Plank Owner BUD/S Class Fundraising Campaign

What is a plank owner?
In the United States Navy SEALs, a “Plank Owner” is a member of the original founding crew of a SEAL Team. The term “plank owner” is derived from a tradition in the days of wooden ships, when a member of the commissioning crew could take a plank from the ship’s deck after it was decommissioned.

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Fellow Frogmen,

You and I have been trained to lead from the front. And we are hearing from those outside our community that, “If SEALs lead the efforts in building a Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego…then we will follow.”

Every Frogman can play a role in leading this effort to build the Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego through the Plank Owner BUD/S Class Campaign.

We have a distinct opportunity to be part of a legacy that will motivate and inspire generations of Americans for years to come.

Let’s set a precedent for others to follow – Let’s light a fire of patriotism – Let’s provide a place of pride for our families and friends – Let’s help build the Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego.

Plank Owner BUD/S Class Campaign

Starting October 7, 2024, we are accepting donations of any size to help with the construction of the Museum which will preserve our history and tell our stories to the nation.

Your gift no matter the size will be added to the total goal for your specific BUD/S Class. The goal for each class is $5,000.

Special Opportunity:
Gifts can be made to pay tribute to an individual or BUD/S Class by loved-ones, classmates, friends, colleagues, and the general public. A gift made in honor or in memory is an extremely meaningful way to praise and show your admiration.

For every donation, the following recognition will be provided.

Your name (presented in alphabetical order with class number) without listing the size of your gift will be listed on this Plank Owner BUD/S Class Campaign Webpage. See names listed below.

Your gift amount will count towards your BUD/S Class total tally. For those Classes reaching the $5,000 goal, the Class Number will be permanently etched into the granite pillar which holds the bronze Navy SEAL Sculpture. The Sculpture will be placed in a prominent location directly outside the Navy SEAL Museum on Kettner Blvd. in San Diego.

For those individuals who give a gift of $10,000 or more, your name/family name will be presented on the exquisite Donor Wall of Honor located on the first level inside the Museum, along with your class number on the bronze statue.

Join me and BUD/S Class Number 109 (the hardest and strongest class) in getting this done.

Respectfully,

$250 raised

BUD/S Class 286

$5,000 raised

BUD/S Class 293

$350 raised

BUD/S Class 302

$250 raised

DONORS

Eric Adamski, Class 185
Michael Arrowood, Class 95
Brad Bailey, Class 200
Jeremy Barnes, Class 258
William Belfour, Class 147
Sam Birky, in Memory of Harold Birky, Class 55
Mike Bloom, Class 150
Mark Bollong, in Honor of Class 185
Bill Bonde, in Honor of Class 146
Louis Bremer, Class 189
Jim Brooks, Class 176
David Brown, Class 49
Hobie Buppert, in Honor of Charles Buppert, Class 286
Hobie Buppert, in Honor of Class 286
Mike Burns, Class 302
Roy Carter, in Memory of Danny Dietz, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of John Faas, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of Matt Mason, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of Eric Shellenberger, Class 232
Jason Carver, Class 232
Henry Casey, in Honor of Team Casey, Class 146
Henry Casey, in Honor of M. Aarnio, Class 146
Henry Casey, in Honor of C. Smith, Class 146
Henry Casey, in Honor of E. Lundren, Class 146
Michael Champion, Class 232
Mike Colletta, Class 199
Don Crawford, Class 42
Lance Cummings, Class 124
Amanda Damasiewicz, in Honor of Brian Bill, Class 241
Hector Delgado, Class 149
Thomas Dzieran, Class 185
Michael Donnelly, Class 173
Brian Downing, in Honor of Rick Benjamin, Class 109
Brian Drechsler, Class 224
John Duggar, Class 42
Tom Dunne, Class 28
Bernard Duven, in Honor of Class 42
Kelly Eberspecher, Class 146
Jeff Engel, Location Tech, Inc., Class 184
William Francis, Class 224
Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Jason Gardner, Class 155
Rob Garnett, Class 200
Duffy Gaver, Class 146
Steven Giblin, Class 124
Dan Gray, Class 232
Garry Harsanyi, Class 232
William Hemming, Class 42
Jay Hennessey, Jr., Class 185
Hugh-Michael Higgs, Class 144
Mike Hogan, in Honor of Bob Rohrbach, Class 49
Mike Hogan, in Honor of Chris Rohrbach, Class 214
Mike Hogan, in Honor of Ed Rohrbach, Class 218
Kirby Horrell, Class 50
CJ Hull, Class 232
Christine Jacoby, in Honor of Dale Jacoby, Class 39
Keith Kaui, Class 146
Kevin Kent, Class 200
Hal Kuykendall, Class 49

