Wounded vets to show Fashion Has Heart

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) - Though a sniper's bullet stole Marine Cpl. Joshua Hoffman's ability to speak in 2007, he is determined not to be silenced. He designed his first t-shirt in December, and now he's working with other designers to help wounded veterans.

Five wounded heroes from five branches of the military will meet in Grand Rapids to design everything from boots to t-Shirts during the week of June 18. It's part of a program called Fashion Has Heart to raise awareness and help support the rehabilitation of wounded service people.

They will work with Hoffman and other designers on items that will make their debut as an entry during ArtPrize.

A Grand Rapids-based non-profit organization, Fashion Has Heart utilizes art making, graphic and fashion design and product fashion to raise awareness and support rehabilitation efforts of wounded soldiers.

The founder, Michael Hyicinthe, was at an event in Rockford Tuesday at Wolverine World Wide, which is helping with the project.

"(Hoffman's) t-shirt is being sold around the country and when we launched it, we got emails from other wounded soldiers around the country asking about this creative opportunity," Hyicinthe said. "We were able to get some pretty big organizations to help bring this opportunity to other wounded soldiers."