“Newman’s Own” Awards Totaling $100,000 Presented to Eight Military Care Initiatives
Washington DC (PRWEB) September 12, 2013 -- Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided remarks at the 14th annual Newman’s Own Award Ceremony at the Pentagon Tuesday, as awards totaling $100,000 were presented to eight non-profit organizations for their innovative programs to improve military quality of life.
Final Salute, Inc. received the highest honor and a $25,000 award. Located in Alexandria, Virginia, the mission of Final Salute, Inc. is to provide homeless female Veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing. They are currently the only non-profit in the DC Metro area that provides housing specifically for women Veterans and their children. Since opening their first home in November 2011, they have assisted over 100 women Veterans and children and have a 100 percent employment rate for their employable residents.
Newman’s Own, Fisher House Foundation, and Military Times part of Gannett Government Media Corporation, sponsor the competition, which seeks to reward ingenuity for programs that benefit service men and women and their families.
Admiral Winnefeld was joined by Tom Indoe, President and Chief Operating Officer of Newman’s Own; Mary Jo Myers, Trustee of Fisher House Foundation; and Peter Lundquist, Vice President and Acting General Manager of Military Times, in presenting the awards.
“Each year we continue to draw inspiration from the selfless ideas of others and are proud to help the organizers take their dreams a few steps forward,” said Indoe.
Including this year’s awards, the annual competition that began in 1999 has recognized 153 programs with awards totaling $925,000, with all funding provided by Newman’s Own, Inc.
Over 300 entries were received for the 2013 program. Six judges evaluated each entry based on the organization’s impact to the respective communities, creativity and innovation.
Judges for the 2013 competition were:
Mrs. Deanie Dempsey, Spouse of General Martin E. Dempsey, USA
Mrs. Mary Jo Myers, Trustee, Fisher House Foundation
Mrs. Tammy Fisher, Trustee, Fisher House Foundation
Mr. Jeff Smith, Vice President of Operations, Newman’s Own
Mr. Mark Tilley, Director, Sales, Newman’s Own
Mrs. Mary Winnefeld, Spouse of Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., USN
Overall Winning Entry
$25,000 AWARD
Women Vets Transitional Living Program
Final Salute, Inc., Alexandria, VA
The mission of Final Salute is to provide homeless female Veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing. Since opening their first home in November 2011, they have assisted over 100 women Veterans and children and have a 100% employment rate for their employable residents. For more information, contact Jas Boothe (finalsaluteinc(at)gmail(dot)com) or visit http://www.finalsaluteinc.org.
$15,000 AWARD
The Jonas Project
The Jonas Project, Laguna Woods, CA
The Jonas Project works with Warrior Entrepreneurs in their quest to become tomorrow’s high-impact business leaders. Mentors are matched to a Veteran based upon his or her needs, providing critical guidance during the first two years of operation in an attempt to increase their chances of success. For more information, contact Teri Kelsall (teri(at)thejonasproject(dot)org) or visit http://www.thejonasproject.org.
$10,000 AWARDS
Caregiver Retreats
Yellow Ribbon Fund, Bethesda, MD
The Caregiver Retreat hosted by the Yellow Ribbon Fund is designed to bring respite to caregivers of severely injured service members. The interaction that is encouraged during the retreat will carry over after everyone returns home and each caregiver will have more resources to lean on in difficult times. For more information, contact Mark Robbins (mark(at)yellowribbonfund(dot)org) or visit http://www.yellowribbonfund.org.
Military Helpline – Texting Service
Lines for Life, Portland, OR
The Military Helpline seeks to enhance the lives of post 9/11 wounded veterans by improving their mental health and wellness, especially as it relates to substance abuse, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Their crisis lines counselors successfully de-escalate over 98 percent of the suicide calls they receive. For more information, contact Tom Parker (TomP(at)LinesforLife(dot)org) or visit http://www.linesforlife.org.
Veterans Aging in Place
Purple Heart Homes, Inc., Statesville, NC
For Service Connected Disabled Veterans who currently own a home that doesn’t meet his or her physical needs, Purple Heart Homes does an assessment, and determines the final scope and budget to restore both dignity and “quality of life” for the Veteran by creating an injury-specific, barrier-free living environment. Services are provided at no cost to the Veteran and best of all, our Veterans get to stay in their own homes. For more information, contact John Gallina (jgallina(at)purplehearthomesusa(dot)org) or visit http://www.purplehearthomesusa.org.
Regional Military Survivor Seminars & Good Grief Camps
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Arlington, VA
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national nonprofit organization providing comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in the Armed Forces. Good Grief Camps and Camp Outs for children are among the many programs and services that TAPS provides to assist grieving military families. For more information, contact Ami Neiberger-Miller at ami(at)taps(dot)org or visit http://www.taps.org.
Respite Care for Military Families/Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Jill’s House, Vienna, VA
Jill’s House, a full-service overnight respite center, renews military & civilian families through much-needed breaks while providing a safe, fun environment for their children with special needs. Since 2010, Jill’s House has provided more than 250,000 hours of rest and relief to more than 400 families. For more information, contact Denise Daffron ([email protected]) or visit http://www.jillshouse.org.
Blue Star Jobs
Blue Star Families, Inc., Falls Church, VA
In February 2013, Blue Star Families launched Blue Star Jobs to bring economic and professional opportunity to military families through online work. The program seeks to reduce the high unemployment rate and wage gap experienced by military spouses that adversely affects the readiness, retention, and well-being of the military community. For more information, contact AnnaMaria White (amwhite(at)bluestarfam(dot)org) or visit http://www.bluestarfam.org.
About Newman’s Own®, Inc.
Newman’s Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers more than 100 varieties of great-tasting, all-natural food and beverage products, including salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, frozen pizza, frozen skillet meals, microwave popcorn, and refrigerated lemonades. Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $370 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982. Learn more at newmansown.com. Visit newmansown.com for the nearest retailer/s that carry Newman’s Own products and for recipe suggestions using Newman’s Own, Inc. products. Also, visit Newman’s Own on Facebook at facebook.com/newmansown. Learn more about our mission at newmansownfoundation.org
About Gannett Government Media
Gannett Government Media was first established in 1940 as the Army Times Publishing Company, an independent publishing company reporting on military news and information. Since then, the company has expanded into defense and government news, and has launched or acquired more than 13 periodicals and has extended its brand globally into the online and broadcasting arenas. Gannett Government Media is a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. For more information, visit http://gannettgov.com
About Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 20 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $200 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation. Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans. http://www.fisherhouse.org
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Jody Fisher, Rubenstein Communications, 212-843-8296, [email protected]
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