Vinnie LaSorsa has been addicted to sharing outdoor experiences with others throughout his entire life. Growing up, Vinnie traveled on many fishing trips, with his father, through Montauk, NY, Outer Banks, NC, and South Florida. Vinnie was nineteen years old when he obtained his captains license. Throughout his college years, at Florida Atlantic University, Vinnie owned and operated a sport fishing charter business based out of Lighthouse Point, FL. During this time, he also worked as a captain and/or mate on many different sport fishing yachts traveling from Cape Cod, MA to the Caribbean.

      At the age of twenty-one, Vinnie accepted a full-time captain position on a custom-built sport fishing yacht. During this time, Vinnie was also hired as an author of several well-known fishing magazines where he wrote the monthly Bahamas fishing forecast and other articles explaining and teaching fishing tactics. There have been many articles written about Vinnie and his success in fishing in both sport fishing magazines and newspapers. One of those many articles specifically talks about one of his greatest accomplishments, which was catching seventeen wahoo’s in less than forty minutes. Other articles included tips, from Vinnie, on how to catch sailfish with live bait and rigging dead bait for both  - yellowfin and bluefin tuna.

        Vinnie became much more aware of the growing number of injured veterans due to his youngest brother’s military service in the USMC. Vinnie was compelled to help. For the past nine years, with the support of Jimmy Buffett and his company Margaritaville, Vinnie has taken groups of 4 to 25 injured veterans on ocean fishing voyages having the time of their lives. He recruited other captains to participate in the ports of Montauk, New York and Lighthouse Point, Florida. The events begin the night before the fishing voyage with a dinner for the service members, their families, and friends. After a good breakfast the next morning, the Freedom Fighters depart the dock for their day of offshore fishing adventures.

         As Vinnie puts it, “After the injured veterans head back in, their smiles are as big as the fish they have caught.” The boat crews allow families and friends of the injured veterans to take pictures on and off the boats with their catches of the day, and then filet the fish to take home with them. It is a great day for the injured veterans, who feel as if they have escaped from the trials and tribulations in their lives. 

     In 2013, Vinnie was a Carry Forward Award Recipient with Wounded Warrior Project. He was also awarded a “Key to the County” by Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca. Vinnie has said “I truly enjoy giving back to the soldiers who give up so much for all of us.”

In February of 2014 with the help of his wife Sarah, his family and his closest friends Vinnie founded Freedom Fighter Outdoors (www.FreedomFighterOutdoors.org) a 501C3 non-profit, which organizes outdoor activities for injured veterans of any age to build camaraderie and to facilitate in adjusting, back to civilian life. The events include offshore fishing, inshore or freshwater fishing, hunting and target shooting events up and down the east coast and Texas. In the summer of 2018, F.F.O. will have the first offshore fishing event in California. Freedom Fighter Outdoors mission is to honor and empower injured veterans and reduce the growing numbers of post-war veteran suicide. Freedom Fighter Outdoors is growing and able to serve and honor more and more veterans each year. In 2016, Freedom Fighter Outdoors launched a outreach program of six injured veterans called Freedom Fighter Outreach Officers, These six injured veterans recruit other injured veterans, mentor injured veterans and help organize events. This has been crucial in Freedom Fighter Outdoors helping to building its database of injured veterans and also supporting injured veterans suffering from PTSD. 

Gregory W. Edwards is a native of South Florida, a Partner in the financial advisory firm Lawless, Edwards & Warren – Financial Advisors. His financial planning career began in 1986 with CIGNA Financial Advisors.
Mr. Edwards has received numerous industry awards for professional council and continuing service to clients from multiple insurance and investment organizations over his career. He is a member of the UNIFI Summit of the Inner Circle.

Mr. Edwards is sought after as a speaker to various industry and trade organizations and has been featured in articles on various topics including retirement and investment planning, as well as estate and business continuity planning. He is active in many civic and industry associations and is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the American Society for Chartered Life Underwriters and Chartered Financial Consultants and is a member of the Board of Directors of the local Financial Planning Association. As a past board member of the American Cancer Society, he served as Chairman of the Income Development Committee. He serves on numerous boards of local organizations and is an Advisory Board Member of the Youth Automotive Training Center, a local vocational program for at-risk youths. He was a Big Brother with the organization Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Mr. Edwards has served as past President of the Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsman Association, is a member of The Hundred Club of Broward County and is a member of The Estate Planning Council of Broward County.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Business Administration from the University of South Florida. Mr. Edwards has continued his education through The American College and has earned the designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). In addition, he is a Certified Financial Planner (CFPTM) licensee and was admitted to The Registry of Financial Planning Practitioners. He is also an Investment Advisory Representative offering securities and investment advisory services solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC). Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC is not affilitated with Lawless, Edwards & Warren. He also holds life and health insurance licenses.

