After returning home from Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Lena Schexnayder suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Writing poetry, reading inspirational quotes, screen printing, and crafting vinyl t-shirts helped her manage her PTSD symptoms. Realizing how these hobbies, along with medication, enriched her quality-of-life, Lena desired to help other veterans dealing with depression, anxiety, and self-esteem like her. With the funding from a friend E VonShay Ward, Lena turned her hobbies into a business!

Zen Gab LLC received a certificate of formation on the 26th of July, Two Thousand and Eighteen, in Jackson, Mississippi. Zen Gab LLC’s initial goals were to provide inspiration, knowledge, and humor in word form on T-shirts and other merchandise. After completing Oklahoma State University’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Program in 2019, gaining insight from new experiences, and researching the growing benefits of managing PTSD with recreational therapy, Lena decided to expand Zen Gab LLC’s goals and partnership with Zen Gab Foundation to also provide individuals who battle with mental health, sexual trauma, and domestic violence with alternative activities of their choosing. These activities have the ability to increase self-esteem and independence by preserving mobility, range of motion, speech, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and by improving mental health through creative expression and community integration. Activities include indoor and outdoor leisure activities, art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, vision therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy through a percentage of Zen Gab LLC merchandise profits, partnerships and sponsors from Houston TX and the surrounding area.