FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lorena Nava Ruggero
Workshops for Warriors
619-932-9866
Lorena@wfw.org

Workshops for Warriors Announces 2026 Forging Futures Gala Aboard USS Midway to Support Veteran Career Training

The annual fundraising event on Saturday, April 25, aims to raise $1,000,000 to expand training and equip veterans with skills for high-demand careers in manufacturing.

SAN DIEGO, CA (March 26, 2026) – 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, April 25, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., 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 2026 Forging Futures Gala is a critical fundraising initiative aimed at helping WFW expand its training capacity and increase the number of veterans served annually. WFW is the only nationally scalable program dedicated to training veterans and transitioning service members in advanced manufacturing, so that those who have served can have a new career path in the civilian workforce.

Funds raised from the gala will directly support training, 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 1,700 veterans and transitioning service members, awarding over 21,000 nationally recognized credentials in Welding and CNC Machining to help program graduates secure stable, well-paying careers.

The 2026 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.®

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

Workshops for Warriors Forging Futures Gala
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
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
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About Workshops for Warriors
Workshops for Warriors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit school dedicated rebuilding American manufacturing by training, certifying, and placing veterans and transitioning service members into advanced manufacturing careers. Workshops for Warriors offers accelerated 16-week training programs in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining and welding, providing students with nationally recognized credentials in their chosen field. Since 2011, Workshops for Warriors has trained over 1,700 students who have earned more than 21,000 nationally recognized credentials. For more information, visit wfw.org.