National Events
Snowball Express
A Story of Remembrance, Connection and Hope.
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Snowball Express brought together the children and surviving spouses of America's fallen military heroes for an annual experience devoted to remembrance, healing, connection and hope.
Through personal interviews and event-wide documentary coverage, this film follows Gold Star families through moments of reflection, celebration, live entertainment and shared experience. It honors the heroes they lost while showing their children and spouses that they are remembered—and that they are not alone.
"Snowball Express did more for my daughters in four days than three years of professional therapy."
— Leslie Ponder, widow of MSG James "Tre" Ponder, U.S. Army
BOB VINCENT'S ROLE
From 2009 through 2019, Bob Vincent served as Executive Producer and Creative Communications Director for Snowball Express through Reel Heroes Media during the organization's Dallas years.
Bob directed multi-camera teams documenting the complete annual experience—from families arriving aboard American Airlines charter flights through activities, performances, remembrance ceremonies and deeply personal moments. He also oversaw rapid-turnaround post-production of films that premiered for the families on the final night of the event.
His broader responsibilities included:
· Managing the Snowball Express website
· Developing and administering a database used to register more than 1,000 volunteers, collect participation fees and track required background checks
· Organizing attendee and volunteer information for more than 3,000 customized, color-coded credentials
· Creating organizational logos, banners, signage, sponsor recognition, credentials and printed communications
· Producing branded screen graphics and visual content for the live event
· Coordinating directly with production and printing partners to deliver thousands of materials accurately and on schedule
THE IMPACT
This integrated combination of documentary storytelling, communications, technology and live-event production helped create a meaningful experience for the families while recognizing the sponsors, volunteers and partners who made it possible.
The films preserved the legacies of fallen heroes and communicated the connection, healing, joy and hope Snowball Express provided to thousands of Gold Star children and surviving spouses.
Through personal interviews and event-wide documentary coverage, this film follows Gold Star families through moments of reflection, celebration, live entertainment and shared experience. It honors the heroes they lost while showing their children and spouses that they are remembered—and that they are not alone.
"Snowball Express did more for my daughters in four days than three years of professional therapy."
— Leslie Ponder, widow of MSG James "Tre" Ponder, U.S. Army
BOB VINCENT'S ROLE
From 2009 through 2019, Bob Vincent served as Executive Producer and Creative Communications Director for Snowball Express through Reel Heroes Media during the organization's Dallas years.
Bob directed multi-camera teams documenting the complete annual experience—from families arriving aboard American Airlines charter flights through activities, performances, remembrance ceremonies and deeply personal moments. He also oversaw rapid-turnaround post-production of films that premiered for the families on the final night of the event.
His broader responsibilities included:
· Managing the Snowball Express website
· Developing and administering a database used to register more than 1,000 volunteers, collect participation fees and track required background checks
· Organizing attendee and volunteer information for more than 3,000 customized, color-coded credentials
· Creating organizational logos, banners, signage, sponsor recognition, credentials and printed communications
· Producing branded screen graphics and visual content for the live event
· Coordinating directly with production and printing partners to deliver thousands of materials accurately and on schedule
THE IMPACT
This integrated combination of documentary storytelling, communications, technology and live-event production helped create a meaningful experience for the families while recognizing the sponsors, volunteers and partners who made it possible.
The films preserved the legacies of fallen heroes and communicated the connection, healing, joy and hope Snowball Express provided to thousands of Gold Star children and surviving spouses.
Film produced by Bob Vincent · Creative direction and editing by Matt Mauch