Disabled Veterans National Foundation Highlights Primary 2015 Goals
Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 16, 2014 -- The Disabled Veterans National Foundation, a nonprofit veterans service organization that provides critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom, is announcing its major 2015 program goals that will better meet the needs of veterans.
In 2014, the organization’s first full year under the leadership of new CEO, Joseph VanFonda (USMC SgtMaj Ret.), DVNF made many necessary improvements in all facets of its operation, which can be seen, here.
Through its programs, DVNF was able to assist hundreds of veterans in need in 2014. Some of those highlights include:
• Distributed hygiene care kits and gift cards to disabled veteran athletes at the Warrior Trials in San Diego, the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburgh, PA. DVNF staff attended these events to give on-site support to veterans competing at the events.
• Raised $50,000 to go directly to the Human Engineering Research Laboratories(HERL). HERL invents adaptive devices for veterans with many types of disabilities. They needed a new piece of equipment, called a lathe, which is vital to their research and development of new devices they make to improve the quality of life for veterans.
• Sent nine different shipments of Health & Comfort items, valued at approximately $2.1 million, to veteran Stand Down Events and homeless shelters throughout the United States. In addition, DVNF gave grant funding to 10 highly qualified organizations around the country that offer many unique services for veterans, including: case management, legal services, educational services, employment placement and counseling, and entrepreneurship training.
While the organization feels it accomplished many goals that benefit veterans in need, it is announcing a more aggressive agenda in 2015 that will continue to expand the organization’s services under VanFonda.
The primary programs goals of 2015 are as follows:
• Donate at least $200,000 to four special initiatives. All four initiatives will be geared towards addressing the needs of disabled veterans, and DVNF states that it wants the four grant recipients to be organizations that are meeting those needs in innovative ways.
• Send Health & Comfort shipments of clothing, food, health, and hygiene supplies valuing at least $4.5 million to local or regional organizations and Stand Down events around the country.
• Give up to $1.5 million in Organizational Grants to the veterans’ programs that are on the front lines, working face to face to support veterans in need.
“I feel that these goals are not only realistic, but that they will also be extremely effective in giving necessary support to veterans,” said VanFonda, the organization’s CEO. “As my plan for the organization continues to take form in 2015, we have one goal in mind, and that is to make sure that the brave men and women who served in our military are supported and empowered as they journey through their difficult transition into civilian life.”
The first of its special 2015 initiatives will begin at the beginning of the year. The first candidate to receive those funds is Patriot PAWS, a service dog organization out of Rockwall, TX.
About DVNF:
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded—physically or psychologically—after defending our safety and our freedom.
We achieve this mission by:
• Providing an online resource database that allows veterans to navigate the complex process of seeking benefits that they are entitled to as a result of their military service, as well as additional resources they need.
• Offering direct financial support to veteran organizations that address the unique needs of veterans, and whose missions align with that of DVNF.
• Providing supplemental assistance to homeless and low-income veterans through the Health & Comfort program and various empowerment resources.
• Serving as a thought leader on critical policy issues within the veteran community, and educating the public accordingly.
For more, go to http://www.dvnf.org.
Doug Walker, Disabled Veterans National Foundation, http://www.dvnf.org, +1 202-737-0522, [email protected]
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