Press Release from The Veterans Club Founder Ed Bejarana
The Veterans Club has initiated an audiobooks program for the blind, accessible on all major podcast platforms under the name “Narrated By The Veterans Club.”
Eight months ago, Ed Bejarana developed a training program to teach individuals how to narrate audiobooks and short stories for the visually impaired. Six months later, he began training Tony Grace, a local young man. By Christmas, Tony had completed his training and recorded his first episode—an adaptation of the biblical story David versus Goliath. This episode, recently released on “Narrated By The Veterans Club,” is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other podcast platforms.
The “Narrated By The Veterans Club” program was established to involve veterans, seniors, and youth in creating free audio content for the blind, offering a sense of accomplishment and community contribution. The Veterans Club Board of Directors also established a compensation scheme to incentivize participation. Narrators receive a modest stipend for their contributions.
Each episode is initially sponsored for $30, with $15 going to the narrator and $15 to the club to help cover costs. After publication, sponsors commit to $0.02 per download for a year. Of the additional funding, 30% goes to the narrator, 30% to the author, and the remainder supports The Veterans Club.
This week, The Veterans Club issued its first payment to Tony for his narration of “The Courage of David and the Giant,” sponsored by Rex Grace of Rex Grace Insurance.
Tony’s journey is unique; he is neither a veteran, a senior, nor a child, but a local Idahoan living with severe epilepsy and permanent disability. His participation began when his father, Rex, learned about the narration program. “As most disabled individuals find few opportunities for meaningful work, this program seemed perfect for Tony, despite his limited physical abilities,” Rex explained.
Rex further commented, “Discovering a program that trains disabled individuals for voice acting was incredibly exciting. It’s rare to find opportunities that are so well suited to Tony’s capabilities. This program isn’t just a win for Tony—it enriches the lives of those who are visually impaired with more audiobooks.”
To learn more about Tony and his story, visit: Tony’s Story at The Veterans Club.
“Narrated By The Veterans Club” is expanding, with plans to add new episodes narrated by veterans. Additionally, Ed is currently training three women from Chrysalis, a Developmental Disability Agency in Coeur d’Alene, which serves individuals with various intellectual and mental health challenges. They are expected to complete their training soon and join the roster of narrators.
To date, “Narrated By The Veterans Club” has released 16 episodes and aims to average one new episode per week in 2025. Current sponsors include F1 for Help (www.f1forhelp.net), Zenith Exhibits (www.zenithexhibits.com), and Rex Grace Insurance (rexgraceinsurance.com). The program is seeking additional sponsors to support its growth. For sponsorship opportunities, visit: Become a Sponsor.
Narrated By The Veterans Club exemplifies the community involvement programs aimed at increasing veteran participation and combating suicide among veterans and first responders.
Please subscribe to “Narrated By The Veterans Club” on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you download podcasts, and help support the growth of this valuable program by leaving a positive review.
The Veterans Club is a non-profit organization where veterans meet weekly to build relationships, discuss community issues, and actively work towards ending suicide among veterans and first responders. If you are interested in being a guest at an upcoming meeting or want to learn more about our programs, please visit The Veterans Club. Your involvement and support can make a significant difference in the lives of those who have served.
Ed Bejarana is the founder of The Veterans Club and a proud U.S. Army veteran. He served in the 3rd Armored Division Band in Frankfurt, Germany, from 1987 to 1989. Now residing in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with his wife of over 33 years, Ed runs a small digital marketing and website development business and is also an accomplished audiobook narrator. He is dedicated to supporting veterans and fostering community connections through his work and passion projects.
