Veteran's Issues
About the Issue
If someone is willing to risk a bullet to protect me, least I can do is to support them. That means helping returning vets get jobs, get the medical and educational benefits they’ve earned, support for their families, and lots more.
Veterans and Military Family Organizations Grant Challengers
There are so many great organizations helping Veterans and military families. I chose four to be in our first challenge grant, which was held June 28-30. Thanks helping me give away $100,000 to support their incredible work.
The Bob Woodruff Foundation provides resources and support to injured service members, veterans and their families – building a movement to empower communities nationwide to take action to successfully reintegrate our nation's injured heroes, so they may thrive physically, psychologically, socially and economically.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan veterans organization for our nation's newest generation of heroes. The mission of IAVA is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. Consistent with our mission, support for IAVA through the Veteran’s Issue Campaign will support our Combat to Career program, which helps Iraq and Afghanistan veterans transition by arming them with the tools necessary to make them marketable to potential employers.
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s Access Initiative for Veterans offers free tours and education programs for veterans and their families affected by physical, developmental and/or emotional disabilities.
Blue Star Families is a national nonprofit organization of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserves with a mission is to support, connect and empower military families. Blue Star Families recently launched a much needed suicide prevention and wellness campaign for military family members, veterans, and service members. In addition to suicide prevention, morale, and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable.
Places for Veterans and Families to Find Help
Department of Veterans Affairs Check out the Facebook page for the Veterans Affairs which is starting to provide direct customer service for vets. They have a good directory for the VA Medical Centers across the country. Please share these resources for vets you know, and please Like these pages to help them do serious outreach.
The National Resource Directory (NRD) connects wounded warriors, Service Members, Veterans, and their families with those who support them. It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.
The Warrior Gateway Program has been designed to promote easier reintegration into home communities. It establishes a single capability that serves as a trusted and reliable resource for the military community to quickly locate service organizations that satisfy their needs, identify academic programs they are interested in and easily find employers seeking their valuable skills, while enabling improvements in the service provider sector through metrics and collaboration.
Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) is a national non-partisan partnership of organizations committed to working with and on behalf of all military, veterans, families, survivors and providers to strengthen the existing system of care and support for all those affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Swords to Plowshares has proudly served veterans in the San Francisco bay area since 1974. Swords to Plowshares is a national model for veteran services and advocacy. "Vets Helping Vets Since 1974"
Find Veterans Organizations
Charity Navigator, Great Nonprofits, and Guidestar are all great places to find organizations working on different issues. Click the logos to find veterans organizations on each of these charity evaluation sites.
Volunteer
Here are a few places you can find volunteer opportunities with veterans organizations near you. Volunteer work is one of the best ways to get involved in veterans issues. Find opportunities on All for Good, LikeMinded, Volunteer Match, and Sparked.
