After Sergeant Joe Gonzales was critically wounded while in service to our country, he embarked on a new mission — giving back to his community in Uvalde, Texas.
With the help of Semper Fi & America’s Fund, he opened Hustle Fitness, a gym which has been a safe place for further healing and solidarity for this close-knit community after they experienced an unimaginable tragedy after the mass shooting tragedy at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School in 2022.
A beacon of light to his incredible community, Joe himself is no stranger to the journey of finding hope during hardship and the strength it takes to never give up. In 2005, after sustaining severe back and elbow injuries due to an IED explosion while on deployment in Iraq, Joe returned to the States for further treatment, including surgery due to blunt force trauma and months of rehabilitation. It was during his initial hospitalization that he was introduced to Semper Fi & America’s Fund when they provided Joe with family support grants to lift any financial burdens as he medically retired and transitioned out of the military.
“Semper Fi & America’s Fund is the most caring and thoughtful nonprofit organization in the world,” he said. “The absolute best people.”
The Fund’s all-encompassing support allowed Joe’s sole focus to remain on his healing process and continued recovery, spurring him on to overcome any post-injury obstacles and achieve new goals. An avid athlete, Joe soon became involved in Team Semper Fi, The Fund’s adaptive sports program, which utilizes recreational sports and competitive athletics as a tool in the recovery process by providing adaptive equipment, professional instruction and clinics, mentorships, and coaching. Made up of sports enthusiasts, Paralympians, and professional athletes, team members participate around the country to build community, raise awareness, and inspire fellow service members on their own road to recovery, and this October, Joe has set another remarkable goal for himself to run in the Marine Corps Marathon.
“Team Semper Fi has helped and motivated me to stay active. The relationships I have built have had a huge impact in my recovery,” said Joe.
Inspired to give back to his hometown community, Joe joined The Fund’s Apprenticeship Program — which helps service members find meaningful trades and small business opportunities through short-term vocational education and apprenticeships — with a dream to open a new gym. To ensure Joe had everything needed for success, The Fund paired him with a business mentor to oversee the entire process and provided grants for Joe to purchase all his gym equipment, including weights, treadmills, and Go Pros for advanced training.
“I love being able to give back to my veterans and my own hometown community,” he said.
In the wake of the mass shooting tragedy in 2022, residents of Uvalde and the surrounding areas found solace and comfort at Hustle Fitness, the positive impact of which has had a powerful ripple effect on this close-knit community — fulfilling Joe’s greatest wish that his gym will inspire those around him to never lose hope.
To learn more about Hustle Fitness, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/HustleUvalde/