The Philanthropy Team was honored to attend a recent Veterans meeting, a monthly gathering that fosters connection, conversation, and community among residents who have served in the armed forces.
The meetings are co-led by Givens Estates residents Steven Dunsford and Mike Halus, who work together to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all attending veterans. As Steven Dunsford emphasized, “The meeting is not political. This is a meeting for all veterans interested to gather in a welcoming space.”
This month’s gathering also featured a special guest: Representative Eric Ager, who was invited to speak and participate in a Q&A session.
Eric Ager is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 114 and a retired U.S. Navy Commander, having served 25 years as a Naval Aviator and Foreign Area Officer before returning to Buncombe County to continue his work in public service.
Representative Ager introduced himself to attendees and took time to answer a range of resident questions, engaging warmly and openly with the group. His presence added meaningful depth to the morning’s conversation, particularly given his long military career and ongoing advocacy for veterans and working families.
The Veterans Group meets monthly, each session highlighting a new topic of interest for residents who have served. All veterans in the community are welcome to join.
If you’d like to uplift this group and help expand meaningful programs like it, we invite you to make a gift to Life Enrichment at: https://givensphilanthropy.org/giving/ .