Michael LaCaze, Class 49
Thomas Lawson, Class 42
John Long, Class 109
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Danny Dietz, Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of John Faas, Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Matt Mason, , Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Eric Shellenberger, Class 232
Scott Marcus, Class 232
Ray Markel, Class 36
Abbie Marshall, in Honor of Justin Marshall, Class 293
Charles “Mac” McGee, Class 42
Phillip McMillen, Class 124
William McRaven, Class 95
Michael Moore, Class 95
Robert Morey, Class 146
Kurt Muhler, Class 232
Douglas Munz, Class 224
Ricky Nelson, Class 132
Warren Nickerson, Class 149
Bill Noyce, Class 42
Chris O’Donnell, in Honor of Class 185
Alexander Oliver, Class 199
Chris Pannacciulli
Joseph Rainey, Class 185
Erin Rambis, in Honor of Benjamin Gallimore, Class 293
William Reardon, Class 232
Kim Rhinehelder, in honor of Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Sean Rosario, Trident Ammo, Class 196
Raymond Russo, Class 124
Willits Sawyer, Class 29
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Todd Perry
Matt Schiff, in Honor of “Beef” Drechsler
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Lance Cummings
Matt Schiff, in Honor of James Moffatt
Duane Schooley, in Memory of JR Schooley, Class 124
Holly Schooley, in Memory of JR Schooley, Class 124
Robert Schoultz, Class 83
Travis Schweizer, Class 185
Evan Shawcross
Matthew Shillingburg, in Memory of Andrew Shillingburg, Class 28
Sperling Family Trust
Daniel Steward, in Honor of Mike Faketty, Class 95
Daniel Steward, in Honor of Moki Martin, Class 95
MaryAnn Stewart, in Honor of Dan Peterson, Class 54
Kenny Taylor, Class 124
Marcus Thies, Class 232
Lambros Tzerefos, in Memory of David LeBlanc, Class 95
Michael Uyboco, Class 232
David Veal, in Honor of Beau Laskey, Class 186
Mike Wagner, in Memory of Bob Wagner, Class 28
Matt Wagor, Class 232
Charles Walton, Class 146
Steven Wilson, Class 126
Russell Wingfield, Class 162

