By Laura Varnon, Marketing & Special Projects Manager

The Spa and Sauna Co., spa manufacturer Sundance Spas, and the charity Wish for Our Heroes have teamed up to award a local veteran, Kelly Kollar, a free Sundance spa as a small thank you for her military service.

Kelly, who lives in Carson City, served in the Navy from 1986 to 1993 working in Naval Intelligence, maintaining equipment.

She currently works remotely for the Defense Health Agency in Washington, D.C., in a communications role.

About Hot Tubs for Heroes

Kelly, 61, is the sixth veteran that The Spa and Sauna Co. has donated a hot tub to through the Hot Tub for Heroes program, which is a partnership between Wish for Our Heroes and Sundance Spas, and Sundance Spa hot tub dealers.

Wish for Our Heroes is “a national 501(c)(3), dedicated to providing resources to the “average” active-duty military member, in order to make their deployments a little easier, and to improve the quality of their family lives while home or during deployment,” according to their website.

Nationally, Sundance Spas, Wish for Our Heroes and spa dealers around the country have donated nearly 100 hot tubs to veterans and have benefited over 120 veterans and their families, since they began collaborating, according to Garrett Guinivan, Mid-Atlantic Chapter and Hot Tubs 4 Heroes Director.

The Spa and Sauna Co. has donated all 6 of the Hot Tubs for Heroes hot tubs that have been donated in Nevada.

About the Recipient

Family and the military go hand in hand for Kelly.

Kelly visited our showroom on Veterans Day Observed with her daughter, Alex, who nominated her, and her son-in-law, Pat, who has been in the Air Force Guard for 15 years.

She and Alex joke about which their favorite branch of the military is, Navy or Air Force.

Kelly’s father was in the Navy and she refers to herself as a Navy Brat who moved around a lot as child.

“I wanted to be just like my dad,” she said.

However, for her home means Nevada, as she has spent much of her adult life in Lake Tahoe or Carson City. She also has been an active volunteer with her church, LifePoint Church.

She has 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren, who all live in Carson City, as well.

“My mother is the most caring, supportive, kindest, giving person I know” Alex wrote in her mother’s nomination letter. “She was in (the Navy) for 7 years and has the most incredible stories. Thank you for your time to read my nomination for her. I know there are so many amazing individuals who have sacrificed and deserve this opportunity. I thank you for considering my mother as one.”

During her time in the Navy, Kelly was stationed in Florida and California. She had orders to go to Italy, but as a single mom, stayed stateside.

Kelly, who had back surgery previously, is looking forward to the soothing therapy a hot tub can provide, as well as using it to relax before going to sleep.

“For a long time my mother has had back pains and aches. This would help her be able to relax more and help with her pain,” Alex wrote in her nomination letter.

Hot Tub Donation Day

Kelly, now 61, was awarded a Sundance Hamilton 780 Spa.

“I feel like I don’t deserve this,” she said, while watching The Spa and Sauna Co. Delivery Crew deliver and position her spa in the backyard, right below her apple tree and facing a beautiful mountain view. “I’ve spent my life trying to help others and it feels awkward in reverse.”

Her delivery required a crane, which was generously donated by Freedom Crane Service, a company that The Spa and Sauna Co. often refers to customers.

The Spa and Sauna Co. also gifted Kelly a Sundance Spas bathrobe, a Wish for Our Heroes beanie hat, a Sundance Spas water bottle and two military themed rubber duckies, which she seemed to really enjoy. After receiving them, she gave her daughter a big hug.

Before the donation, Kelly visited us in the showroom. She had a chance to meet with The Spa and Sauna Co. team members, who coordinated her hot tub donation and those will assist her with caring for it.

The Spa and Sauna Co. was able to make two Wish for Our Heroes donations in 2023, making one earlier this year to Jason Kirmel-Long of Dayton, who had also served in the Navy.

“The Spa and Sauna Co. is thrilled to be able to participate in this great partnership, with Sundance Spas and Wish for Our Heroes,” said company owner Scott Clark. “We really get a chance to enhance the lives of deserving veterans in our community. We hope Kelly and her family enjoy their Sundance Spa for many years to come.”

If you’d like to nominate yourself or you know a deserving veteran or active duty member, nominate them here.