Areté has donated $10,000 to help the families of fallen special operations agents and the intelligence community at large, reports Areté’s President and CEO David Campion.
“We work closely with the special ops community by protecting them with the best technology possible, but we wanted to personalize our involvement,” says Campion. “We wanted them to know we care.”
Areté made the donation to Spookstock, which has been coordinating events and donations for the fallen since 2012.
Spookstock is, as its name suggests, a clandestine, invitation-only rock-and-roll event that raises money for the children of U.S. special ops fighters and intelligence agents who have died or been injured in the line of duty.
Spookstock 2020 would be the 8th year of this private, secretive event that brings together U.S. intelligence agents, corporate executives, special forces soldiers, and family members, to enjoy performances by members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (if, in fact, the event is held this year). Before COVID-19, Spookstock 2020 was set to host David Lee Roth as well as a traditional amateur band competition featuring national security personnel.
Areté’s The Associates have performed at Spookstock in the past, and will again when the event reconvenes. The event also attracts some celebrities — Robert DeNiro and Harvey Keitel have both attended recent Spookstocks.
To date, the event has raised $2.7 million for the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, CareSOC, and USGIF. The funds raised provide education from “cradle to career” for children of fallen special operatives along with other support services, including counseling. The fund also provides immediate financial assistance to special ops service members severely wounded in the line of duty.