Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) November 11, 2015
The Links, Incorporated celebrates Veterans Day by recognizing its members who are veterans and in the military who protect and guard our liberties and freedoms across the globe. In respect of their leadership, The Links, Incorporated will highlight their military service with a campaign titled Links Sheroes. The media campaign will spotlight members from all branches of the United States military and share the history of African-American women who have served our country.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "Women have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War, but their numbers paled compared with their male counterparts. Today, there are more than two million women veterans across the United States. They represent more than 9 percent of all living veterans and are one of the fastest-growing segments of the veteran population. They are expected to be almost 18 percent of the total veteran population by 2040 and already comprise 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans." What is often not acknowledge is the role of African Americans who have served, especially African-American women.
“We want to acknowledge our sisters, who have military backgrounds and their families. We are very proud of them and the sacrifices they have made for our country. We must never take our freedoms for granted nor the women who helped fight for those freedoms," stated Glenda Newell-Harris, M.D., national president of The Links, Incorporated. She continued, “Our patriotism is not often reflected in media stories. The Links, Incorporated is changing that narrative by starting within our organization with our sisters who served.”
The current active duty female force is more racially diverse than the male force. Nearly one-third (31%) of active-duty women are black compared with only 16% of men, and a smaller share of active-duty women than men are white (53% vs.71%), stated a recent Pew Research Poll. With the number of women serving and the growing numbers of African-American women veterans, The Links, Incorporated is proud to salute our military Sheroes. Follow The Links, Incorporated hash tag, #LinkSheroes, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the month of November as it honors sister soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors.
About The Links, Incorporated
Established in 1946 by a circle of nine friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Links, Incorporated is a premier international, non-profit volunteer service organization. Built upon a legacy of friends and providing service that changes lives, the organization is committed enriching, sustaining and ensuring the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. Celebrating 69 years, the friendship chain has grown to nearly 14,000 professional women of color in 281 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, its legacy of friends providing service that changes lives, established by the original circle of nine friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946, is alive and well.
Dedicated to its mission of service and leadership, The Links, Incorporated’s members are corporate and civic leaders; lawmakers and judiciary; medical and healthcare providers; role models, mentors, activists and volunteers working tirelessly at the forefront of transforming communities of color. Working closely with sponsors, partners and supporters, The Links, Incorporated develops and implements transformational programming impacting lives in communities of color.
The key programming initiatives of The Links, Incorporated are organized into facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Amassing more than 5 million service hours to date, The Links, Incorporated’s members regularly contribute more than 500,000 documented service hours in their respective communities through various programs.
The Links Foundation, Incorporated, the philanthropic arm of The Links, Incorporated established in 1979, has made more than $25 million in charitable contributions. The organization is the recipient of awards from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs.
The Links, Incorporated: “Linked in Friendship, Connected in Service.” For more information, visit http://www.linksinc.org.
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To arrange interviews or photographs please contact Kathy Wade, Communications co-chair, 513.518.7228 Cell/Text, linkkwade(at)yahoo(dot)com.
