IWP was founded by Russ Hanes, who saw firsthand the toll a career as a first responder can take. Russ spent time as a cop and as a 911 dispatcher. Russ’s dad is a veteran and Russ had always been a patriotic kind of guy. While still a dispatcher he started an event called Cruise for Troops to raise money to help Minnesota’s troops. It started very small and grew into the largest car and bike cruise in the Midwest.
As it grew, Russ recruited some like-minded folks who also wanted to help. The group recognized that there was an under-served group of heroes that needed and deserved support. In 2018 Invisible Wounds Project was founded to raise awareness and provide services to military and emergency personnel who are battling PTSD, mental health issues and suicide.
The colors in our logo represent veterans, police, fire, EMT, corrections, and dispatch. Individuals in these roles serve us each and every day, they deserve that same help.
