On Its 5th Birthday, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families Salutes its Past and Marches Toward the Future
Syracuse, N.Y. (PRWEB) November 30, 2016 -- The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has experienced exponential growth since its inception on the campus of Syracuse University in 2011. The organization, with support from founding partner JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a host of other corporate, philanthropic, government and individual supporters, has flourished from six employees to more than 70 and most notably, from 65 veterans served in its first year to over 60,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military families over the past five years.
The announcement comes on the heels of Syracuse being named the #1 private school in the nation, and #3 overall, for service members, military veterans and their families.
As it celebrates its 5th anniversary, the IVMF takes its support for the veteran community to a higher level through new avenues for open research and data sharing and further collaboration across sectors in an intensified effort to better equip millions of veterans, and the public, private or nonprofit entities that support them, with improved access to resources post-service. This announcement follows the gift of a $5 million-dollar grant to the IVMF from the Walmart Foundation to support its AmericaServes initiative, the largest grant the Walmart Foundation has ever given to a veterans support organization.
“Syracuse University has a long history of welcoming our veterans from the post-World War II era to today,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “The commitment of the IVMF to grow and expand its programs will further support our efforts to be the best place in America for veterans and their families.”
“Our goal has been and continues to be advancing the post-service lives of those who have worn our nation’s uniform and their families,” said Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and IVMF Founder, Mike Haynie. “The single, greatest opportunity we have to create even more impact going forward is through connecting veterans and their families to the wealth of resources available to them.”
With the nation’s focus on veterans, and veterans’ issues, deepens initiatives, like those of the IVMF, will be even more critical in the coming months and years as new policies and programs to support veterans take shape.
New Dynamic, Open-Source National Veterans Database
In collaboration with Deloitte, the IVMF is releasing the Veterans Strategic Analysis and Research Tool (V-START). The data visualization tool is part of the Institute’s newly launched website which features a fresh design and user-friendly interface. V-START uses dashboards that summarize publicly available data through dynamic infographics and charts. It allows users to easily search, analyze, and compare extensive demographic, educational and employment data down to the county level.
IVMF and Deloitte developed the tool for multiple audiences with the capability for them to add in their own program-specific data. Government agencies can look at levels of support for veterans and identify gaps and areas where service delivery can be improved. Employers can apply the data to boost their recruitment strategies by geography as well as for improving retention. Transitioning service members preparing for their future can identify communities with strong services, education or employment opportunities. For nonprofit institutions like IVMF, V-START can inform program development and delivery.
Rapid Expansion of Programs to Serve and Train More Veterans
Like the organization itself, IVMF’s programs have also grown in size and impact. AmericaServes, aided by the $5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, assists veterans and their families by empowering local communities to build connected networks of human services providers in order to deliver better care faster. Through increased accuracy, speed and accountability the initiative is producing strong results in areas like North Carolina where the NCServes network has reached 300 percent more veterans and their families in the first year and delivered a 500 percent increase in closed casework. Building on momentum, the network has expanded to communities in New York, North Carolina and South Carolina, Virginia, Washington State, and launching in November, San Antonio, Texas.
Through entrepreneurship training programs including Boots to Business (B2B), Boots to Business Reboot, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) and Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE), provided in partnership with the United States Small Business Administration, the IVMF has trained over 50,000 potential and practicing veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. The 3,300 graduates of the EBV and V-WISE programs alone have generated more than $329 million in revenue.
Employment and career preparation are also available through their newest initiative, Onward to Opportunity (O2O). The program offers industry-specific training, certifications and interview matching services to transitioning service members and spouses on U.S. military bases. The program will be offered on 12 bases by the end of June 2017 and 18 bases by June 2018. O2O compliments the IVMF’s existing career preparation program, the Veterans Career Transition Program which was launched in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co.
IVMF’s latest collaboration is with LinkedIn on a campaign called “Honor Our Future,” asking the country to rethink how it honors veterans by investing in their career success post-service.
A Space to Come Together: the National Veterans Research Complex
In its efforts to be a strong national and local community partner, the IVMF is creating convening space in the new National Veterans Research Complex at Syracuse University. The complex will be a first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to servicing the nation’s veterans and military-connected families through advancing academic research, programs and community engagement. The project is underway, and completion is set for spring/summer 2019. For more information and to track the progress of the project visit nvrc.syr.edu.
The IVMF commemorated its milestone anniversary with a series of events on the campus of Syracuse University. To view event photos and stay updated on the latest news and information, follow the IVMF on Facebook. For more information on IVMF and its programs visit ivmf.syracuse.edu.
###
Media Contact:
Ronnie Burnett
MARCH Marketing
773.807.2830, ronnie.burnett(at)marchcorp(dot)com
About the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families post-service. The Institute is supported by a world-class advisory board and public and private partners committed to advancing the post-service lives of America’s service members, veterans and their families. The IVMF and its professional staff deliver class-leading programs in career, vocational and entrepreneurship education and training. The IVMF also conducts actionable research, provides policy analysis and program evaluations; coordinates comprehensive strategies; and works with communities and non-profits to enhance service. Read more at ivmf.syracuse.edu.
Ronnie Bernier Burnett, [email protected], +1 (773) 807-2830, [email protected]
Share this article