The Purple Heart Project Mission is to introduce physically or mentally combat Wounded Warriors, still suffering from the negative effects of combat, to the peace and joy that can be found through the therapy of traditional hand tool woodworking.
We accomplish our Purple Heart Project Mission by annually providing 42 physically or mentally combat Wounded Warriors with an all-expenses paid Purple Heart Project scholarship to attend one of Rob Cosman’s Training the Hand Workshops.
Scholarships to Rob Cosman’s Training the Hand Workshop. We hold six “Training the Hand Workshops” a year; one a month from May through October. Each workshop is 6 days long and is held in Grand Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. You can find out more about Rob Cosman's Training the Hand Workshops by navigating to the our Workshops Collection Page.
There are 14 student positions available per workshop. Seven slots in each workshop are reserved for combat Wounded Warriors selected to receive one of Rob's Purple Heart Project scholarships and seven slots are reserved for paying students.
Physically or mentally combat Wounded Warriors selected for a PHP scholarship are fully funded for all transportation, lodging, meals, tuition, and receive a premium hand tool starter kit ($3000 value) to take home with them.
How to Apply for a Scholarship. Physically or mentally combat Wounded Warriors, still suffering from the negative effects of combat can apply for a Rob Cosman Purple Heart Project Scholarship by filling out an application form located on the PHP section of our website. Please note, YOU DO NOT need to be a recipient of a U.S. Purple Heart Medal, Canadian Sacrifice Medal, or an equivalent award to apply or be accepted for one of our scholarships.
Listen to former Scholarship Recipients. To listen to what former Purple Heart Project Scholarship recipients have to say about the program visit our Purple Heart Project Scholarship Recipient's Interview Page.
Who Are We?
Rob is a hand tool woodworking instructor, tool designer and maker, and furniture maker. I have been involved in woodworking in some capacity since I was about 5 years old. I was professionally trained by Dale Nish at BYU’s industrial arts program. In the summer of 1987 I was the resident woodworking program assistant at the Aspen Institute and worked with many of the great woodworking craftsman of the day (Alan Peters, Sam Maloof, Tage Frid and others).
After building custom furniture for many years I became a sales representative for a premier hand tool company. It was then that I realized that the folks I was selling hand tools to didn't know how to sharpen, use, or maintain them so I started holding hand tool instruction seminars. Soon the demand for my teaching seminars outpaced my hand tool sales and I launched Rob Cosman Woodworking, Inc. Today RC Woodworking Hand Tools, Inc. is a small family-owned business, located in Grand Bay, New Brunswick, Canada.
We are dedicated to helping folks everywhere find joy and peace through the craftsmanship of woodworking. We do this by designing, manufacturing, and selling our own brand of woodworking hand tools; teaching both hand tool and power tool woodworking through our classes, videos, and our online workshop; and encouraging everyone to seek excellence in their woodworking craftsmanship.
Why Do We Do This?
In 2015 I was contacted by a combat Wounded Warrior; a former U.S. Marine who was suffering from the the effects of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that blew up the vehicle he was in. He told me how traditional handtool woodworking was a type of therapy helping him cope with his struggles from combat. That encounter sent me on a mission to introduce the joy and peace found through the therapy of handtool woodworking to the brave men and women suffering from the mental and physical wounds of combat through what is now my Purple Heart Project.
How You Can Help Us.
There are three ways you can help us in our mission to serve combat Wounded Warriors still suffering the negative effects of combat:
1) Help us find combat Wounded Warriors who could benefit from the Purple Heart Project and get them to apply for a PHP scholarship by having them fill out an application to the program.
2) help us fund this program by giving us a donation. 100% of your donation goes to serve combat Wounded Warriors still suffering the negative effects of combat.
3) Sign-up for a Training the Hand Workshop, a portion of your tuition helps us defray the cost of the PHP scholarships.