Tony Drees
Starting from age 11, in his hometown in Grand Forks, ND in 1980 as a Volunteer Gymnastics and Weightlifting Coach, Tony Drees was hooked for a lifetime of Service. Next, a Camp counselor for Camp Courage, a summer program for disabled youth, and Bachelor for Auction to support Easter Seals Society rounded his teen years before joining the US Army in 1986-1990.
Returning from armed service meant his return to community service as Treasurer for University of North Dakota’s, Erabell Thompson Cultural Center & Black Student Union. For Drees, his tenure is quickly interrupted when in August of 1990, The United States declares war on Iraq. February 25, 1991, after returning to active duty as requested by Inactive Ready Reserves to deploy to Desert Storm, PFC Drees survived the deadliest Scud Missile Attack of the Gulf War.
From the day Tony was injured, he knew this was his pivotal moment to create collective impact through the stories of his life’s adventures. One of few injuries, the journey was fairly high profile in the media, then and now relatively speaking.
He is known for creating new and relevant ways to leverage media engagement for philanthropy. Only a few of his recent accolades include, recognition at 2015 NAACP Image Awards for Diversity in Education. Mr. Drees holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management and Master’s Arts in Management from University of Phoenix. He and 7 other graduate level alumni of color’s participation is rewarded for project that granted 40 underserved youth full scholarships. 2016 Finds Purple Heart Veteran, Drees as the recipient of the Mort Marks Award for Veteran Community Service, for the work he performed as an Executive Board Member of and the Diversity Co-Chair, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado.
2017-2019 Tony serves as Executive Director of the National Veteran’s Service Organization, Veterans Passport to Hope. His key role here is instrumental in executing their three pillared mission of Advocacy, Fundraising and Cooperation. To date VP2H has helped 15,000+ Veterans and Family members, 34 Local & National VSOs and nearly $2M. Drees’s collaboration project a podcast, Shock & Awe 2.0 demonstrates his powers of unifying communities towards common goals. On February 09, 2018, due to complications of infection and cancer in his war wounds, Tony’s right leg was amputated at the hip.
Still serving veterans while healing, Drees dedicates himself to lessen the inconveniences of a mobility challenge through Adaptive Sports. In July 2019, Tony Drees rolls away from Louisville KY, 39TH National Veterans Wheelchair Games with a Gold Medals for Powerlifting and Wheelchair Slalom Racing and Bronze in The Team Competition. The Beast is what his friends, peers and observers call him.
Whatever he’s called, he retired from VP2H and is currently a Virtual Motivational Speaker and enjoys spending the majority of his time a Warfighter Sports Ambassador for Move United Sports. Mr. Drees speaks, travels, competes, advocates and fundraises as a US Army, Purple Heart Veteran of Color. He is proud to lead our organizations, communities and societies as we work towards a more Diverse Equitable and Inclusive World through Sport.
Position
- Equity & Inclusion Leadership Team
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Team includes a diverse representation of voices from the disability community and will regularly meet to assess and create best practices through policy and programs. The group’s focus is on how Move United may better serve each person with a disability. Members are tasked with identifying the gaps and barriers in the Adaptive Sports community and are champions of necessary change. To learn more or contact members of the team, please email equity@moveunitedsport.org.
