Meritorious Foundation launches veterans fishing mentorship program in Tampa Bay

The Meritorious Foundation will launch Veterans, Fishing & Cigars on June 25 in Tampa, pairing transitioning service members with local executives on all-expense-paid fishing charters. The program is designed to expand mentorship and job connections for veterans, starting in Tampa Bay and expanding across Florida in 2027.

Why it matters: - The Meritorious Foundation is building a direct mentorship pipeline for transitioning service members and veterans. - The program combines outdoor networking with executive access, which the foundation says can make career transition conversations easier and more natural. - The inaugural year is designed to reach about 120 veterans through 20 fishing charters.

What happened: - The Meritorious Foundation will launch Veterans, Fishing & Cigars on June 25, 2026, at Team House Tampa in Tampa, Florida. - Florida Lt. Governor Jay Collins will deliver remarks at the launch event. - The event marks the official kickoff of a 20-charter mentorship series. - The launch event is free and open to the military and defense community and invited guests.

The details: - Each charter pairs three active-duty or transitioning service members with three business executives. - The fishing outings are all-expense-paid and begin in the Tampa Bay area. - The program uses structured mentor matching aligned to each participant's professional experience and goals. - The first-year cohort includes active-duty special operations veterans within the USSOCOM community. - The series will expand in 2027 to serve veterans at military bases across Florida. - The launch event includes an open bar networking reception, dinner, a program with remarks from Lt. Governor Jay Collins, and a cigar lounge experience. - Event details: Thursday, June 25, 2026; 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM; Team House Tampa, 6207 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33611. - Registration and additional information are available at Veterans Fishing and Cigars.

Between the lines: - Co-founder Ryan Loya said his own Marine Corps transition shaped the program's design. - Loya said outdoor settings lower pressure and help veterans open up during mentorship conversations. - The foundation is leaning on a relationships-first model instead of a traditional classroom or seminar format. - Its broader programming has already connected thousands of veterans annually and sponsored 400+ veterans across eight states through outdoor networking experiences.

What's next: - The foundation will begin the 20-charter series after the Tampa launch. - The 2027 expansion will extend the program beyond Tampa Bay to military bases across Florida. - The Meritorious Foundation will continue pairing veterans with employers and industry contacts through in-person and virtual programming.

The bottom line: - Veterans, Fishing & Cigars turns mentorship into a shared experience on the water, with the goal of creating stronger professional ties for veterans leaving military service.