March 31, 2009

If you don’t want to leave town but would enjoy a night out, check out the Veteran Tickets Foundation, a nonprofit that distributes free event tickets to current and former troops.

Michael Focareto, a disabled Navy veteran, was inspired to start the foundation after attending the 2008 Super Bowl in Phoenix.

He was angry to see empty seats at the game, given that the troops who participated in the pre-game ceremony had to leave the stadium after their performance because they didn’t have tickets. So he decided to set up an organization that could get empty seats to service members.

Since its founding last summer, VTF has given out about 8,000 tickets with a value of $800,000, Focareto said.

Sports teams, theaters and other venues donate empty seats, which can be requested through the foundation’s Web site, www.vettix.org.

Active-duty, Guard and reserve members are eligible, as well as surviving spouses of those killed on active duty, and retirees, veterans and their spouses.

The foundation also operates a for-profit arm as part of a network with access to a separate inventory of discounted tickets for a variety of events at www.vettix.com.

Just remember: The free tickets are at www.vettix.org.

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