Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), a national nonprofit providing free event tickets to the U.S. military community, announced today in Phoenix that it has delivered 1.5 million tickets to 280,000 recipients since its inception in 2008.

"We are overwhelmed by the generosity of so many ticket donors and supporters who have been paramount to our tremendous growth," Mike Focareto, Vet Tix founder and CEO Mike Focareto, a U.S. Navy veteran, said.

Serving all 50 states, Vet Tix distributes tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities.

"Seven years ago, as I looked around the stadium at a football game, I saw a number of empty seats," Focareto said. "I wondered at the time how many veterans were missing out on that 'All-American' experience for which they sacrificed. Vet Tix was born that day and it has grown into a thriving word-of-mouth program benefiting thousands of military families."

In its founding year, the organization distributed 1,290 tickets in Phoenix. Its millionth ticket was given to Jason Ohanian, a U.S. Army veteran, to attend a Diamondbacks baseball game in July 2014. And in the last 12 months, Vet Tix issued another half-million free tickets.

Veteran Tickets Foundation is a nonprofit foundation. By providing free event passes to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action, Vet Tix hopes to improve morale, strengthen family bonds and encourage service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life.

“Our military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities, and eventually, into civilian life,” the company said. “In gratitude for their service and to support their reintegration, Vet Tix is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much.”