MEET THE TEAM
Board of Directors
Raven Hilden - Founder/CEO
Raven Hilden is the Founder/CEO of MilVet, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting deployed troops, veterans and their families. Her dedication to servant leadership has helped create programs aimed at making a positive impact in the lives of others and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanitarianism in 2023.
Raven earned an Associates in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services/Management at the University of Phoenix. Her education and experience inspired her to create a nonprofit to connect active military/veterans and their families to resources in the community. MilVet – Military & Veteran Support Services, is a nonprofit that currently supports thousands of deployed troops all over the world and veterans every month, where she currently serves as the CEO.
MilVet won Nonprofit of the Year 2022 by the 67th California State Assembly and Menifee Chamber of Commerce, best nonprofit 2021 by the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce and was voted as Top-Rated Nonprofit in 2021 from Great Nonprofits. MilVet also received the honorary Service Above Self award at the Murrieta Field of Honor 2021 among other awards. The nonprofit has been featured in the Press Enterprise, Valley News, Arizona Central, Business Wire, San Diego Voyager, Yahoo Finance, Arizona The Mix 101.3, IHeart Radio and more.
Raven’s professional experience includes work for the California State Senate and State Assembly as a District Representative performing case management and as a community liaison for elected officials.
Raven has earned the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by three seated Presidents and was named Riverside County, 3rd District Woman of the Year 2024. She attributes her success to a supportive community and network of friends and volunteers that strive to make a difference in their communities.
Her passion for helping others shows in the difference she continues to make and impact in the community as she currently serves on numerous veteran committees and is a member of the Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs (GSFE) and the Professional Women’s Roundtable. She earned University of Phoenix’s Leadership Impact Award in 2019 and in 2021 she received the 100 Women Global award and 100 Successful Women International. In 2022 she won the Joan Sparkman Unity Award - an incredible honor!
She is a proud member of the National Society of Leadership and Success 2022 and released a bestselling book in 2022 titled, “A Veteran’s Story – Courage and Honor,” a compilation of stories written by 30 local veterans. She has also contributed as an author to 4 other books.
Raven is married to a Marine Corps Veteran, and together they have 5 children and 2 grandchildren. Her passion is to help honor those who served and to help inspire others to reach new heights.
Mayra Lewis
My name is Mayra Lewis and I am from Peru. I have always enjoyed school, so much so, that I even ended up graduating third in my high school class! I started college at the University of Lima in Peru and two years ago I made the decision to move here. I then began work in the restaurant industry, where I quickly moved up to management. Since then I've had the amazing opportunity to volunteer for MilVet, where I've given back to the community through events and packings, that brought me where I am today.
Sandy Word
Hello, I am Sandy Word, a second-generation Californian that moved to the Temecula Valley in 2013 to be with my new husband Scott. Born and raised in San Diego. I have always had a passion for the men and women that serve our country. My dad was in the army during WWII and taught us well to respect our county and the people that serve it!
I retired from banking after 40 years and purchased the Which Wich Superior Sandwiches in Murrieta. I own the shop with my son Danny and support the community with every opportunity.
I am on the Board of the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, the treasurer for Professional Women's Roundtable and an advisor for MILVET.
Giving back to our community is who we are and what we do. We reinforce this everyday with our project PBJ. We donate PBJs to our community through the Food Pantry at the United Methodist Church providing 50/75 PBJs every Friday. We donated over 5,000 PBJs during the past year.
We participate monthly in the Student of the Month Program; we are a scholarship sponsor and provide a student certificate for the students honored to enjoy free food at our restaurant.
I am the scholarship chair for Professional Women's roundtable. We honor five young women, with a $3,000.00 scholarship every year.
Annually we sponsor a blood drive always striving to exceed our previous donations with 20+ donors providing much needed blood.
We support fundraising efforts for the local high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. Donating back 20% to the events held during these fundraisers. We continue to support the local schools, by providing certificates of accomplishments to our students.
Helping with Special Olympics is a passion of mine, we are thrilled to donate and participate in the annual event at Murrieta Mesa High School.
We assist our local non-profits, by providing food at their golf tournaments; JAGS gives back, Jacob’s House, Michelle’s Place, Habitat for Humanity, Oak Grove and The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber are a few that we support.
We live in a wonderful, caring community and our blessed to help provide for those in need.
Amanda Fisher
Hello! My name is Amanda Fisher and I was born in Fountain Valley, CA and moved to Temecula in 1987 where I started first grade and completed all the way through high school. In 2001, I met my future husband, Fritz who was in the USMC. In 2003, Fritz was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom and then once again in 2004. In July of 2004, we were married in Temecula amongst friends and family. Fritz had recently separated from the Marines and was ready to start his new life as a civilian. In 2009, Fritz started a new job and we were relocated to Las Vegas, NV where we lived for close to four years. During that time, I completed my AA in Secondary Education. In December of 2012, we were relocated to Warrensburg, MO for a year and a half. During that time, I was a substitute teacher and loved every minute of it. In July of 2014, we were relocated to Fargo, North Dakota. Three months after our move there, Fritz lost his battle with PTSD. It was then that I decided to move back home to CA to be close to my family and friends. After a rough first year without my husband, I decided to go back to work part time. In 2018, I started taking classes at UCR. I obtained my BA in U.S. History and started working for our local Assemblywoman. In 2020, my boss ran for the state Senate seat and won. I then transitioned over to the Senate side and have been working for the CA State Senate ever since. In 2022, I started a Master’s Program at American Public University where I will obtain my MA in Political Science in March of 2024.
During my time working for the Senate, I have grown our Veteran’s Advisory Committee and our annual Veteran’s Expo. I have a passion for assisting veterans and their families. I know what a struggle life can be like once separated and if I can help just one person from the same fate as my husband, it will make all of this hard work worth it. I was introduced to MilVet during my time in the Assembly and it has evolved into a great partnership. I truly enjoy volunteering and helping those in need. I am thrilled to be added to the Board of Directors for MilVet.
Jackie Aponte
I was born in 1974 at March Air Force Base. I come from a huge military family and I am the proud mother of an Army Veteran. Volunteering has been a part of my life since I was 5 years old. I grew up in Sunnymead, which is now Moreno Valley. I graduated from Valley View High School in 1992. Throughout my life, I have won many volunteering awards, including but not limited to the Outstanding Citizen of the Month for the City of Menifee in March 2023 and a Lifetime Achievement award from the President of the United States. My passions include supporting the military community and fighting against cancer with the American Cancer Society.
MILVET LEADERSHIP TEAM
Michelle Mata
Mercedes Torres
Leo Montoya
Nykki Morris
Knox Morris
Terrill Wright
Lexie Houchens
Diana Figueroa
Dennine Harrison
Danny Kessler
Aika Kessler
MILVET VOLUNTEERS