Mr. Edwards also co-developed Tillotson Square, a mixed use residential and marina development where he lives in Lighthouse Point, Florida, with his wife, Deborah and their daughters, Delaney and Abigail. He enjoys working out, diving, fishing, golf, tennis and supporting Freedom Fighter Outdoors.

Brian Kane became involved with Freedom Fighters Outdoors when his company Global Ocean Security Technologies (GOST) was one of the sponsors at the 2013 Lighthouse Point, FL trip. He is the Chief Technology Officer and founding partner of GOST, overseeing their full line of yacht security, tracking, monitoring, and video surveillance systems. A passionate supporter of our nations veterans and their sacrifices, our country, and his love of the ocean are the major reasons Brian supports the mission of Freedom Fighters Outdoors. The fishing trips put on by F.F.O. have become more successful due to the generosity of Brian and his willingness to donate and to solicit donations for the events. Brian, his wife Jennie, and sons Nolan and Gavin currently live in the greater Philadelphia area.

​SSG Brian Torres was deployed to Kosovo while the tragic events of 911 occurred. He was deployed to Kuwait and was part of the initial invasion into Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of the Marne) 7th Regiment (Cotton Bailers by God) Bravo Company (Bandits) in 2003 as a Bradley Gunner. He was deployed again in 2005 for another year of combat in Iraq as a Bradley Commander.
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A combat veteran who resides in Vero Beach Florida and now works for the Florida Forest Service as a Wild land firefighter. He is also a Volunteer firefighter for Indian River County Fire Department and Volunteers and helps out veterans whenever he can as a peer mentor. His best therapy is being around fellow veterans and helping them get through their hard times.

Brian Carpentier, currently a Security Lieutenant with Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, serves as an F.F.O. Outreach Coordinator.

Brian served his country from 1999-2003. In April of 2003, Brian, stationed in Fort Carson, CO, was deployed to Iraq. Throughout his time in the US Army 12B, Brian achieved the rank of Sergeant and was a Combat Engineer (Sapper).

During Brian’s time in Iraq, he never stayed in one location for more than fifteen days at a time. He was able to do what he calls “fun things” which entailed patrolling the Tigris River and performed night missions consisting of assaults, house raids and surveillance with fellow Sappers. He was responsible for destroying tons of RPG’s, Mortars, enemy firearms and enemy vehicles.

When Brian was stationed at Fort Carson, he was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer was removed and after several rounds of radiation therapy, thankfully, Brian was cancer free.

After reaching the end of his initial contract, Brian’s unit received orders to deploy to Iraq. He voluntarily extended his contract six months in order to be able to deploy with his unit. While Brian was deployed, his contract ended and after discussions with Brian’s wife, Jennifer, they decided together that it was time for them to start a family. Brian ended up moving back home. Brian and Jennifer now have a beautiful daughter, Abigal Lynn.

Since Brian left the Army, he has spent most of his time giving back to his brothers and sisters at arms. In November of 2015, Brian attended the F.F.O. Lighthouse Point Fishing Event at the referral of his close friend, Nate Lynn. The moment that Brian returned home from the event, he knew that F.F.O. was an organization that he wanted to be a part of for many events and years to come. Since November of 2015, Brian has hosted pheasant hunts, Veteran’s nights out (featuring live bands and concerts) and skeet shoots in the Pennsylvania. He has also organized fundraisers through local supporters and business owners. Brian has also established and maintained close relationships with Veteran owned businesses to benefit F.F.O.. Brian was able to collect gift bag items for our events from Brim-It, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Oscar Mike and Man Mug. In March of 2016, Brian and fellow military brothers Nate Lynn and Joe Wiseman, were able to attend Squeal Team Six hog hunt in Georgia. Since then, Brian has maintained a very close relationship with Squeal Team Six and this event has become an annual event.