Prestigious honor bestowed on individuals whose efforts reflect a deep love of country

Like so many courageous leaders, VP of Marketing Rod Halperin’s journey began with a simple “yes.” Thanks to his courage, commitment and deep love for his country, yesterday Rod was honored by Freedom Alliance with its prestigious ‘Service to America’ award.

The original ask was simple: would Rod, a lifelong fisherman and seasoned sportfishing tournament director, help loanDepot Founder (and fellow fisherman) Anthony Hsieh manage a small fishing tournament for 27 Veterans? His swift and emphatic response is indicative of how Rod lives his life—generously dedicating his time and talents to support his friends, family and now, the Veteran community.

Fast forward six years, Rod’s heart can be found in nearly every element of War Heroes On Water (WHOW)—from logistics to fleet recruitment and training, to fundraising, promotion, hosting and emcee duties. At every touchpoint, his deep personal commitment to the tournament and its participants is palpable. He is a driving force in nurturing what he calls the “soul of the tournament,” its host fleet. He offers guidance to fellow 

WHOW and Freedom Alliance colleagues as they work to expand the tournament. Most important, he builds meaningful and lasting connections with the Veterans, offering support, encouragement, or simply an understanding ear.

As he shared after that very first tournament: “My goal is to ensure our Veterans feel the love of the WHOW community. These Veterans are America’s finest, and it has been our honor to serve them. We can never thank them enough, but we will continue to do our best to show our appreciation for what they have done for our great country.”

There was no way of knowing the immeasurable impact his simple “yes” would have on the Southern California sportfishing community, or hundreds of Veterans and their families across the country. Or that his involvement would be instrumental in helping WHOW raise millions of dollars to help Freedom Alliance provide much-needed therapeutic services for our country’s Veteran community. He only knew what his heart told him to do: to use his talents as a way of expressing his immense gratitude to the brave men and women who selflessly sacrificed to protect our country and our freedom.

Rod’s heartfelt efforts reflect a love of country that makes him an ideal candidate for this special award.

Congratulations, Rod!