warriors has trained over 1,400 students who have earned more than 18,000 nationally recognized credentials. For more information, visit https://wfw.org/