Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Chapa.
Hi Paul, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Paul Chapa is the Founder and President of Friends In Service of Heroes (FISH), a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families through emotional, physical, and spiritual support. For more than two decades, Paul has been a powerful advocate for those who serve, driven by a deep personal calling that began in the aftermath of 9/11.
Although not a veteran himself, Paul comes from a proud military family. Inspired by the service of his brother, uncles, and cousins—and compelled by the events that reshaped the nation—he sought a meaningful way to unite his professional life with a mission of service. Drawing on more than 25 years in the publishing industry, including co-founding Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer magazine in 2009, Paul created platforms that brought industry leaders together to honor and support America’s heroes.
That same year, he launched the Retail Patriot Award, an annual recognition honoring grocery retailers who “go above and beyond” in supporting troops and veterans. It was at the first Retail Patriot event in Washington, D.C., where Paul met Marine Col. Marshall Denney, a connection that ultimately opened the door to key relationships within the Marine Corps, including Lt. Gen. Jon and Carol Davis.
A meeting with Lt. Gen. Davis at the 2010 Marine Corps Ball led to the creation of the first Heroes Dinner, hosted in early 2011 at the Davis home in Cherry Point, North Carolina. These intimate, dignified dinners honor enlisted service members and their spouses for their service, sacrifice, and commitment to our country. A subsequent Heroes Dinner with Maj. Gen. Glenn and Gail Walters in 2013 inspired Paul to formalize his efforts, leading to the founding of Food Industry Serving Heroes (FISH)—later renamed Friends In Service of Heroes to reflect a broader mission of service.
Since then, FISH has hosted 52 Heroes Dinners across all branches of the Armed Forces, serving more than 16,000 active-duty service members and spouses. With the partnership of Celebrity Chef Rick Tarantino, these events have become powerful expressions of gratitude and recognition within military communities.
Paul’s leadership and steadfast devotion have earned national recognition. In 2013, he received the Marine Corps Foundation Semper Fidelis Award, becoming the guest of honor at the historic Marine Barracks 8th & I parade, hosted by Marine Commandant Gen. James F. Amos. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to one civilian; past recipients include President Donald Trump and Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In 2021, Paul was selected for the inaugural Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Marine Corps League Citizen Award for exceptional service to America’s veterans.
Under Paul’s guidance, FISH has grown into a multifaceted support organization providing critical resources to veterans in need. To date, the organization has delivered:
47 service dogs
15 track chairs
52 mobility scooters
12 vehicles
Emergency financial assistance, including preventing a veteran’s home from foreclosure
Partnerships with Kansas City companies to provide dental care, counseling, roofing, auto repairs, and more
Collectively, these efforts represent more than $1,000,000 in direct assistance to military families since 2011.
In addition to its programs and financial support, FISH hosts a monthly Speaker Series now in its ninth year, featuring Medal of Honor recipients, World War II heroes such as Guadalcanal Marine Max Deweese and Iwo Jima Marine Jerry Ingram, veterans with long-unheard stories, and notable athletes. Attendance ranges from 50 to 250, creating a safe and healing space for veterans to connect, share, and find community.
In 2017, Paul spearheaded Kansas City’s first modern Armed Forces Day event when none was scheduled, mobilizing a small volunteer team to produce a celebration in just six weeks. What began in an Overland Park parking lot with military equipment displays, veteran resources, the Tommy Franks Mobile Museum, and a service dog presentation has since grown into the Midwest’s premier Armed Forces Day celebration. Now held at New Century Airport, the event welcomed more than 8,000 attendees in 2024 and featured aircraft, helicopters, extensive military displays, and the participation of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz. According to the U.S. Army Reserve, it is the largest Armed Forces Day event in a 16-state region.
At the heart of Paul’s work is a simple but profound mission: to ensure every service member, veteran, and military family knows their service still matters. Through emotional support, life-changing resources, recognition events, and community engagement, he strives to bridge the gap between the 2% who serve and the 98% who benefit from their sacrifice.
Paul continues to lead FISH with humility, gratitude, and unwavering conviction. His work inspires new generations to honor those who defend our nation—and encourages young Americans to raise their right hand and take the oath to uphold and protect the Constitution.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. Not being a veteran has required a quick learning curve to understand the various acronyms and MOSs, how to approach the various branches to let them know we are genuine and not seeking anything but are only wanting to serve. For the individual veteran, many have been promised much by other organizations or quickly felt exploited by wanting documents signed for marketing. That is never something we want our veterans to feel like. It is sincerely about them and not us.
As a 100% volunteer organization whose mission depends on financial donations, finding big donors has been difficult.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own a trade journal called Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer. It serves every frozen and refrigerated dairy retail buyer in the US and Canadian grocery industry. I started this during the 2009 recession with my credit card with three competitors. We are now the only trade journal serving the industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
No luck, but relationships, integrity, and honesty matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.friendsinserviceofheroes.org
- Facebook: FISH – Friends In Service of Heroes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsinserviceofheroes6778
