“The Clark Initiative Inc. was founded to excel, educate, and empower veterans to become entrepreneurs. Our core values emulate the heroism of a fallen brother: Even if everything has been taken from you, our purpose is to teach you perseverance.”
While in Iraq, on August 6, 2006, I was assigned to be in a gun truck behind the .50 Cal machine gun and head to a dangerous area where we had previously lost men.
It was a guarantee we’d get into a toe to toe fight upon arrival.
We called this area the Wild West. As you can imagine, it was pretty wild.
In what seemed like a twisted act of fate, in the last moment before we headed out, my boss came over to me and said…
“Warnes, you’re bumped off this mission. Take a night off.”
Which never happened to me.
My friend SGT. Carlton Clark came over and asked me if the .50 Cal was up and ready to roll for the mission.
I said yes, and SGT. Clark took my spot for the night.
That was the last time I saw Clark.
Later that evening, that exact truck was struck by another monstrous IED. Clark, along with two others soldiers SSG Seal & CPL Zamora died that night.
Fast forward sixteen years…
One of the most brutal conversations I had in my entire life was on January 1, 2022..
I sat with Clarks’ parents, a gold star family, telling them about the night we lost their son.
They were honored to give me their blessing to name our nonprofit after him in honor of saving struggling veterans.
The Clark Initiative was founded to excel, educate, and empower veterans to become entrepreneurs.
Our core values emulate the heroism of a fallen brother:
Even if everything has been taken from you, our purpose is to teach you perseverance.
As we are still in the early stages of development, we have taken all of the curriculum I have taught over the years when it comes to trauma, self-awareness, and entrepreneurship and will be changing veteran’s lives with it as time moves on.
We have HUGE plans for The Clark Initiative and know it will be a driving force within the veteran community.
And for those who know me, when I say I’m going to do something, everyone knows it will happen.
We invite you to learn more, become a partner, and contribute to the cause, helping touch millions of young veteran’s lives, who will become a new breed of entrepreneurs as the years press on.
Thank you from my heart to all who have supported me, my purpose, and my teachings.
You are the real reason why I am here doing what I do.
The Clark Initiative is a 501(c)3 started in Milford, Connecticut by a Purple Heart recipient, in honor of a man that held on… and his heart still beats today through the work we carry out.
Join The Clark Initiative and make a difference today!