Michael Arrowood, Class 95
Brad Bailey, Class 200
Jeremy Barnes, Class 258
Sam Birky, in Memory of Harold Birky, Class 55
Bill Bonde, in Honor of Class 146
Mike Burns, Class 302
Roy Carter, in Memory of Danny Dietz, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of John Faas, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of Matt Mason, Class 232
Roy Carter, in Memory of Eric Shellenberger, Class 232
Jason Carver, Class 232
Henry Casey, in Honor of Team Casey, Class 146
Michael Champion, Class 232
Mike Colletta, Class 199
Don Crawford, Class 42
Lance Cummings, Class 124
Amanda Damasiewicz, in Honor of Brian Bill, Class 241
Hector Delgado, Class 149
Michael Donnelly, Class 173
Brian Drechsler, Class 224
John Duggar, Class 42
Tom Dunne, Class 28
Bernard Duven, in Honor of Class 42
Kelly Eberspecher, Class 146
Jeff Engel, Location Tech, Inc., Class 184
William Francis, Class 224
Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Jason Gardner, Class 155
Duffy Gaver, Class 146
Steven Giblin, Class 124
Dan Gray, Class 232
Garry Harsanyi, Class 232
William Hemming, Class 42
Hugh-Michael Higgs, Class 144
Christine Jacoby, in Honor of Dale Jacoby, Class 39
Keith Kaui, Class 146
Hal Kuykendall, Class 49
Thomas Lawson, Class 42
John Long, Class 109
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Danny Dietz, Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of John Faas, Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Matt Mason, , Class 232
Michael Loureiro, in Memory of Eric Shellenberger, Class 232
Ray Markel, Class 36
Abbie Marshall, in Honor of Justin Marshall
Alan Mark McGregor, Class 49
William McRaven, Class 95
Robert Morey, Class 146
Kurt Muhler, Class 232
Douglas Munz, Class 224
Ricky Nelson, Class 132
Bill Noyce, Class 42
Alexander Oliver, Class 199
Chris Pannacciulli
Erin Rambis, in Honor of Benjamin Gallimore, Class 293
William Reardon, Class 232
Kim Rhinehelder, in honor of Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Sean Rosario, Trident Ammo, Class 196
Willits Sawyer, Class 29
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Rick Kaiser, Class 109
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Todd Perry
Matt Schiff, in Honor of “Beef” Drechsler
Matt Schiff, in Honor of Lance Cummings
Matt Schiff, in Honor of James Moffatt
Duane Schooley, in Memory of JR Schooley, Class 124
Holly Schooley, in Memory of JR Schooley, Class 124
Evan Shawcross
Matthew Shillingburg, in Memory of Andrew Shillingburg, Class 28
Daniel Steward, in Honor of Mike Faketty, Class 95
Daniel Steward, in Honor of Moki Martin, Class 95
Kenny Taylor, Class 124
Marcus Thies, Class 232
Lambros Tzerefos, in Memory of David LeBlanc, Class 95
Michael Uyboco, Class 232
Mike Wagner, in Memory of Bob Wagner, Class 28
Matt Wagor, Class 232
Charles Walton, Class 146
Steven Wilson, Class 126
Russell Wingfield, Class 162

FAQs

How will my teammates know that I have given?

Your name will be listed on the special Plank Owner BUD/S Class Campaign webpage at this link: https://navysealmuseumsd.org/plankowner/.
We will not list the amount that you’ve given, only that you have given. You can keep track of those from your BUD/S Class who have given at the same link.

How much do I have to give? Will it count towards my BUD/S Class?

You will be recognized on the webpage no matter the size of your gift. Your gift amount will not be shared. Your gift amount will be tallied along with those of your teammates to come up with the $5,000 goal.

Can members of my family or friends make a gift to honor or pay tribute to my service and will it count towards my BUD/S Class contribution?

Absolutely, we encourage gifts to be made in honor or to pay tribute to any Frogman. It’s a special way for family and friends to participate and support their loved-ones.

I don’t like to give online. What are other ways I can give?

1. You can give by writing a check made out to Navy SEAL Museum San Diego and mailing to:
Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
Attn: Development Department
1001 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101.
*And remember to add your BUD/S Class # on your check.

2. If you would like to make a gift through your IRA, Donor Advised Fund, or give a gift of securities, please contact kimrhinehelder@navysealmuseumsd.org.

Can I get a tax deduction?

Yes, the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego is an official nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. Our Tax ID number for your tax records is 59-2569073.

Can I make monetary installments?

Yes, to make installments, please contact Kim Rhinehelder at kimrhinehelder@navysealmuseumsd.org. She will walk you through how to make that happen.

Is there one person coordinating my BUD/S Class?

Some classes have a designated individual who has volunteered to take on the role of being the leader for the Class. Not all classes have a leader. If you’d like to be the leader for your BUD/S Class, contact Hector Delgado at hectordelgado@navysealmuseumsd.org so that he can help you strategize.

What if I served as a UDT?

We are counting on all UDTs to participate as well as SEALs.

I gave to the Normandy Monument. Does that count towards this campaign?

No. The Plank Owner BUD/S Class Campaign’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for all Frogmen to play an important role in building an iconic legacy that will inspire generations of Americans for years to come.

I made a gift, but my name does not appear on the webpage. Why not?

Thank you so much for your gift. The webpage is updated twice per week on Mondays and Fridays. Please revisit the site to see your name listed. We appreciate your patience. If you have additional questions, please reach out via email to kimrhinehelder@navysealmuseumsd.org.

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