Photo credit: Michael Breda
Founding Executive Director, Deedee O’Brien was inducted into the UMass Lowell Military Alumni Veterans Hall of Fame last Friday, April 22.
The university’s Veterans Services honored Deedee for her “lifetime of dedicated service” to people with disabilities and diagnoses of all kinds. She received special recognition for her work with Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm’s Veterans Experience, a program that continues to this day.
Since its founding, our Veterans Experience program has been supported by organizations such as Home Base, Operation Hat Trick, and Run for the Troops 5k among many others. Over the past few years, it has expanded to include weekday programs for local veterans, as well as one-day retreats for first responders who have experienced trauma.
Friends and former colleagues alike attended to celebrate Deedee’s wonderful achievements, including her long-time partner, Bob Lobel (pictured left), and our new Executive Director, Kerri Whalen. Congratulations to Deedee O’Brien for such a well-deserved honor!