130 combat-wounded veterans embarked on a meaningful sportfishing journey as they set out from Newport Harbor Saturday evening to participate in the ninth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) sportfishing tournament, presented by loanDepot. Supported by a fleet of more than 60 yachts and the dedicated owners, captains and crews who make the event possible, the five-day tournament features three days of sportfishing on the waters off the Southern California coast, providing veterans with opportunities for healing, connection and lasting camaraderie.

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A participating veteran is greeted by WHOW Founder Anthony Hsieh before heading out for three days of sportfishing during the ninth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) tournament, presented by loanDepot. The five-day event provides combat-wounded veterans with opportunities for healing, connection and lasting camaraderie on the waters off the Southern California coast.

A participating veteran is greeted by WHOW Founder Anthony Hsieh before heading out for three days of sportfishing during the ninth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) tournament, presented by loanDepot. The five-day event provides combat-wounded veterans with opportunities for healing, connection and lasting camaraderie on the waters off the Southern California coast.

“This is our ninth year and our biggest year by far in fundraising,” said WHOW Founder Anthony Hsieh. “We’re growing the support and we’re growing the fundraising, but what matters most is the difference it makes in the lives of these veterans. The relationships they build with our yacht owners and crews over the next few days truly make a difference. They change lives, and they save lives.”

WHOW is the world’s largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament dedicated to veterans. It brings combat-wounded veterans together with Southern California’s sportfishing community to support healing, create lifelong connections and fund year-round veterans’ programs. Including this year’s event, the tournament has brought more than 800 veterans, many of whom have received the nation’s highest military decorations, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, to Southern California to experience the renowned fishing and scenic beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

“War Heroes on Water is a life-changing event, and the veterans who participate in it are impacted deeply by the support they receive from this community,” said Tom Kilgannon. “What happens here is never one-and-done. The relationships formed during this weekend continue long after the boats return to shore, and that ongoing support makes a real difference in the lives of our veterans and their families.”

This year’s tournament marks the largest fundraising year for WHOW since its inception in 2018, raising more than $1.75 million through the generosity of the WHOW community and fundraising initiatives, including a silent auction featuring rare collectibles, premier sporting events, luxury getaways and one-of-a-kind experiences. The record year brings WHOW’s cumulative fundraising total to more than $9.75 million through Freedom Alliance. These funds support thousands of veterans and military families through Freedom Alliance’s year-round programs, including therapeutic retreats, adaptive equipment, customized vehicles, homes and scholarships for the children of military heroes.

The weekend began with the first-ever WHOW Cars & Coffee fundraiser in Irvine, where a crowd of more than 1,500 joined combat-wounded veterans in a powerful show of community support. The event brought together dozens of hypercars and supercars from across the country, creating a coast-to-coast collection valued at more than $200 million and further demonstrating the growing community support behind WHOW.

Later Saturday, veterans gathered with captains, crews, supporters and members of the WHOW family for the tournament’s welcome celebration and opening ceremonies in Newport Basin. Country artist Clay Hollis performed the National Anthem alongside the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard before the WHOW fleet lined up in formation for a patriotic boat parade through Newport Harbor. Members of the local community gathered along the parade route, on land and on the water, to honor the veterans and send the fleet out to sea.

“This is our ninth year, our largest year and our best year yet,” said WHOW Tournament Director Rod Halperin. “The support surrounding this tournament has been incredible, and we’re excited to finally get these veterans out on the water. We have great fishing ahead of us, an incredible fleet behind us and a community that continues to show our heroes how much they are loved and supported.”

Once beyond Newport Harbor, the fishing began. For three days, captains and crews will coach the veterans and work to get them on fish as each team competes for a place on the podium. But the heart of WHOW is the time shared away from shore, where the ocean creates space for veterans to connect with peers, share experiences and forge lasting bonds.

The fishing concludes Monday, September 28, with on-water closing ceremonies just outside Avalon Harbor, including a flyover by Tiger Squadron’s vintage WWII aircraft as the WHOW fleet lines up. Teams will then gather on Catalina Island’s iconic Green Pier to weigh their catches and celebrate the tournament. Catalina residents and visitors are encouraged to join the public weigh-in beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT. The festivities will also be livestreamed. Watch the War Heroes on Water closing celebration livestream.

The tournament formally concludes with a private awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 29, when veterans reunite with their captains and crews to recognize the tournament’s accomplishments and celebrate the bonds formed at sea.

About War Heroes on Water

War Heroes on Water (WHOW) is the nation’s largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament for veterans, bringing together combat-wounded veterans and the Southern California sportfishing community to support healing, connection and year-round veterans’ programs. It was created in 2018 by loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh, who is also the owner and leader of Team Bad Company, a world-class, record-holding competitive sportfishing fleet. Through Hsieh’s deep connections with the country’s sportfishing and business communities, WHOW has grown exponentially and is now the largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament for veterans in the world.

Additional information, including photos and videos from past tournaments, may be found at www.warheroesonwater.com | Instagram: @warheroesonwater | Facebook: www.facebook.com/WarHeroesonWater | YouTube: War Heroes on Water Fishing Tournament

About Freedom Alliance

Freedom Alliance is a charitable organization that provides help and support to wounded troops and military families. Freedom Alliance has awarded more than $33 million in college scholarships to the children of military heroes killed or disabled in military service and has spent millions more helping injured veterans and military families with outdoor recreational therapy trips, Heroes Vacations, care packages for deployed troops, mortgage-free homes, payment-free vehicles, all-terrain wheelchairs and much more. To learn more, visit www.FreedomAlliance.org or Facebook.com/FreedomAlliance.

About loanDepot

Since its launch in 2010, loanDepot (NYSE: LDI) has revolutionized the mortgage industry with digital innovations that make transacting easier, faster, and less stressful for customers and originators alike. The company, which is licensed in all 50 states, helps its customers achieve the American dream of homeownership through a broad suite of lending and real estate services that simplify one of life’s most complex transactions. loanDepot is also committed to serving the communities in which its team lives and works through a variety of local and national philanthropic efforts.

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