November 10, 2025

Washington painting contractors give back to veterans

Photo courtesy of WSCPCA [enlarge]

Volunteers at WSCPCA last year’s Paint it Forward event for PAWS in Lynnwood.

GIG HARBOR — The Washington State Painting Contractors Association (WSCPCA) plans to give back to veterans this Friday with their annual Paint it Forward event.

This year they will paint the new office space in Gig Harbor of the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit serving veterans and first responders by offering housing, mentorship and resources that help them rebuild their lives after military service.

Through this volunteer project, WSCPCA contractors are donating their time, materials, and expertise to give back to veterans and those who have generously served our country and community. Sherwin Williams is donating the paint that will be used for this project.

“Our members are dedicated to craftsmanship, professionalism, and community,” said Jeremy Martinson, owner of Martinson Painting and West Side representative for the WSCPCA. “Partnering with Permission to Dream allows us to honor veterans in a tangible way, by using our skills to create a space that reflects dignity, pride, and new beginnings.”

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Jeremy Martinson (left) and his father Jim Martinson, military veteran and notable paralympic athlete.

The selection of this particular nonprofit is personal for Martinson and his family. They have a connection to this cause, as his father Jim Martinson, three-time paralympic athlete and a military veteran, has inspired him to participate in service.

Jim Martinson, a double amputee and considered the founding father of adaptive skiing, was recently featured as a keynote speaker at the WSCPCA's Fall Expo, where he inspired attendees with his personal story of perseverance and innovation. Martinson is also an inventor of the Shadow Mono Ski, which allows other amputees to enjoy the experience of skiing down the mountains, despite their physical limitations.

The veterans painting project is part of the WSCPCA's Paint it Forward community initiative, which mobilizes professional painters, suppliers and volunteers to give back to nonprofit organizations across Washington state that are making an impact in our community.

The WSCPCA is a statewide network of professional painting contractors committed to craftsmanship, ethics, and community engagement. Through education, opportunity and community, WSCPCA strengthens both the painting industry and the communities its members serve. Learn more at http://www.wscpca.com.

The Permission to Dream Foundation helps veterans and first responders throughout the Pacific Northwest to access effective, long-term solutions to transform post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth. Learn more: https://ptsdfoundation.org/